A STUDY OF SEPTIC GERMS. 
605 
theory that septicasmia and pyasmia are quite similar in etiol¬ 
ogy. Hoff says that septicasmia and pyaemia, etiologically 
are not so sharply separated as has been supposed, both forms 
(as well as septico-pyasmia) are caused by the same micro-or¬ 
ganisms (the common pus germs), and that it remains .to be 
established under what conditions pyaemia is produced, and 
under what conditions septicaemia. He reported that in six 
cases, four had staphylococcus pyogenes albus, and one had 
a bacillus. The germs occurred in the blood. 
The germs found and described by different authors as the 
cause of septicaemia and pyaemia, are streptococcus pyogenes, 
staphylococcus pyogenes, Var. aureus; staphylococcus pyo¬ 
genes, var. albus ; staphylococcus pyogenes, var. citreus. 
The streptococcus pyogenes (Rosenbach Zopf.) is a coccus 
occurring singly, in chains, or zoogloea. It is similar in ap¬ 
pearance to the streptococcus erysipelatous, single cocoi ap¬ 
pearing larger than those in pairs or groups. It grows well 
on nutrient agar agar at 35°-37° C. forming centers which are 
rounded, not raising above the surface. It does not grow well 
on potato or gelatine, and does not liquify any nutriment media. 
When grown on gelatine it appears as a grayish white, semi¬ 
transparent mass, thin at the edges and arranged in terraces 
thickening towards the center. Old cultures present a faint 
tinge of brown. It is not specially sensitive to the absence 
of air, decomposing albumenoids under those conditions. 
The staphylococcus pyogenes, var. aureus (Rosenbach, 
passet, 1884) occurs singly, in pairs or in irregular masses. The 
cocci are of equal size, growing well on agar agar gelatin, po¬ 
tato, or bouillon at 35°-37° C. Young cultures are whitish, 
gradually turning to an orange yellow. It does not produce 
spores, but notwithstanding, it has a remarkable power of re¬ 
sisting external, destructive conditions, growing a great length 
of time in the absence of air. It peptonizes and liquifies gel¬ 
atin rapidly. It is very pathogenic when injected into the 
blood or peritoneal cavity; producing septicasmia and death 
in a few days, or suppuration of joints and suppurative en¬ 
docarditis. Injected subcutaneously it produces abscess. 
The staphylococcus pyogenes, var. albus (Rosenbach, 1884) 
