Bacteria: Especially as they are related to the economy of nature, to industrial processes, and to the public health — John Shaqi
Bacteria: Especially as they are related to the economy of nature, to industrial processes, and to the public healthNewman, George, Sir
Science
Bacteria: Especially as they are related to the economy of nature, to industrial processes, and to the public health
Newman, George, Sir
Bacteria; Bacteriology
_Microscopic Characters_ (in pure culture). Rods, 2-4 µ long, .5 µ
broad, having round ends. Sometimes threads are observable, being 10 µ
in length. In the field of the microscope the bacilli differ in length
from each other, but are all the same thickness approximately. Round
and oval cells constantly occur even in pure culture, and many of
these shorter forms of typhoid are identical in morphology with some
of the many forms of _Bacillus coli_. There are no spores. Motility is
marked; indeed, in young culture it is the most active pathogenic germ
we know. The small forms dart about with extreme rapidity; the longer
forms move in a vermicular manner. Its powers of movement are due to
some five to twenty flagella of varying length, some of them being much
longer than the bacillus itself, though, owing to the swelling of the
bacillus under flagellum-staining methods, it is difficult to gauge
this exactly. The flagella are terminal and lateral, and are elastic
and wavy. Their active contraction produces an evident current in the
field of the microscope.
_Cultures._ This organism may be isolated from ulcerated Peyer's
patches in the intestine, from the liver, the spleen, and the
mesenteric glands. Owing to the mixture of bacteria found elsewhere, it
is generally best to isolate it from the spleen. The whole spleen is
removed, and a portion of its capsule seared with a hot iron to destroy
superficial organisms. With a sterilised knife a small cut is made
into the substance of the organ, and by means of a sterilised platinum
wire a little of the pulp is removed and traced over the surface of
agar. _Agar_ reveals a growth in about twenty-four hours at 37° C.,
which is the favourite temperature. A greyish, moist, irregular growth
appears, but it is invariably attached to the track of the inoculating
needle. On _gelatine_ the growth is much the same, but its irregular
edge is, if anything, more apparent. There is no liquefaction and no
gas formation. On plates of gelatine the colonies appear large and
spreading, with jagged edges. The whole colony appears raised and
almost limpet-shaped, with delicate lines passing over its surface.
There is an appearance under a low power of transparent iridescence.
The growth on _potato_ is termed "invisible," and is of the nature of
a potato-coloured pellicle, which looks moist, and may at a late stage
become a light brown in colour, particularly if the potato is alkaline.
_Milk_ is a favourable medium, and is rendered slightly acid. No
coagulation takes place. _Broth_ is rendered turbid.
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