though strain variations in morphology were noted, Dack et al. (ibid., 180) regarded these variations as insufficient for the differ- entiation of species. Likewise, differences were observed with regard to pathogenicity. When injected subcutaneously into rabbits, various strains of these organisms produced a gradient of virulence which ranged from slightly virulent to lethal. As there is no clear-cut method for separating Sphaero- phorus funduliformis and Sphaerophorvs necrophorus, Dack et al. (loc. cit.) consider these two organisms as constituting a single species, Sphaerophorus necrophorus. Source: Isolated from the female genital tract, urinary infections, puerperal infec- tions, acute appendicitis, otitis, pulmonary gangrene, liver abscesses, septicaemias, in- testinal tracts and chronic ulcerative colitis; also isolated from cases of diphtheria in cattle with multiple sclerotic abscesses, from gangrenous dermatitis in horses and mules and from multiple necrotic foci in the livers of cattle and hogs. Habitat : Presumably a normal inhabitant of the mucous membranes of man and other animals. 2. Sphaerophorus inaequalis (Eggerth and Gagnon, 1933) Prevot, 1938. (Bactero- ides inaequalis Eggerth and Gagnon, Jour. Bact., 25, 1933, 407; Prevot, Ann. Inst. Past., 60, 1938, 298.) in.ae.qua'lis. L. adj. inaequalis unequal. Rods which show wide variation in size and form. Marked pleomorphism on blood agar: some forms are coccoid, 0.5 micron in diameter, while others are slender filaments, 3.0 to 12.0 microns long, which are often curved or hooked. On glucose agar and in glucose broth, the cells occur as small ellip- soids, 1.0 to 2.0 microns long, which may form short chains. Non-motile. Show bi- polar staining. Gram-negative. Gelatin : No liquefaction in 45 days. Blood agar colonies: Pin-point in size. Broth: Diffusely clouded. Milk: Acidified but not coagulated. Indole is produced. Hydrogen sulfide is produced. Acid but no gas from esculin, amygdalin, arabinose, fructose, galactose, glucose, lac- tose, maltose, mannose, raffinose, salicin, sucrose and xylose. No acid or gas from cellobiose, dextrin, glycerol, glycogen, inu- lin, mannitol, melezitose, rhamnose, sor- bitol, starch or trehalose. Nitrites not produced from nitrates. Anaerobic. Non -pathogenic for white mice or rabbits. Distinctive characters: Produces a small amount (5 per cent in Smith tube) of gas from peptone water in the complete absence of carbohydrates; none of this gas is ab- sorbed by alkali. Rapidly decolorizes brom cresol purple and phenol red in meat infusion broth; slowly or not at all in peptone water. Source: One strain was isolated from hu- man feces. Habitat: Probably the intestinal canals of mammals. 3. Sphaerophorus varius (Eggerth and Gagnon, 1933) Prevot, 1938. {Bacteroides varius Eggerth and Gagnon, Jour. Bact., 25, 1933, 409; Prevot, Ann. Inst. Past., 60, 1938, 299.) va'ri.us. L. adj. varius diverse, varied. Slender rods, 1 to 2 microns long, on blood agar; on glucose agar the cells are longer and thicker, measuring 2 to 3 microns in length; ellipsoidal or coccoid forms are found in glucose broth. Non-motile. Shows uneven staining. Gram-negative. Gelatin: No liquefaction in 45 days. Blood agar colonies: Very flat cones, 2 to 3 mm in diameter. Broth: Diffusely clouded. Milk: Not acidified or coagulated. Indole is produced. Hydrogen sulfide is produced. Acid and gas from fructose, galactose, glucose and mannose. No acid or gas from esculin, amygdalin, arabinose, cellobiose, dextrin, glycerol, glycogen, inulin, lactose, maltose, mannitol, melezitose, raffinose, rhamnose, salicin, sorbitol, starch, sucrose, trehalose or xylose. Nitrites not produced from nitrates. Anaerobic. Non-pathogenic for white mice or rabbits. Distinctive characters: Gas is produced from peptone. Brom cresol purple and phenol red are decolorized in a meat infu- sion broth.
