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208 THE MICRO-ORGANISMS OF THE HUMAN MOUTH.

temperature, the growth does not become apparent until after
two or three days. The separate colonies, especially when lying
ut some distance from each other, reach the maximum of their
development on the fourth to sixth day, and then slowly com-
mence to liquefy the surrounding gelatine. Colonies within, as
well as on the surface of the gelatine, observed at this time,
appear perfectly round, with clearly-delined margins, and of a
whitish opalescent color.
" It was immaterial whether the animal Avas inoculated subcu-
taneously with very minute quantities of material obtained from
old cultures, or with one-tenth of a drop of matter; all animals
infected with these micro-organisms reacted by abscess-forma-
tion at the point of inoculation."
In the pus these small cocci almost always appear singly^
neither united, as diplococci, nor in chains, nor in clusters.
Abundant quantities brought into the jugular vein caused gen-
eral infection and death. Injected into the al;)dominal cavity
they produced peritonitis.

Original Investigations on Pathogenic Mouth-Bacteria.

Although much attention has of late years been given to the
study of the pathogenic micro-organisms of the mouth, and our
knowledge concerning them has been essentially increased by
the investigations of Kreibohm, Biondi, and others, much yet
remains to be done before the subject Avill be but in some measure
exhausted.
I have occupied myself with the study of the pathogenic
mouth-bacteria for a numl»er of years, and obtained some
results which may, perhaps, contribute somewhat to our knowl-
edge of them.
I have experimented with forty-two pure cultures, two mixed
cultures, and twenty-two gangrenous pulps, and have made
ninety-three subcutaneous inoculations of mice in pockets, using
pure cultures, ten subcutaneous injections of pure cultures, iifty-
eight pocket inoculations with ]»ieces of gangrenous pulps, or
with pus arising from such inocuhitions, sixty injections of pure
culture into the abdominal cavity of mice, rabbits, and guinea-