Bacillus Egens. a New Pathogenic Anaerobe

The bacillus described in this paper occurred in a fatal case of gas gangrene. The cultures were derived from infected muscle at a considerable distance from the wound surface, and no other anaerobes were present in the muscle. The bacillus proved markedly pathogenic for guinea pigs, producing extensive muscle lesions from which pure cultures of the bacillus were always obtained. Thus there is good proof that the bacillus found was the responsible agent in the fatal human case. Morphologically the similarity of the bacillus to Bacillus welckii is marked. Its cultural reactions are such that in a mixed culture with Bacillus welchii it would escape notice, unless the most careful plating were done. When it has once been isolated, however, it is culturally and pathologically distinct.