Pathogenic Bacteria

CHAPTER IV.
BACILLUS PROTEUS VULGARIS (HAUSER).

THIS bacillus was first found by Hauser in decompos-
ing animal infusions, generally in company with two
closely allied forms, Proteus mirabilis and Proteus Zen-
keri, which, as the experiments and observations of San-
felice and others show, may be identical with or represent

FIG. 134.—Swarming islands of proteus bacilli on the surface of gelatin; x 650

(Hauser).

attenuated forms of it. According to Kruse, it is quite
probable that the old species called Bacterium termo was
largely made up of the proteus.

The bacilli are very variable in size and shape—pleo-
morphic—and are named proteus from this peculiarity.
Some forms differ very little from cocci, some are more

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