The isolation of the B. histolyticus from the ileo-caecal region of two human intestines.

The B. histolyticus, a member of the gram-positive, spore bearing group of anaerobes, is a strongly proteolytic and markedly pathogenic organism, which was first discovered and described by Weinberg and Sequin 1 in the course of their study of war wound infections. They isolated it from eight cases of gas gangrene, and demonstrated its remarkable proteolytic action on living muscular tissue. It was assumed that it found its way into wounds through fecal polluted soil, as was known to be the case as regards B. tetani, B. welchii and other typically intestinal organisms. This theory received substantiation through the report of Hall 2 of the presence of this organism in the stool of a normal adult and its isolation from arable soil by Petersen and Hall. 3

During the course of an investigation of intestinal bacteriology and absorption of intestinal bacterial products which is being carried on in this laboratory, we have had the opportunity to study the types of bacteria present at various levels of human large intestines removed at coleoctomy operations. I am indebted to Dr. John W. Draper for this privilege, and to my associate, Dr. John W. Churchman, for obtaining the specimens at the time of operation.