The Bacteriophagic Relationships Between B. Coli, S. Fecalis and S. Lacticus.

The systematic relationships existing between S. fecalis and recognized streptococci of the hemolytic and viridans group, or with acid-forming organisms common to the intestinal tract, such as B. coli, S. lacticus (B. acidi lactici), M. ovalis or the “Enterococcus” of Thiercelin and others, have long been a subject of controversy. Andrews and Horder attempted to establish the fecal streptococcus as one of their six streptococcus types. Holman placed it among his various types of streptococcus. Brown, in his comprehensive review of the blood-reactions of the streptococci, states: “Furthermore, strains of S. fecalis are green producers and therefore belong to the S. viridans group as originally proposed by Schottmüller.” Gordon established, on a basis of serological tests, three types—S. pyogenes (hemolytic), S. salivarius (viridans), and S. fecalis (“Enterococcus”). These he also distinguished on the basis of hemolysis, raffinose-fermentation and mannite-fermentation. He also regarded these groups as serologically distinct. Dible, largely on the basis of fermentation tests, attempted to show that there existed an identity between S. fecalis and the Enterococcus of Thiercelin, often mentioned by French writers. Kendall, in 1924, placed S. fecalis with the greening and hemolytic streptococci in tabular form, but avoided in the text a discussion of its actual position. He mentioned M. ovalis as probably identical with the Enterococcus but did not relate it to S. fecalis. Ayers and Johnston stated that S. fecalis was identical with, or at least similar to, S. lacticus. They used as criteria (1) heat-resistance, (2) morphology (oval form), (3) cell-grouping (short chain) and (4) mannite-fermentation. Thus we have some diversity of view on the position of S. fecalis.