The Changes in the Bacterial Content of Stored Normal and Typhoid Feces

Abstract

Number,?No attempt has been made in this study to determine the total number of viable bacteria in feces. The difficulties of such an undertaking are recognized by most workers and have been clearly set forth by Harris.1 For purposes of comparison the ordinary standard agar count at 37 C. is probably as useful as more elaborate methods and combinations of methods. Some of the earlier observations on the number of cultivable bacteria in stools show considerable variation. Sucksdorff,2 using gelatin as a culture medium, found a range of 2,300,000 to 25,000 per mg. and deemed 381,000 an average. Gilbert and Dominici3 recorded an average of 67,000 per mg., Casciani,4 16,000, and Matzuschita,5 18,000,000. Unfortunately, the methods used in obtaining these counts were not uniform. Later results obtained by methods which are fairly comparable give more uniform results. MacNeal, Latzer and Kerr,6 using litmus lactose agar in the examination of 202 stools from 12 subjects, record a maximum of 1,526,140 bacteria per mg. of feces, a minimum of 1,360 and a mean of 116,239. Houston,7 who used an agar medium for examining 17 stools, found 4,140,000 the maximum, 2,800 the minimum and 373,000 the average (per mg. of feces). Harris1 gives a range from 950,000 maximum to 10,000 minimum, using standard agar medium and 30 stools from 6 subjects.