THE ACID AGGLUTINATION OF PNEUMOCOCCI

Eight strains of pneumococci of serological type 1, eight strains of type 2, and eleven strains belonging to neither type have been tested by the method of acid agglutination. Strains belonging to the two typical groups have, as a rule, narrow zones of agglutination. The optimum hydrogen ion concentrations are different in the two cases. Other pneumococci have broad zones or, in a few cases, narrow zones not coincident with those occupied by the typical organisms. The agglutination of most of the pneumococci of types 1 and 2 is extremely susceptible to the inhibiting action of salts. This is not true of the other pneumococci. Old broth cultures may show an optimum hydrogen ion concentration different from that shown by young broth cultures.