STUDIES ON OXIDATION AND REDUCTION BY PNEUMOCOCCUS : I. PRODUCTION OF PEROXIDE BY ANAEROBIC CULTURES OF PNEUMOCOCCUS ON EXPOSURE TO AIR UNDER CONDITIONS NOT PERMITTING ACTIVE GROWTH.

1. Anaerobically grown pneumococci rapidly form peroxide upon exposure to molecular oxygen.

2. The peroxide-forming activity of pneumococci varies with different strains, and with the age of the cell.

3. Peroxide production by pneumococcus can proceed under conditions of reaction and temperature that do not permit active growth and multiplication of the cell.