Abstract
Fecal specimens taken from 29 dogs showing diarrhea and 8 dogs given a pur-gative, magnesium sulfate were examined for the bacterial floras. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1) There was no significant difference in the total viable count between the fecal samples collected during diarrhea and those obtained after recovery .2) The counts of Lactobacillus of diarrheal feces were markedly smaller than those of healthy ones and none was detected in a considerable number of diarrheal samples. Bifidobacterium also tended to decrease in number during diarrhea. 3) Bacteroides and Enterobacteriaceae tended to increase in number during diarrhea and predominated in many samples. 4) Clostridium and Streptococcus counts were not affected by diarrhea .5) As a whole, the natural flora of diarrheal feces was similar to that of experimental diarrhea induced with the purgative. 6) It was recognized in both natural and experimental diarrhea that the flora persisted for sometime after disappearance of diarrhea.
