ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 1)5 



readily neutralized by the addition of alkali nes. The inhibitory effect 

 is doubtless produced by the formation of acids (lactic and acetic) by 

 the bacillus from the sugar in the medium in which it is grown. B. 

 bifidus is generally found in the intestinal tract of breast-fed infants, 

 and it is not unreasonable to suppose that the acid reaction of the fasces 

 of such infants is due to the activities of this organism, which, therefore, 

 plays an important part in the protection of the intestine against the 

 harmful influence of pathogenic micro-organisms. 



Sulphur Bacteria.* — G. A. Nadson describes a number of interesting 

 sulphur bacteria from brackish water in the Gulf of Finland. Two of 

 the forms described are peculiar, from the fact that the cells contain in 

 addition to stored sulphur a substance which readily decomposes into 

 oxalic acid. These bacteria live in badly aerated mud, and by increasing 

 the oxygen supply the oxalite-like substance was found to increase and 

 the accumulation of sulphur to diminish, and vice-versa. A remarkable 

 new genus of sulphur bacteria called Thiosphasrella was discovered which 

 contained in its cells large quantities of a starch -like substance. The 

 other forms described are new species of the genera Achromatium and 

 Thiophysa. 



Spirochetosis of the Bovine Hemoglobinuria of Chile.f — J. 

 Blier, after describing the chief symptoms, states that at the outset of 

 the disease an organism can be found. It is longer than most known 

 spirochai'tes, sometimes exceeding 60 /x and then being 1 /x thick. When 

 shorter it is swollen in the middle. Sometimes the undulations are of 

 regular amplitude, but this is not invariable. One extremity of the 

 body is thinner than the other, and the organism takes a uniform Giemsa 

 staining. Stained with Borrel's eosin-blue, bright red granules become 

 apparent. An excellent photograph revealed a flagellum at each end. 



* Bull. Imperial Bot. Gard. Petrograd, siii. No. 4. See also Nature, xciv. (1914) 

 p. 458. 



t Cornptes Rendus, clix. (1914) pp. 815-1 



Feb. 17th, 191( 



