ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 449 



characteristic orcinol hydrochloric acid reaction, and with phenyl- 

 hydrazin formed an osazone which melted at 153°-155°. 



The pentose was found to he contained in the nucleo-proteids of the 

 bacilli. A mixture of fascal bacteria cultivated in urine, and the bacilli 

 of diphtheria, both showed the pentose reactions, but the bacillus of 

 typhoid gave negative results. 



Influence of Temperature and Nutriment on the Motility of 

 Bacteria.* — Dr. T. Matzuschita states that incubation temperature is 

 unsuitable for the motility of bacteria, as he found that these microbes 

 immediately, or after a few days, lost their power of moving, but re- 

 tained it much longer at room temperature. In bouillon movements 

 were preserved longer than on agar and much longer than on potato. 

 Bacillus pyocyaneus and Vibrio cholerse asiaticse retained the power 

 longer and more strongly than other bacteria. Bacillus Jluorescens 

 liquefaciens on potato at 20° did not move after the first day, while B. 

 pyocyaneus was moving up to the eleventh. For examining the motility 

 of bacteria the author found it advisable to use bouillon cultures at room 

 temperature 1-3 days old. 



Reduction of Sulphates in Brackish Water by Bacteria.f — Prof. E. 

 H. Saltet discusses the results obtained by Mulder, Beijerinck, and 

 Stokvis on investigations on the reduction of sulphates by bacteria. His 

 own observations lead him to believe that the reduction of sulphates to 

 sulphides takes place in two or perhaps more stages ; at any rate, there 

 is first reduction to sulphites by Bacillus desulfuricans, and then other 

 bacteria effect the reduction to hydrogen sulphide. 



Aerobic Spore-bearing Bacilli-! — Dr. W. W. Ford, in a short com- 

 munication, gives details relative to some sporogenous bacilli, eight of 

 which are new. They are divided into two groups, pathogenic and non- 

 pathogenic, of five each. Both groups grew well on the ordinary culture 

 media, and spore-formation was rapid. They do not form gas in carbo- 

 hydrate media. They coagulate milk, and liquefy casein, gelatin, and 

 blood. On potato and on gelatin the growth was characteristic. 



All were potential anaerobes, but some failed to grow in the closed 

 arm of the fermentation tube. Their source of origin was liver of rabbit, 

 guinea-pig, and cat, kidney of rabbit, the human stomach, and pleural 

 exudate. 



Branching of Spirilla.§ — Dr. H. Beichenbach records some interest- 

 ing observations on certain appearances closely resembling branching 

 which were found on microscopical examination of the sediment of a 

 bouillon culture. This culture had been kept for six days at 33° • 5. 

 Extremely long spirals, some with as many as 70 turns, were noted. The 

 branched, or T-shaped forms to which attention is drawn usually pre- 

 sented a swelling at the point of junction of the arms, and, as is well 

 shown in the illustrations, exhibited the appearance of ganglion cells. 

 The arms of the T were often devoid of waviness, and a development of 



* Centralbl. Bakt., 2 te Abt., vii. (1901) pp. 209-14. 



f Op. cit., vi. (1900) pp. 648-51, 695-703. 



t Bull. Johns Hopkins Hosp., xiL (1901) pp. 13-5. 



§ Centra lbl. Bakt, l* 6 Abt., xxix. (1901) pp. 553-7 (1 pi.). 



Aug. 21st, 1901 2 h 



