THE ORGANISMS IN YEAST. 223 



them as " Sprouting Fungi," in which are included yeast-cells of 

 different kinds, which increase by means of sprouts or buds from 

 the surfaces, and " Cleft-Fungi," or Schizomycetes^ more minute 

 spherical, ovoid, or elongated, all which multiply by fission only, 

 and which, sometimes retaining a slight connection one with the 

 other, form unbranched rows, rods, etc. 



Of the first division, there can, I think, be very little doubt as 

 to the closeness of the relationship between it and the moulds^ as 

 from Pasteur's researches the latter appear capable, under certain 

 circumstances, of assuming the functions of an alcoholic ferment, 

 and at the same time modifying materially their characteristic fea- 

 tures and development. Of the " Cleft-Fungi " Naegeli says : — 

 " I have during the last ten years examined some thousands of 

 different fission ferment-cells, but (excluding Sarcind) I could not 

 assert that there was any necessity to separate them into even two 

 specific kinds." Hence he considers that all the organisms which 

 multiply in this manner, however varying in shape, are best con- 

 sidered as one class, which he places among the Fungi under the 

 name of Schizoniycetes. These views are to some extent supported 

 by Cienkowski, who, while considering many of the Bacterial forms 

 to belong to the Algae rather than to the Fungi, does not see suffi- 

 cient ground for distinguishing them into numerous species. On 

 the other hand, Cohn, and many other highly-skilled observers, 

 hold entirely different opinions, considering that sufficiently distin- 

 guishing features exist to admit of an elaborate classification, though 

 to some extent of a provisional nature, and viewing Naegeli's ScJiizo- 

 mycdes as nearer alHed to the Alg^e than to the Fungi, have placed 

 them with the former under the name of Schizophytes. Pasteur, 

 who has investigated the subject from a more purely technical 

 point of view, has not troubled himself with nomenclature further 

 than was necessary for his immediate purpose, and has adhered to 

 the old terms. I am not prepared to commit myself to any defi- 

 nite opinion as to the whole subject, but I may point out that the 

 difference in the action of certain well-defined form-species, and 

 the fact that the medium which will support some varieties will 

 not meet the requirements of others, indicates in an unmistake- 

 able manner that certain definite varieties exist differing in other 

 points beyond mere form. Some years since, Dr. Roberts pro- 



