190 MORPHOLOGY AND TAXONOMY, FUNGI, ETC. [BoT. Absts., Vol. VIII, 



BACTERIA 



1322. Anonymous. [Rev. of: Gtjerney-Dixon, S. The transmutation of bacteria. 

 xviii + 179 p. University Press: London, 1919.] Nature 105: 131-132. 1920.— "Deals with 

 certain variations, morphological and physiological, which are encountered amongst patho- 

 genic bacteria. *♦♦ mainly a study of bacteriological literature in the English language." — 

 0. A. Stevens. 



1323. Anontmotjs. [Rev. of: Tanner, F. W. Bacteriology and mycology of foods, vi + 

 592 p. John Wiley & Sons, New York, Chapman & Hall, London: 1919.] Sci. Prog. [Lon- 

 don] 15: 160. 1920. 



1324. B[erget], D. H. [Rev. of: Hort, Edward C. The reproduction of aerobic bac- 

 teria. Jour. Hygiene 18:369-408. PI. 4-7. 1920.] Absts. Bact. 4: Entry 893. 1920.— 

 Hort's definition of involution forms of bacteria ("An involution form of bacterium can only 

 mean a bacterium which is undergoing retrogressive, or perhaps , degenerative changes. It is 

 strictly speaking, a sterile organism which is not only incapable of maintaining its reproduc- 

 tive activity, but is also incapable of maintaining its integrity of form.") is at variance with 

 the usual conception of what is meant by the term involution form as it includes also what 

 is commonly meant by the term degeneration form. Hort studied Bacillus typhosus in 4 per 

 cent glucose broth and 4 per cent glucose agar. These media are too high in sugar and become 

 too acid for normal nutrition. "Any opinion formed oh the modes of reproduction of bac- 

 teria when placed under such abnormal conditions must be accepted with great caution." 

 Hort's conclusion that bacteria multiply not only "by the simple process of transverse binary 

 fission into two equal parts," but that "under certain circumstances the lower bacteria are 

 able to reproduce themselves by the production of fertile branches and buds, and by endo- 

 genous production of gonidial bodies, in addition to the more familiar method of equal binary 

 fission," is questioned because "it is evident that any alteration of the osmotic tension of 

 culture media will affect the normal process of fission, but these abnormal figures, which 

 everyone has seen, should not be regarded as being modes of reproduction as Hort believes, 

 but rather, abortive attempts of fission." [See also Bot. Absts. 8, Entry 1328.] — D. Reddick. 



1325. Conn, H. J., and R. S. Breed. A suggestion as to the flagellation of the organisms 

 causing legume nodules. Science 51: 391. 1920. — For some time there has been dispute as 

 to whether legume nodule organisms have 1 or several flagella. Burrell and Hansen 

 claimed that they were monotrichic, whereas various others have observed peritrichic 

 flagella. Hansen now says that he, too, has found peritrichic flagella in cultures from clover, 

 vetch, and alfalfa. Hence he suggests that there may be 2 different groups. The question 

 is raised by the authors whether the cowpea and soy bean organisms may not be monotrichic 

 in young cultures and peritrichic when they are older. — A. H. Chivers. 



1326. Ellis, David. Iron-depositing bacteria. [Rev. of Harder, Edmund Cecil. 

 Iron depositing bacteria and their geologic relations. U. S. Geol. Surv. Professional Paper 113. 

 89 p., pi. 1-12, fig. 1-U. 1919.] Nature 105: 727. 1920. 



1327. H., R. T. [Rev. of: Ellis, D. Iron bacteria, xix + 179 p., 5 pi. Methuen and 

 Co.: London, 1919.] Nature 105: 323. 1920. 



1328. Hort, Edward C. The cultivation of aerobic bacteria from single cells. Jour. 

 Hygiene 18: 361-368. 1 fig. 1920. — Each of the present methods of isolating single cells 

 (Indian ink, squared coverslip, capillary tube, droplet, and Barber methods) is unsatisfac- 

 tory. Objections to each method are stated. — For immersion lens examination the following 

 method is found effective: Etch small rings on coverslips; sterilize slips and slides; spread a 

 thin layer of agar on the slides; prepare a dilute culture and place the smallest possible drop- 

 let of it in the center of a ring; invert slips on the slide and examine to see whether a single 

 cell is present or not; slides bearing a single organism are incubated and examined at fre- 



