GENERAL SYSTEMATIC BACTERIOLOGY 273 



amount of constancy in that a coccus will for a long time form cocci, 

 and bacteria similarly produce bacteria. Both types of growth forms 

 may produce a gelatinous capsule, forming cell plates (Petalococcos and 

 Petalobacteria) or cell masses (Gliacoccos) or cocci may enlarge greatly 

 and the contents divide forming a cell mass inside a capsule (Asco- 

 coccos). The rod-shaped forms may multiply in the same manner. 

 Chains of cells {Streptococcos and Streptohaderia) may be formed. 

 At certain times any of these ceU types may show motihty when not 

 surrounded by capsular material and when not too large. 



Billroth's conceptions of bacterial classification and growth have 

 been disproved by time. The name Coccohacteria as a generic desig- 

 nation has never come into use. 



The name was also proposed by Schroeter (1886, p. 143) for his 

 fourth order of bacteria and as a synonym for Sphaerobacteria Cohn. 

 It contained one family only Coccacei. It included all bacteria in 

 which the cells are spherical or short elliptical, always non-motile, 

 frequently united in shmy masses or definite famihes, spores if any, 

 arthrospores. The diagnosis given by Schroeter is as follows: 



Vegetative Zellen kuglig oder kurz elliptisch, zu keiner Zeit ihrer Entwicke- 

 lung zu Stabchen- oder Fadenform auswachsend, immer unbewegt. Die einzel- 

 nen Individuen im Substrat resp. der von ihnen gebildeten Schleimmasse zer- 

 streut oder in typischer Art zu bestimmt geformten Familien vereinigt. Die 

 einzelnen Individuen oder auch die Familien oft mit scharf begrenzten Gallert- 

 hiillen umzogen. Sporen, soweit sie bekannt, aus einem vollstandigen Zell- 

 Individuum hervorgehend (Arthrosporen). 



The name has not been used by other authors as a bacterial order. 

 Coccobacteriaceae. A name proposed by Orla-Jensen (1921, p. 264) 

 in the statement: 



As to the family names of the bacteria, it will be convenient to let all of them 

 end in -Bacteriaceae, by which it will be seen directly what is in question. If 

 there are to be formed families of the cocci and spirilla, they must consequently 

 be termed Coccobacteriaceae and Spirillobacteriaceae (or by the older name of 

 Zopf, Spirobacteriaceae) . 



Coccobacterium. According to Trevisan (1887, p. 105) this term as 

 a generic designation was first used by Rivolta. The former author 

 states : 



Rivolta sembra che miri a risuscitare I'appellativo Coccobacterium per un 

 genere di sui non fa conoscere ne caratteri, ne limiti, di cui cita solo una seconda 

 specie, il Cocco-batterio della tuberculosi, che per ogni altro e un Bacillus; e natur- 

 almenti non potra essere seguito de veruno. 



