S. G. Paine and H. Stansfield 



31 



killed by some poisonous substance and eventually disappear by a pro- 

 cess of solution, the vacuolation of the gum being interpreted as marking 



50/x 

 Fig. 5. Portion of the section shown in Fig. 4, more highly magnified. A, cell containing 

 a gum-like matrix with foamy structure and including a densely granular and deeply 

 stained mass believed to represent bacteria in process of solution, the foamy nature 

 of the matrix may possibly mark the presence of degradation products from similar 

 granules. B, cell containing similar contents, the more open nature of the foam indi- 

 cates perhaps a later stage in the process of degradation. C, cell containing what 

 appear to be oily drops in the gum-like matrix. D, cell containing vacuolate gum in 

 which bacteria-like granules can no longer be recognised. E, a cell similar to that 

 marked A, but out of focus. F, cell A of Fig. 4, containing perfectly structureless 

 amber coloured gum. G, cell B of Fig. 4, containing similar transparent gum but 

 stained fairly strongly with fuchsin, a feature which is taken to indicate that some 

 bacterial substance is still present in the gum. 



the presence of certain degradation products of the bacterial cell. (There 

 may possibly be an analogy here with the solution of a bacillus, as for 



