AND CONTENTS OF THE MOUTH. 73 



In/' (magnified to the same degree) the articulations are also 

 acuminated, but have no halo, and at first are very pale. In suc- 

 cessive days they become partially coloured in the preparation if 

 kept artificially moist. These pale Diplococci, without sheath, 

 appeared to be in a state of active germination, as we detected 

 therein the more minute and proportionally paler forms, some 

 being composed of unequal cocci, and several were moving about 

 in the medium. The forms surrounded by sheath are firmer or 

 less active, as if the capsule indicated the quiescent state of the 

 microbe. In fact, if it moves, it is by a motion of simple transla- 

 tion, without vibrating, as is the case with bacteria in active 

 germination. ""' 



It appears that the capsule, owing to its great refraction, and 

 also to the difficulty the near small bodies find in crossing it, 

 resembles a fatty substance surrounding the microbe or proceed- 

 ing from it. This is only an hypothesis. 



In ^ (magnified to 2,500 diameters) is shown a distinct diplo- 

 coccus, but with the internal articulations nearly cylindrical, with a 

 large and somewhat irregular capsule, resembling the mono-articu- 

 lated bacillus of type q (Fig. 2). The sheath indicates, even here, 

 a quiescent state of the microbe and the successive secretion of 

 pale substance. Some analogy may be found in it to the Bacillus 

 crassus sputigenus of Kreibhom. (See section 3.) 



h. — Intermixed with the diplococci e and /' we find, at times, 

 in the pulmonitic sputum, these forms without a sheath (magnified 

 to 2,500 diameters). In one of these forms we infer the process 

 of increase by seeing the pointed articulation at the right part as 

 pale as in /'. The lengthened part of the mono-articulated 

 bacillus is strongly coloured, and, in a good light, exhibits internal 

 punctuations of deeper colour, especially near the edges : a remark- 

 able circumstance that makes them resemble the Leptothrix, in 

 which are also these punctuations or future gemmules. 



The above forms are met with in the second period of pul- 

 monary affections after the fever has subsided, but may also be 



* In a recent work, Billet states he has met in other species with this form 

 of incapsulated diplococci, and considers it a phase of life common to various 

 species of bacteria. He calls it the zoogloeic state. (This will be again 

 referred to in a note at the end of Section 3. ) 



