AND CONTENTS OF THE MOUTH. 315 



would weigh a centigramme) ; and the small sporules, taking a 

 bright colour with aniline, are in some instances disposed in six 

 longitudinal series, making a total of 720 for each ear. They are 

 linked together and fastened to the stalk by means of an amor- 

 phous substance difficult to be coloured.* However, other fila- 

 ments, less numerous than these, at times multiply ; and lastly, 

 branching off, bear certain productions by pomts^ or pseudo inflo- 

 rescences, formed of spindle-like, snake-like, or comma bacilli 

 ( Spirillu7ii sputigenum), destined from all appearance, through 

 their lively activity, to the function of conjugation. Finally, there 

 are gemmules in reserve, which (together with the multiplication 

 of the proper sporules) are destined to diffuse the species in the 

 unstable substrata or in the products and in the liquid secretions. 



The fructification by ears can be reproduced, even in the sputa 

 and in certain small flakes of the urethral mucus. 



VII. — Of the six primary species of fungi of the mouth, lately 

 described by Miller, there would, in fact, exist only one — the Lep- 

 tothrix buccalis of Robin {Leptothrix innominafa of Miller), or, at 

 most, a second one— the Spirillum {Spirochmte dentimn of Miller). 

 'I'he other four types would represent, if we are not mistaken, only 

 phases or disintegrated particles of the microphyte — viz., Bacillus 

 buccalis maximus and Leptothrix buccalis maxima., fragments of the 

 stumps that form the inferior layer of vegetation; \.\\q Jodococcus 

 vaginafus series of special sheaths of bacteria proceeding from 

 certain gemmules of reserve enclosed in the filaments ; the Spiril- 

 lum sputigenum (comma bacilli) with our spindle-like and serpen- 

 tine ; appendages detached from the pseudo inflorescences, and 

 probably male organs. 



All these particles or articulations cut from the mother plant 

 (except the last — viz., copulative filaments) multiply by them- 

 selves, in various ways, according to the condition of the nutrient 

 substratum, in the liquid menstrua or on firm soil. 



VIII. — The study of such vegetable forms, in the contents of 

 the mouth as well as in sputa (especially of the fructification by 

 ears\ requires special rules and care and proper optical means, 



* Owing to the connecting of the sporules to the central stalk, by means of 

 peduncles or engrafting threads, visible with a new objective (i/25th in. objec- 

 tive). See former Note. 



