432 BACTERIA OF THE SPUTA 



in the patina of the tongue and in the deep strata of the patina 

 dentaria. 



II. — Phase of infernal gemmulation or budding and dissemhia- 

 tion. This partly corresponds to the dissociated state of Billet, 

 through the disarticulation of the knots of the single filaments, or 

 through setting free the included bacteria ; and it is clear that the 

 unstable condition of the nutrient medium continuing, and conse- 

 quently the passage to the superior phases being prevented^ no 

 other way of perpetuating the species is left to these micro-organ- 

 isms than the inferior reproduction or simple multiplication by 

 shoots and gemmules. Looked at in this way, this phase would 

 even comprise that held by Billet as endogenous sporulation, but 

 which are, at least in our parasite, gemmules of reserve, properly 

 destined to the multiplication of the species, in a neuter state, 

 through simple fission of the elements, when the genuine repro- 

 duction, by means of seminules or spores, is not possible, or when 

 the fertile filaments have been dissevered or cut by mechanical 

 injuries. 



III. — Protective phase. This phase fully corresponds to the 

 zoogloeic state and to certain conditions of the dissociated state of 

 Billet, as we have pointed out in the first paragraph. The presence 

 of such forms has been undoubtedly detected in the mouth, and 

 even within the relative epithelia. They would appear to be a 

 kind of reserved fund, preserved in case of any alteration of the 

 future conditions of pabulum and surroundings, as the author 

 properly says. We shall speak by-and-by of the relationship of 

 this phase with the diplococcus of pneumonia. 



Here Billet would end the evolutionary cycle, for us, on the 

 contrary, these first phases would only constitute a cycle, at times 

 preliminary, at times succedaneous to the second or superior cycle. 

 The varied elements of the first cycle, being taken separately and 

 held as special beings or complete living individuals (filaments, 

 baciUi, bacteria, and cocci), are in reality only particles, trunks, 

 organs, series of cellules, or cellules endowed mostly with fissipa- 

 rous multiplication, but destined to constitute a more complex 

 organism. 



Superior Cycle. — This comprises the phases of the properly 

 called life of reproduction, and these phases are three. 



