704 ABSTRACTS 



first few days, after which there was a more gradual reduction. Strep- 

 tococci seldom resisted drying and light longer than a week, nor diph- 

 theria bacilli more than three weeks. 



Ascitic broth cultures sometim.es showed the presence of a few sur- 

 viving diphtheria bacilli and streptococci after plate cultures had 

 failed. 



The reduction in the number of bacteria in mucus and in mem- 

 branes took place much more slowly if the light was partially ex- 

 cluded (as would be the case where membranes were deposited under a 

 bed or in a dark closet). None of the streptococci remained alive as 

 long as three weeks, nor the diphtheria bacilli as long as ten weeks. 



T. G. H. 



Life Cycles of the Bacteria {Preliminary Communication). F. Lohnis 



AND N. R. Smith. J. Agr. Res., 1916, 6, 675-702. 



If the writers' claims are true, they will almost revolutionize our 

 conceptions of the morphology of bacteria. They claim that a single 

 species may pass through as many as twelve or fourteen distinct mor- 

 phological forms, varying from tiny, filterable "gonidia" to large, 

 unorganized masses of "synplasm" formed by the fusion of smaller 

 elements. None of these are dead or attentuated forms (although 

 often described in the past as involution forms), even the "synplasm" 

 being capable of development into organized cells, passing through an 

 intermediate stage in which very small granules appear, called by the 

 writers "regenerative units." The writers distinctly say, however; 

 "We beg to point out that by discussing the life cycles of the bacteria 

 we do not intend to revive any of those unclear theories concerning 

 bacterial polymorphism or pleomorphism. The development of the 

 bacteria is characterized not by the irregular occurrence of more or 

 less abnormal forms but by the regular occurrence of many different 

 forms and stages of growth connected with each other by constant 

 relations." 



The writers' most thorough studies have been made on B. asoto- 

 bacter. They show that there are four groups of the different forms 

 of growth of this organism, and that ordinarily any culture shows 

 only one of these groups of growth forms. It is so seldom that a 

 culture develops forms of one of the other groups that separate species 

 have undoubtedly in the past been based upon these morphological 

 differences. The writers have studied a few other bacteria in lesser 

 detail, and have evidence that they also pass through similar life 

 cycles. — H. J. C. 



The Inhibiting Action of Certain Spices on the Growth of Microorgan- 

 isms. Freda M. Bachmann. Jour. Ind. and Eng. Chem., 1916, 8, 

 620. 



The author has studied the antiseptic action of ground spices, 

 their alcoholic extracts, essential oils and active principles, on pure 

 cultures of mold spores and filaments, and of bacteria. Molds were 



