INVERTEBRATA, CRYPTOGAMIA, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 1005 



have been seen to form themselves and to become acslomerated in 

 order to constitute the compound cell, while in a simple cell the 

 detached fragments have no known origin nor precise morphological 

 significance. 



The increase of tlie body of the compound cell, resulting from the 

 repeated and simultaneous bipartiticm of its several cylindrical or 

 spherical cells, closely resembles tlie mode of increase of so many 

 constituent parts of the protoplasmic body of a simple cell, for 

 example, of the chlorophyll-grains or nuclei. The recent researches 

 of Baranetzky * have shown that the nucleus is composed of 

 elements bearing the form of rods, and that it increases by the 

 elongation and repeated bipartition of these rods, just as bacteria do ; 

 and that it is this increase itself which, not being able to pass a certain 

 limit, brings about the division. Between a nucleus thus constituted 

 and the body of a compound cell of a Polyhacteria there is a striking 

 resemblance. One day it will perhaps be demonstrated that this 

 similarity of constitution and of growth extends to the whole of the 

 protoplasm of the simple cell. 



A blow is thus, in the opinion of M. Van Tieghem, struck at the 

 view of the cell as an element, whether morphological or physiological, 

 and at the foundation of the cell-theory. 



Development and Fermenting Power of Bacteria.f — Prazmowski 

 has specially studied the development and properties of the genera 

 Bacillus Colin, Clostridium Prz. n. gen., and Vibrio Cohn. Oi Bacillus 

 suhtilis Cohn, he has closely followed both the germination and 

 the formation of the spores. He believes it to have no fermenting 

 power, since it dies the moment it is deprived of oxygen. B. Ulna 

 was found by him in rotten eggs, and in the spore-producing state, 

 but he was not able to connect it with the process of decay. 



The butyric ferment, or " vibrion butyrique " of Pasteur, is known 

 under the various names of Amylobacter Clostridium, Urocejjhalum 

 Trecul, Bacillus Amylohacter v. Tiegh., and Bacterium Navicula Reink. 

 et Berth. Tlie author establishes from it a new genus Clostridium, 

 of which two species arc described. The first, C. butyricnm (Bacillus 

 Amylobacter v. Tiegh.) is completely anaerobic, the spores germinating 

 at one end, instead of, as in Bacillus subtilis, in the middle. The 

 second species, C. Polymyxa Prz., is new, though closely resembling 

 G. butyricum, is almost entirely aerobian, and can only produce its 

 spores under access of oxygen ; when air is excluded, it incites 

 fermentation, but soon dies. 



Vibrio Rur/uln Miiller has only been found by the author along 

 with other bacteria ; the formation of spores was observed, but not 

 germination. It decomposes cellulose. 



The formation of jelly or zooghea-condition of bacteria is believed 

 by Prazmowski to indicate an affinity with the lower Ab'tc. 



Witli regard to the anatomy of the spores, he states that they are 

 * Sfd this Journal, rin/r, p. !>7fl. 



t I'ruziiKiw.ski, A., ' lliitcr.-<iicli. iibor dio EntwickolungspoRoliiolito u. Fer- 

 nifntwiikiiii",' ciniRor Hac-tfiU'ii-Artcn.' Leipzig, 18h0. fcleo ' Hot Zeit ' 

 xxxviii. (KSHO) p. .V2H. 



VOL. in. 3 X 



