IN\^RTEBRATA, CRYPTOGAMIA, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 927 



actually caused was not of an intermittent cliaracter. The animals 

 artificially infected with intermittent fever showed precisely the same 

 acute enlargement of the spleen as human patients who have caught 

 the disease in the ordinary way, and in the spleens of these animals a 

 large quantity of the characteristic form of fungus was present. The 

 fungus was also found abundantly in other lymphatic vessels of the 

 animals. As the fungus here grows into the shape of small rods, 

 Tommasi and Klebs gave it the name of Bacillus malarke. 



The strictly scientific method jjursued in this investigation does 

 not admit of a doubt that the accomplished investigators have really 

 discovered the cause of the disease in question. The discovery may 

 be regarded as another of the series of which those in connection 

 with inflammation of the spleen and diphtheritis were earlier examples. 

 Against the intermittent fever poison, which is connected with this 

 newly-discovered microscopic fungus, the medical art was formerly as 

 powerless as it is still against diphtheritis and inflammations of the 

 spleen. For intermittent fever, however, medicine was provided with 

 a remedy when the virtues of quinine were made known, and it may be 

 reasonably expected that, as in the latter case, so against the poison 

 of the diphtheritic fungus and that of sjtlenetic inflammation, medical 

 science will sooner or later discover their appropriate antidote. 



It is announced * that Drs. Marchiafava and Valenti have since 

 detected the Bacillus in human patients in a more advanced stage than 

 in the animals originally dissected. 



Development of Bacteria-f — The following are the results of a 

 series of experiments undertaken by A. Prazmowski in the botanical 

 laboratory at Leipzig on the development of various bacteria, and 

 especially on their alleged power of producing spores. 



1. Bacillus sithtilis. With regard to this species, the author fully 

 confirms the observations of Brefeld with respect to the jiroduction 

 and germination of the sj)ores. But as regards the statement of Cohn 

 and Van Tieghem, that it is the cause of butyric fermentation, he 

 believes he has proved that this is certainly not the case. 



2. The butyric ferment, Vibrion butyrique, Amylohacter, or 

 Bacillus Amylohacter. The young rods are difficult to distinguish 

 from those of B. suhtilis ; but in nutrient solutions they develop 

 into longer and distinctly septated threads. The formation of the 

 zoogloea-form is, however, very different. A single rod is always the 

 origin of a zoogloea-colony ; after coming to rest it divides into two 

 derivative rods, which then separate and lie nearly side by side. 

 After this has been repeated several times, a copious development of 

 mucilage takes place. The author contests Van Tieghem's statement 

 that this organism has the power of causing fermentation in cellulose 

 and other carbo-hydrates, maintaining, on the contrary, that the 

 substance produced is always butyric acid, as is proved by the smell 

 as well as by chemical analysis. 



3. Vibrio Bugula. This bacterium was found in cultures of the 

 butyric ferment. 



4. Bacillus Ulna. This species is readily distinguished from 

 * Loc. cit., Nov. 12. t ' B"t. Zeit.,' xxxvii. (1879) p. 409. 



