264 Amejican Quarterly Microscopical Journal. 



The well-directed and patient observations, on some of the 

 microscopic plants, begin to throw light upon subjects of vast 

 importance to the human race. In the first number of this journal is 

 the commencement of a paper by Mr. Frank B. Hine, on some forms 

 of Saprolegniese. The illustrations show, in a beautiful manner, 

 something of their life-history. This is a large, and doubtless much 

 varied, family of plants. They are all microscopic. The much- 

 talked of and little known Bacteria, for the present, I presume, 

 may be included among the Saprolegnieae. They are connecting 

 links between the Algae and Fungi. They contain in their cells no 

 protoplasm, but feed upon living or dead animals. They have the 

 habit of moulds and the fructification of Algae. They are great 

 enemies to fish and other animals in our aquaria ; and there 

 is good reason for the belief that the terrible fatality among fish in 

 some of our waters, at times, may be owing to the spread or 

 propagation of some of these plants. Favoring conditions would 

 disseminate the spores with wonderful rapidity. Their growth, 

 according to Mr. Hine's observations, required thirty hours from 

 the sowing of zoospores to the maturity of the sporangium or the 

 discharge of the new crop of zoospores. This is the slowest mode 

 of reproduction. Other modes which, in other plants are very 

 rapid, are probably no less so in this. 



But it is not the rapid growing and propagation of these germs, 

 or microscopic organisms, that is directly fatal. The air and 

 water, and much of the food we eat, are full of them ; and so long 

 as our bodies are free from septic matters that may be associated 

 with the growth of these organisms, we have no occasion to 

 fear them. We may breathe, eat, and drink them in myriads. 

 They may pass through the lacteals and lymphatics, course 

 through the whole extent of the circulation and pass out with the 

 excretions, as it has been demonstrated by experiment, and our 

 bodies do not suffer nor feel their presence. Bacteria, or any other 

 form of the Saprolegnieaee, are not poisonous while in active 

 growth and separated from decomposing matter. They have been 

 injected into the blood with impunity. 



Decomposing animal, and possibly vegetable, matters may 

 develop a virulent poison. This is not" an organism with life, but a 

 chemical compound. Dr. Burdon-Sanderson has. named it pyrogen. 

 When bacteria and decomposing tissues produce chemical changes 

 then is life endangered. 



I have kept animals and plants in the same water for months, 



