THE MYXOSPORIDIA, OR PSOROSPERMS OF FISHES. 267 
89. Chloromyxum (Sphzrospora) ohlmacheri Gurley, 1893. Pl. 40, fig. 8; pl. 41, 
figs. 1-3. 
(Myxosporidia of Bufo lentiginosus Shaw, Ohlmacher, 1893, Journ. Amer. Med. 
Assoc,, XX, pp. 561-7, plate, figs. 1-4.) 
Chloromyxzum ohimacheri, in Whinery, N. Y. Med. Journ., Lyi, pp. 660-662, 
figure. 
Cyst unknown. 
Myxosporidium.—No myxosporidium could be detected. From this 
Ohlmacher concludes that: 
It is probable that, in this case, the parasite did not reach its adult condition in 
its batrachian host, but here only passed one stage of its existence, that is, the spore 
Stage. 
Spore.—Transversely elliptic, about 6 «long and 8 y« broad. Shell 
bivalve, valvejunction plane perpendicular to the longer axis of 
the spore; staining with gentian violet (Graim’s method); exhibiting 
a well-defined undulate-parallel longitudinal striation, the optical 
expression of the spiral-coil structure of the shell. Ridge present, 
marking the line of junction of the valves. No loosened band (appar- 
ently springing, like a loosened barrel hoop, from the uniting edges of 
the spore-valves), such as Lutz describes, could be demonstrated. 
Relative to the arrangement of the spore contents, Ohlmacher says: 
On the side of the pole corpuscles opposite the plasmatic body the vacuole 
occurred. This space was unstained in specimens in which the excess of stain had 
been washed out; but in overstained spores the vacuole retained the dye, though 
not so strongly as the pole corpuscles and the plasmatic body. 
Interpreted in connection with the orientation of the spore, this may 
be construed to mean that the contents of the shell cavity consist (from 
before backward), first, of a clear, nonstaining space (part of the peri- 
cystic space, and of course not to be confounded with the vacuole, which 
is intra-sporoplasmic); next, the capsules, and last (and most poste- 
rior), the sporoplasm.! 
Capsules: Lying side by side, 2, occasionally only 1, a condition 
explicable, at least in part, Olilmacher thinks, as spore mutilation in the 
technique; length, 3 to 3:5 4; staining bright red, but showing no evi- 
dence of structure with Pfitzner’s alcoholic safranin. Relative to their 
position, OhImacher remarks that— 
The situation of these polar corpuscles on the side of the spore is peculiar, and in 
this respect our myxosporidia differ from those thus far described. 
As shown below, this view is due to a nonorientation of the spore. 
In safranin preparations the bright red capsules were frequently 
observed outside of the spores in the tissue of the kidney. Whether 
these extra-sporal capsules had migrated during life or had been dis- 
placed by the technique, it is, Ohlmacher says, impossible to assert 
positively. He continues: 
T am of the opinion, however, that the migration of the pole corpuscles is a natural 
phenomenon in these organisms, and that it has as much or more weight in the life 
1 Subsequent examination of the spore confirmed this orientation. 
