IQQ DESCRIPTION OF [Polj/gastrica. 



moved, and one wliich at once sti-ikes ub as untenable. Such motions 

 ac^ain Ire partaken in by spei-matozoa and vegetable cells, and cannot 

 be adduced as signs of animaUty. I know nothing more confirmatory 

 of this than the behavioui' of these forms when subjected to certain 

 re-ao-cnts" Dr. B. then assumes that beings endowed "with aiii- 

 mahty, or a sepai-ate individual entity, yield more or less to the 

 influence of electrical and other agents, which appear to act without 

 any disorganizing process." He next states that he found '' electnca 

 shocks sufficient to kill small animals, had no effect on theii' ( Vibnoma) 

 movements. But the application of acids, or other agents acting on 

 the cell-structui^e, soon caused them to cease." Viewing them as 

 Algeous plants throws light on several common phenomena. One m 

 particular is. that the Vihrionia should ahnost invariably be found 

 in infusions and liquids that contain other alg^, and especiaUy the 

 common Forula. For I do not remember ever to have seen the 

 Fonda without Vibrioniar -{Proceedings of the American AsmiaUon 

 for the Advancement of Science, 1850.; 



This famHy is distributed by Ehi^enberg as follows :— 



f T u -u^r. ... Bacterium. 



Articulated threads (cluster.). I Mexible 



Straight, the divisions being <. 



rectangular and transverse ^ flexible, like a snake Vibrio. 



Flexible Spirochoeta. 



Articulated threads spirally twisted 

 (like a bell-spring or coik-screNv j the 

 transverse divisions being oblique 



Inflexible < 



•with a cvlindrlcally , 



extended \ Spirillum, 



spiral form ) 



with a disc-like i 

 compressed spiral / SpirocUscus. 

 form ' 



On this subdivirion of the famUy nin...™ into genera and BpecMS, 

 Dr. Bm-nctt has the following observations: "when we come to 

 organisms as mirmte as these, the distinguishing eharactensties of 

 genera and speeies beeonie too obseui-e and equivoeal to have niueh 

 valne. and the best niieroseopists have arrived at the eonelnsion that 

 Lh distinctions are too refined, and will not bear the test of ex- 



^"' The genns TOm-the simplest, I regard as the first appearance 

 of the young Alpe. existing then as the smallest cells, arranged m 

 linear series. The genera S^r^lm and BacUrnm, composed of 



