400 ■ 0. CLIFFOKD DOBELL. 



supposed forms. ^ Early workers (e.g. Coliu) noticed, indeed, 

 granular bodies iu many Bacteria, but tliey were unable to 

 reach any definite conclusions regarding their significance. 



If we turn to older books on bacteriology, we find it 

 usually stated that no nucleus is to be found in these 

 organisms. De Bui-y (1884) says: "Nuclei have not yet 

 been observed in Bacteria" (p. 492). Similarly, Zopf (1885) 

 states : '' Until now, nuclei have been looked for in vain iu 

 bacterial cells" (p. 14). Hiippe (1886), whilst })oiiiting out 

 that no nucleus had ever been shown to exist in Bacteria, 

 suggested that the whole bacterial cell might be the homo- 

 logue of the nucleus of other forms. This view has found 

 many subsequent adherents. 



One of the very first to investigate the structure of Bacteria 

 was Kunstler (1887). He described in Spirillum tenue — 

 after fixation with osmic acid, and staining with "noir 

 Collin " or luematoxylin — an alveolar structure of the proto- 

 plasm, with numei'ous granules. In the later publications of 

 Kunstler and his colleagues, descriptions which seem essen- 

 tially similar are given of a number of different Bacteria. 

 The descriptions are usually so incomplete, however, the 

 figures usually so diagrammatic, and the technique employed 

 usually so imperfectly indicated, that I find great difficulty in 

 interpreting his results. (See Kunstler et Busquet [1897, 

 1S98], Kunstler [1900], Kunstler et Giueste [1906, 1906a], 

 etc.) As a rule, Kunstler appears to think that there is, in 

 most Bacteria, no structure comparable with a nucleus. 



Schottelius (1888) claimed to have found nuclei in various 

 Bacteria (B. anthracis, cocci, etc.). These nuclei are said 

 to be in the form of a short rod (bacilli) or spherule (cocci), 

 and to divide in the process of cell-division. They are said 

 to be visible in the living cells, but more distinct in dry films 

 stained with gentian violet. Tlu^ method of fixation is not 

 given. 



' It is perluips wortliy of note that, so late as 1894, it was still 

 dogmatically stated by Haeckel that Bacteria contain no nucleus 

 (' Systematiscl;e Phylogenie der Protisten mid Pflanzen "). 



