BY A. JEFFERIS TURNER, M.D., LOND. 83. 



such a drop, on a hollow slide carefully sealed with vaseline, 

 has been in the incubator for twelve hours, it is observed to be 

 full of actively motile rods, similar to those of the hay bacillus, 

 but more slender. Filaments are not developed. After twenty- 

 four hours most of the rods are unaltered, but a considerable 

 number have lost their motility and show commencement of 

 spore formation. The first change observable is a fusiform 

 thickening near one extremity of the rod. This is at first 

 devoid of structure, but soon is observed to contain a highly 

 refractile particle, which gradually increases in size to form a 

 mature spore. The spore-bearing rods have somewhat of a 

 drumstick form, but the enlargement is seldom quite at the 

 extremity of the rod, and has not the circular form displayed by 

 the spore-bearing rods of Bac. tetani. The spores and rods can 

 be doubly stained by suitable methods. For the formation of 

 spores, a plentiful supply of oxygen appears to be necessary. 

 When grown in broth this bacillus does not form any scum, but 

 a deposit is formed at the bottom, which, when disturbed by the 

 platinum needle, appears to be of a ropy consistence like mucus. 

 A hanging drop of this ropy deposit shows immotile rods, soine 

 of which show fusiform enlargements, but none contain spores. 

 If the hanging-drop preparation be kept a day or two in the 

 incubator, the ordinary motile and spore-bearing rods are 

 developed. The spores, are, however, only formed in scanty 

 numbers, and most of the rods grow into long filaments, which 

 are not observed in primary hangmg-drop cultures. 



Bacillus e is a large, stout, non-motile bacillus occurring in 

 straight rods with rounded ends, and in long, curved, jointed 

 filaments. Grown in a hanging drop of bouillon m the 

 incubator, it forms within twelve hours a massive growth of 

 tangled filaments ; after twenty-four hours these break up into 

 rods, many of which contain spores. On agar, and on potato, 

 it forms a copious thick white growth. In an early stage this is 

 seen under a low power to consist of convoluted bands or 

 skeins like those of Bar. mhtiJis, but not throwing out isolated 

 loops at the periphery. The growths, unlike those of the 

 preceding, rapidly increase in thickness, so as to disguise their 

 structure. Slab cultures in gelatine undergo rapid liquefaction, 

 and small superficial floating Hakes form at the periphery of 

 the liquefied portion. 



