THE MICROSCOPE. 



117 



9 Bacteria. In the air the proportion was 66 Micrococci, 13 Bacilli, 

 and 21 Bacteria. 



The development of these little organisms in sown liquors is 

 followed under the microscope by means of the moist chamber, an 

 invention of Messrs. Van Tieghem & Lemonnier. This apparatus 

 (Fig. 9) consists of a hollow glass cylinder, H, at the bottom of 



fig. 8. 



which there is placed a little water, which is afterwards covered 

 with a thin piece of glass, LL. To the under surface of this latter 

 is attached the culture liquid containing the spore that is to germin- 

 ate therein, both being introduced by means of the rod, T. The 

 moist chamber is placed on the stage, PP, of the microscope, under 



fig. 9. 



the objective, O. Mr. Miquel has in this way studied the evolu- 

 tions of a bacillus, which afterward became transformed into a 

 micrococcus (Fig. 10). He has also shown the phenomenon of the 

 devulcanization of India-rubber, through a bacterium which is very 

 frequent in sewage waters. This schizophyte furnishes nascent 



