THE MICROSCOPE. 163 



material broken up into infinitesimal fragments, except that they 

 form chaplets or bead-like chains from their mode of growth by 

 transverse division or forming zoogloca when at rest. They do not 

 require decomposition of the substance for their growth, as with the 

 bacteria, and do not have their primary object to help or hasten 

 decomposition as with them, but may live in any material adapted 

 for their growth, particularly vital or animal fluids. The blood- 

 serum of living animals is a favorite place of resort; some cling 

 about the red corpuscles, others fill and burst the white corpuscles, 

 while others fill the serum so much as to disturb the circulation 

 among the finer tissues and produce various effects peculiar with 

 certain zymotic and contagious diseases. They precede the work of 

 bacteria, or their work ceases where bacteria commence theirs, as 

 they may work previous to and independent of decomposition. 

 They form nitrogenous compounds in part, and finally produce 

 poisonous effects. They generally will have their "run," as anti- 

 septics can only check their growth in a limited measure at best, 

 and like all parasitic growth, keep on till the material affords too 

 little support for further growth, when the physical system assumes 

 the mastery, particularly over the lesser malignant species, as in 

 scarlatina, malaria, varioloid, etc. 



Many species, however, are so destructive and absorbent of all 

 the material substance, that they leave almost, if not incurable 

 effects, as in glanders, syphilis, leprosy, etc. Their effects are so 

 certain and invariable that, with their color, forms and symptoms 

 produced, they can be safely classified into very many separate 

 species — many more than Cohn and others have already classified. 



Whatever may be their real object in nature is yet a mystery. 

 They seem to live on or with the nitrogenous material principally, 

 and die out when that has been peculiarly affected, and also die in 

 pure water, in air, or by dispersion under unfavorable conditions. 

 Whether they are for good or evil is a question, but no doubt they 

 may have some good effect, not known; yet, being parasitic, their 

 immediate or direct effect is always unfavorable. They most cer- 

 tainly puzzle the doctor, as well as the microscopist. 



F. W. McAllister has just issued some new circulars of 

 Gundlach's goods. He has some fine normal and pathological 

 specimens. 



