MICROPHYTES FOUND IN THE BLOOD. 



359 



fission-yeast cells, but (excluding sarcince) I could not assert 

 that there was any necessity to separate them into even two 

 specific kinds.-"^ On the other hand, there is not sufficient 

 evidence to show that all the forms constitute in reality but one 

 species.^ 



Notwithstanding the circumstances that the scTiizomycetes 

 assume, within certain limits, such diff'erent aspects (and the 

 experience of such an authority as Niigeli on such a matter as 

 this cannot be lightly set aside), it is, nevertheless, convenient, 

 irrespective of any particular theories, that terms should be 

 adopted which will suffice to distinguish the leading forms. 



Dujardin suggested three terms for the group : (1) bacterium^ 

 (2) vibrio, and (3) spirillutn. Notwithstanding the great advance 

 which has been made in our knowledge of these organisms since 

 the date of Dujardin's classification, there still remains very much 

 to be done before anything like a satisfactory settlement of the 

 matter can be accomplished. It will, therefore, perhaps he 



Fig. 1. — Various forms of lission-fun^i — Schizomycetes. A, Spherical bac- 

 teria {Bacterium puncium) ; B, Elongated bacteria {Bacterium termo) ; 

 c, Vibrions ; d, Bacilli ; e, Spirilla, x 600 diam. 



better for the present to accept these simple terms, especially 

 as, with very trifling modifications, they are sufficient to indicate 

 all the forms which have hitherto been found in the blood. The 

 following brief description will suffice to explain what forms of 

 this group of organisms are comprehended by the terms adopted : 

 1, Spherical bacteria — minute, vitahsed bodies, barely visible with 

 the highest powers (fig. 1, a); 2, Elongated bacteria — almost 

 equally minute cylindrical rods (fig. 1, b) ; 3, Vibriones — short, 

 undulating filaments manifesting somewhat screw-like movements 

 (tig. 1, c) ; 4, Bacilli, or Vibrio-bacilli — fine, short filaments, 

 indistinctly jointed, which, when they attain considerable length, 

 are sometimes described as leptothrix filaments (fig. 1, d) ; 5, 



1 Op. cit., p. 20. 



2 Op. cit., p. 22. 



Also A. de Bary, ' Ueber Schimnie] und Hefe,' 1869. 



