THE CHROMATIN MASSES OF PIROPLASMA BIGEMINDM. 303 



(a) The Clironiatiu in Pairs of Pyriform Infcra- 

 corpuscular Parasites. 



Tliese were the most numerous forms observed, and 

 often in each parasite two distinct masses of chromatin 

 were seen, situated on the sides of the body of the micro- 

 organism at about the middle of its length (text-figs. 1, 

 2,3). For convenience, this position may be termed ^' the 

 equatorio- lateral" — a somewhat cumbrous term, perhaps, 

 and not very correct geometrically — but the position of the 

 chromatin masses in ovoid forms has also to be considered, 

 and in such cases the term will be rather useful. Of these 

 lateral chromatin masses one is nearly always larger than 

 the other (text-figs. 1, 2, 3, etc.), though it cannot always be 

 stated that the smaller chromatin mass is merely " puncti- 

 form," as it often appears relatively larger than the idea 

 of size conveyed to my mind by such a term, and may be 

 surrounded by a somewhat deeply-staining area of cytoplasm. 

 Sometimes the lateral chromatin masses are very nearly 

 equal in size (text-fig. 13). Besides these lateral chromatin 

 masses there is not infrequently a third rather loose mass 

 of chromatin, more mesh-like or woolly in character, often 

 situated at the pointed end or apex of the parasite in the 

 midst of rather deeply-staining granular cytoplasm (text-fig. 

 2). Laveran and Nicolle (3) mentioned the occurrence of 

 numerous granules, easily stained, at the pointed end of the 

 parasite, as we have already briefly noted. They did not con- 

 sider that these granules formed a '' second karyosome " — that 

 is, that they were composed of chromatin, as at first sight 

 appeared, because after slightly decolourising the preparation 

 — which, they state, appeai'ed too deeply stained at first — it 

 could be seeu that this apical mass consisted only of granules 

 (" une agglomeration de granulations"). It seems to me 

 likely that, in decolourising the preparation a little, the 

 characteristic colour-reaction of the chromatin became very 

 faint or was lost, for among these granules of cytoplasm, 

 situated at or near the pointed end of the parasite, 1 feel 



