THE MVXOSPORIDIA, OR PSOROSPERMS OF FISHES. 267 



89. Ciiloromyxum (Sphaeiospora) ohlmacheri Giuie.v, ISdo. I'l. 40, tig. 8, i>l. 11, 



figs. 1-3. 

 {Myxosporidia of Bufo lentiginosus Shaw, Olilmaclier, 1893, Jonni. Amer. Med. 



Assoc, XX, pp. 561-7, plate, tigs. 1-4.) 

 CMoromixam ohlmacheri, iu Whiuery, N. Y. Med. Joiiru., lviii, pp. G60-()62, 



figure. 



Cyst unknown. 



Myxosporidium. — Ko myxosporidium could be detected. From this 

 Olilinacher concludes that: 



It is probable that, in this case, the parasite did uot reach its adnlt condition in 

 its batxachian host, but hero only passed one stage of its existence, that is, the spore 

 stage. 



Spore. — Transversely elliptic, about // long- and 8 /< broad. Shell 

 bivalve, valvejunction plane per[)endicnlar to the longer axis of 

 the spore; staining with gentian violet (vj rani's method); exhibiting 

 a well-defined undulate-parallel longitudinal striatiou, the optical 

 expression of the spiral-coil structure of the sbell. Ridge present, 

 marking the line of junction of the valves. No loosened band (appar- 

 ently springing;, like a loosened barrel hoop, from tlie uniting edges of 

 the spore-valves), such as Lutz describes, could be demonstrated. 



Ticlative to the arrangement of the spore contents, Olilmacher says: 



On the side of the pole corpuscles opposite the plasmatic body the vacuole 

 occurred. This space Avas unstained in s])c'cimens iu -vvliich the excess of stain had 

 been washed out; but in overstaincd sjiores the vacuole retained the dye, though 

 not so strongly as the pole corpnscles and the plasmatic body. 



Interpreted in connection witli the orientation of the spore, this may 

 be construed to mean that the contents of the shell cavity consist (from 

 before backward), first, of a clear, n on staining space (part of the peri- 

 cystic space, and of course not to be confounded with the Aaouole, which 

 is intra- sporoplasmic); next, the capsules, and last (and most poste- 

 rior), the sporoplasm.^ 



Capsules: Lying side b}' side, 2, occasionally only 1, a condition 

 explicable, at least iu part, Ohlmacher thinks, as spore mutilation in the 

 teclmiqne; length, 3 to 3 -.5 /^; staining bright red, but showing no evi- 

 dence of structure with Pfitzner's alcoholic safranin. Kelative to their 

 position, Ohlmacher remarks that — 



The situation of those polar corpuscles on the side of the spore is i>e(uliar, and in 

 this respect our myxosporidia differ from those thus far described. 



As shown below, this view is due to a nonorientation of the spore. 



In safranin preparations the bright red capsules were frequently 

 observed outside of the spores in the tissue of the kidney. Whether 

 these extra-sporal capsules had migrated during life or had been dis- 

 placed by the technique, it is, Ohlmaclier says, impossible to assert 

 positively. He continues: 



I am of the opinion, however, that the migration of tlu> pole corpuscles is a natural 

 phenomenon in these organisms, and that it has as nuich or more weight in the life 



' Subsequent examination of the spore confirmed this orientation. 



