136 PARASITIC AMOEBAE OF MAN. 



less differentiated and surrendering large quantities 

 of chromatin to the cytoplasm. In the stained speci- 

 mens the casting off of these chromatin granules can 

 be followed step by step. The amount of chromatin 

 in the cytoplasm increases until the entire organism 

 appears to be filled with it while the remainder of the 

 nucleus degenerates. 



" In observing these forms during life the fol- 

 lowing phenomena are noted: The nucleus is located 

 at the periphery of the parasite generally in the shape 

 of a flat disc at the border of the ectoplasm. Some- 

 times it is entirely expelled while under the eye of the 

 observer. The peripheral ectoplasm portion appears 

 at first entirely homogeneous, but as the process 

 proceeds a fine fibrous structure is observed parallel 

 to the surface, indicating the formation of the buds 

 which finally project from the surface of the organ- 

 ism. Gradually these small elevations multiply, rise 

 higher upon the surface, and finally separate in the 

 shape of small globules measuring from 3 to 7 microns 

 in diameter. In a short time these globules without 

 changing in structure will develop upon their surface 

 a colorless double outline membrane which in a few 

 hours becomes brownish in color, the interior of the 

 globule appearing structureless, while the parent- 

 amoeba gradually breaks up and disappears. 



" A staining of this series of stages gives the 



