NON-PATHOGENIC BACTERIA. 229 



Spirillum or Spirochaeta plicatile. Found in swamp 

 water; spiral forms of various lengths; sometimes 100 to 

 200 /* long; actively motile. 



The spirilla (vibrios or comma-shaped forms), closely 

 resembling the spirillum of cholera, will be considered in 

 connection with that organism. A form of chronic pseudo- 



FIG. 51. 



Spirilla from Swamp Water, showing Flagella, Loffler Stain. (X 1000.) 



membranous inflammation of the pharynx has been attrib- 

 uted to an organism called the fusiform bacillus or spirillum 

 of Vincent. 1 



Higher Bacteria. Certain organisms (beggiatoa, thio- 

 thrix, leptothrix, cladothrix, actinomyces or streptothrix) 

 of more complicated structure than most bacteria, but re- 

 sembling them in many respects, are called " higher bac- 

 teria." They consist of definite filaments which are usually 

 made up of rod-shaped elements, but the relation between 

 these elements is very intimate. Some of them (beggiatoa, 



1 Mayer, American Journal Medical Sciences, Vol. 123, 1902, p. 187. 



