8 THE BACTERIA IN ASIATIC CHOLERA. [CH. 



long as tubercle-bacilli, but much more bulky, thicker, and 

 slightly curved. This curve is generally not more marked 

 than that of a comma ; but sometimes it is larger, becoming 

 semicircular. In other cases it is seen that the curve is 

 doubled, that one comma is attached to another, but in an 

 opposite direction, so that it forms the shape of S- I think 

 that, in both cases, two individual ones after being divided 

 have remained stuck together, and accordingly give the 

 appearance of a more marked curve. But in the artificial 

 cultivations, besides these, another very remarkable form of 

 development of the comma-bacillus is to be found, which is 

 very characteristic of it. 



" The comma-bacilli frequently grow in threads of longer 

 or shorter length. But they do not then form straight threads, 

 like other bacilli, for instance, anthrax-bacilli, or, as it ap- 

 pears in the microscopic picture, simple wavy threads, but 

 very long slender spirals, which, as far as their length and 

 the rest of their appearance are concerned, bear the closest 

 resemblance to the spirochaetae of relapsing fever. I could 

 not distinguish one from the other if I had them side by side. 

 Owing to this peculiar form of development, I am also 

 inclined to the view that the comma-bacillus is not a genuine 

 bacillus, but that it is, properly speaking, a transition-form 

 between bacilli and spirilla. Perhaps, indeed, we have here 

 to deal with a genuine spirillum, of which we have a fragment 

 before us. It is seen also in other spirilla for instance, in 

 spirillum undula that very short specimens do not form 

 the complete thread of a screw, but only consist of a short 

 little staff, which is more or less curved. 



" The comma-bacilli can be cultivated in meat-broth. 

 They grow in this liquid extremely quickly, and in great 

 numbers ; and this property of theirs can be utilised for 

 studying their other qualities, by examining with a strong 



