60 THE BACTERIA IN ASIATIC CHOLERA. [CH. in. 



transverse division. This ordinary or typical mode, as 

 observed in various bacilli, consists in the elongation of a 

 single bacillus, and the subsequent transverse fission of this 

 into two new rod-shaped elements. That this is also the 

 ordinary mode of propagation of the comma-bacilli is proved 

 (a) by the different lengths in which comma-bacilli occur, 

 (b} by the S-shaped forms, (c) by the chains, wavy and more 

 or less spiral, representing in reality a series of comma- 

 bacilli placed end to end. But in our instances we have to 

 deal with a mode of propagation essentially different from 

 the above; for here a single comma-bacillus does not 

 elongate, but by vacuolation becomes thicker, and changes 

 finally into a more or less rounded or oval form, giving then 

 origin to two new comma-bacilli. This mode may be 

 described as the atypical mode of division, or division after 

 vacuolation. 



