SEGMENT A TION FORMS. 479 



then undergo segmentation, i.e., sporulation, but not all of 

 them do so; many become degenerated and ultimately 

 break down. 



3. Segmentation or Sporulation Forms. In the process 

 of segmentation or sporulation, the pigment becomes col- 

 lected into a small central mass, and from it as a centre, lines 

 radiate outwards and divide the protoplasm into regular 

 segments (Fig. 1 04). In this way a characteristic appearance 

 is produced which has given the name of "rosette form" to 

 this stage. The segments or spores thus formed vary in 

 number and also in size, in different types of fever. They 

 become more or less rounded in shape and are set free in 

 the blood plasma. The pigment granules remain apart 

 from the spores, sometimes surrounded by a portion of the 

 substance of the parasite, and are chiefly taken up by 

 leucocytes. The process of segmentation, however, does 

 not occur in all forms of malarial fever in this radiate 

 fashion, but in some takes place more or less irregularly. 



4. Peculiar forms are those known as crescents or crescentic 

 bodies. These are non -amoeboid, and of crescentic or 

 sausage shape, usually measuring 8 to 9 /x in length. 

 Occasionally a fine curved line is seen joining the ex- 

 tremities on their concave aspect, which probably represents 

 the remains of the envelope of a red corpuscle (Fig. 106). 

 They are colourless and transparent, have a distinct enclos- 

 ing membrane, and usually show a small collection of 

 granular pigment about their middle. Mannaberg's view 

 regarding the origin of the crescentic bodies is that they are 

 conjugation-forms, resulting from the fusion of two intracor- 

 puscular bodies. He gives to them the name of " syzygies." 

 They are not found in all the types of malarial fever, but 

 especially in the quotidian and malignant types, and 

 possibly do not represent a stage in the ordinary cycle of 

 development. They appear in the blood after the fever 

 has lasted for some time, apparently remain unchanged 

 through the attacks of pyrexia, and may persist for a con- 

 siderable period after the fever has gone, being often present 

 in the cachexia or anaemia following these fevers. 



