BACTERIOLOGY. 45 



their shortest diameter only, whereas the micrococci, 

 having one diameter the same as another, may divide 

 in any direction. The result of this difference in the 

 manner of dividing is that the relationship of individual 

 bacteria to each other is markedly characteristic, and 

 permits of its use as a distinguishing feature. To 

 distinguish the various micrococci from each other, they 

 are therefore divided into the: 



Staphylococci (sing., staphylococcus) — when they 

 are arranged in groups which bear a certain resemblance 

 to a bunch of grapes. Diplococci (sing., diplococcus) — 

 when they are arranged in pairs. Streptococci (sing., 

 streptococcus) — when they are arranged in chains, 

 i.e., attached end to end in lines of longer or shorter 

 lengths. 



When cocci show no particular arrangement to each 

 other they are simply spoken of as cocci or micrococci. 



The foregoing divisions of the cocci are not complete, 

 since there are other peculiarities of grouping, but 

 those enumerated comprise the principal pathogenic 

 micrococci. 



Bacteria may be said to be universally 



DiSTRIRTT- 



distributed, beinej found wherever animals 



TION. 'to 



and plants are. They are in the air we 

 breath, and in the water we drink. The surface of 

 the earth is covered with them; in fact the ground is 

 their natural home, which should not surprise us since 

 there organic matter is found in greatest abundance. 



