and Amyloid Uysterophymata. 351 



soda and ammonia particularly favourable), acquired first of 

 all the chemical constitution of the amyloid found in the 

 animal body, and soon after that of lichen-starch, when the 

 development had proceeded further. Contact with solution of 

 iodine produces first a yellow, then a yellowish brown, after- 

 wards a reddish violet, and then a blue coloration. Simul- 

 taneous treatment with Jtlillon's nitrate-of-mercury solution 

 shows likewise that the amount of albumen continually de- 

 creases. If the fluid in which the organisms rendered blue 

 by iodine are suspended be allowed to evaporate, or warmed 

 for some time until the iodine is evaporated, the amyloid loses 

 its blue colour, which reappears not on cooling, but by fresh 

 contact with solution of iodine. When boiled the amyloid 

 hysterophymata furnish neither jelly nor paste, by which 

 they are distinguished from vegetable amyloid and starcli ; 

 chloride of calcium does not cause them to swell ; alcohol 

 leaves them unaltered. 



The form of these sometimes comparatively lai-ge amyloid- 

 forming cell-vegetations shows almost all the variations which 

 the hysterophymata in general put on (except Sarcina and 

 SpirilUum). We find simple cells {Cocci) and chains of 

 such cells, as well as Vihrion^ (called Bacteria in the resting 

 state) and their chain-like series, which frequently seem to 

 pass into Leptothnx-^Xaim&a.i's,^ and, when they are somewhat 

 twisted and acquire a screw-like movement, have some re- 

 semblance to Spirillia. Very frequently in this stage of 

 development the Vibriones, by one or both the terminal cells 

 being spherically inflated, become nail-like (claviformis) or 

 handle-like {ansceformis) ; moreover the originally cylindrical 

 Vibriones become club-shaped [clavatus) by the joint-cells 

 towards one end being gradually inflated ; or while one ter- 

 minal cell swells into an oval form, the other joint-cells remain 

 without solid contents and coalesce, and the Vibrio becomes 

 tadpole-like {(jyriniformis). All these last-mentioned forms 

 also form chains *. 



The complete development from the first excessively minute 

 germ-cells produced during the dying-oft' of tlie mother cell, 

 to the perfect amyloid hysterophymata (some of which grow 

 almost to the size of milk-yeast, sec ' Chemismus der Ptian- 

 zenzelle,' 1869, p. 13, fig. ii. 6, and in. 2), takes place under 

 the most favourable conditions, as above indicated, in from 



• That all these form-variations of necrobiotic cells have been regarded 

 by systematists and doctors, to whom their true nature was unknown, as 

 new genera of peculiar organisms, is a striking proof of the necessity of a 

 knowledge of developmental hbtory in the investigation of organic nature 

 (see Niiesch, ' Necrooiose,' IS?-'), Schaff hausen). 



