BACTERIUM ZOPFII. 



405 



Bacterium Zopfii. 



This organism was isolated by Kurth from the intestine Kurth's bail- 

 of fowls. It presents the form of bacilli to 1 /*. in 

 breadth, and 2 to 5 /x. in length, usually in active move- 

 ment. These bacilli form long threads, which, when 

 growing in gelatine, show numerous bends ; in fact 

 regular spiral forms may occur, or in some cases felted 

 structures or circular patches; all sorts of other bendings 

 and twistings may also be seen. In fluids bacterium 



Fig. 114. Bacterium Zopfii (after Kurth) X 740. 

 , threads with commencing formation of balls. 



b, breaking up into rods. 



c, breaking up into round segments. 



e and/, spirilla and spirulina threads. 



Zopfii always forms straight threads, and this has led 

 Kurth to the conclusion that the origin of the bendings 

 in the gelatine cultivations is a mechanical effect, and 

 he supposes that, given a certain length of thread, 

 and a corresponding rapidity of growth, the resistance 

 which the gelatine offers to the penetration of the thread 



is greater than the rigidity of the rod. After some time Ball forma- 

 tion. 



