TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION D. 555 
importance in the case of S. obermeieri, the pathogenic organism of relapsing 
fever. These Spirochetes move very rapidly, especially S. anodonte with its 
pointed ends; indeed, so rapidly that it is almost impossible to analyse their 
motion when moving at full speed. In the case of slowly moving specimens, the 
organism moves forward while turning on its long axis. The motion appears to 
be resolvable into two components: (1) a vibratory motion of flexion of the body, 
mainly for progression; and (2) a spiral or corkscrew movement of the body as a 
whole, due to the winding of the membrane. The corkscrew motion is especially 
well seen in the case of S. anodonte. 
Waves can be observed passing down the thread-like body in a direction opposite 
to that in which the organism is progressing. Many waves, at least eight to ten, 
can be seen along the body of a rapidly moving form, while only some two to four 
appear in more slowly moving forms. 
The movements occur in jerks. It is a matter of indifference which end of 
the body is directed forwards, for the parasite is capable of suddenly reversing 
its direction of movement and returning on its own path, even under normal 
conditions. Sometimes the organism appears suddenly from a deeper level of the 
liquid, and swims, or spirally bores its way, more or less vertically upwards, 
cs itself into various peculiar shapes, such as Catherine wheels, described by 
erin. 
Parasites are sometimes noticed anchored by one end to a detached epithelial 
cell. The free end of the parasite then executes violent lashing movements or 
intermittent flickers, or coils itself over and over. 
These Spirochztes seem to move more rapidly than Trypanosomes, and with 
an added corkscrew motion. The body of a Spzrl/um is more rigid than that of a 
Spirochete in motion, and flagella are present in the case of true Spirilla. But 
the so-called ‘flagellate’ (‘ciliate’) stages of Spirochetes, described by some 
authors, are merely myoneme fibrils split off from the membrane during its 
rupture, resulting from violent contortions or death struggles. 
The membrane is the chief locomotor agent of the organism, The vibrations 
of the membrane itself are very slight, but its myonemes, by alternate contraction 
and relaxation, set up transverse movements in the surface of the body of the 
Spirochete, and these movements are manifested as waves passing down the body 
in a direction opposite to that in which the organism progresses. 
8. The Experimental Study of Heredity. By R. C. PuNNETT. 
9, Demonstration of Inheritance of Eye-colour in School Children brought 
from Burbage, Hinckley. By C. C. Hurst. 
