ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 269 



or be found heaped together at the lower end of the cell (or apparent 

 upper end). It is this circumstance which has prevented any 

 recognition of their presence in the plant. They are rarely, if ever, 

 seen in the long, deep-seated cells, which exhibit cyclosis so well in 

 this plant. 



Simulation of the Tubercular Bacillus by Crystalline Forms.* — 

 The memoirs of A. Celli and G. Guarnieri give the results of a 

 large number of observations on the bacillus described by Koch in 

 the nodules of tuberculosis, and in the sputa of consumptive patients, 

 and further call attention to certain crystals found not uncommonly 

 in these sputa, which, both by their appearance and by their behaviour 

 towards anilin colours, imitate the tubercular bacilli. The microscopic 

 differences between the two classes of objects are minutely described. 



Cultivation of Bacteria.! — Dr. E. Klein has been able to avoid 

 the drying-up which mars Koch's method of growing bacteria on a 

 gelatine fluid film in a moist chamber, by using instead of the latter 

 a cell closed with a cover-glass, to which was sometimes attached a 

 thin glass tube, leading into it, and plugged with cotton wool. The 

 cultivating fluid used is composed of one part of so-called " gold- 

 label gelatine " cut into strips and soaked for a night in cold-water, 

 and then dissolved, just neutralized with carbonate of soda, and 

 filtered while hot, and three parts of pork broth ; all the materials 

 are prepared with a view to their perfect sterility by heat and 

 insulation of the air involved by cotton-wool. To the lower side of 

 the cover-glass of the cell is applied a drop of cultivating fluid, which 

 is then allowed to solidify ; after this it may be inoculated with the 

 particular bacterium required by dipping a needle which has been 

 heated, or a capillary tube which has been freshly drawn out, into the 

 fluid containing the organism, and then drawing its point once or 

 twice over the charged surface of the cover-glass. The progress of 

 growth may be watched with the Microscope through the cover-glass ; 

 thus also the species of the organism thus introduced can be verified, 

 and accidental contamination detected. 



Heduction of Nitrates by Ferments.J— According to A, Springer, 

 the roots of plants are covered with small organisms which reduce 

 nitrates, with evolution of nitric oxide. This ferment closely resembles 

 the butyric ferment, and is probably identical with the Microzyma 

 cretce of Bechamp. It is composed of small cylindrical rods rounded 

 at the extremities, generally isolated, but sometimes joined two by 

 two. They move rapidly with a wriggling motion, and often bend 

 their bodies until they form a perfect circle. Another ferment, or 

 modification, is somewhat smaller, and spins round its smaller diameter 

 as an axis. Phenol has no appreciable action on the new ferment- 

 Similar results have been obtained since the author first announced 

 his results, by Gay on and Dupetit, and Deherain and Maquenne. 



* Atti E. Accad. Lincei— Transunti, vii. (1883) p. 282. 

 t nth Add. Keport Local Goyernment Board, 1882, pp. 177-8. 

 X Amer. Chem. Journ., iv. (1883) pp. 452-3. See Jouru. Chem. See— Absfcr., 

 xlvi. (1884) pp. 350-1. 



