CHAPTER VIII 



MICROCOCCI 



By the specific term micrococcus is understood a minute 

 spherical or slightly oval organism (spherobacterium, Cohn) 

 that, like other bacteria, divides by fission (schizomycetes). 

 and that as a rule does not possess any special organ, cilium 

 or flagellum, by which, it would be capable of moving freely 

 about. Excepted herefrom is the micrococcus agilis dis- 

 covered by Ali-Cohen and mentioned in a previous chapter. 

 Micrococci, like other granules when suspended in a fluid 

 medium, show (Brownian) molecular movement. Micro- 

 cocci propagate always by division ; any other mode, e.g. 

 gemmation and spores, is unknown. All assertions to the 

 contrary must as far as present knowledge goes be considered 

 as unproven. All micrococci, like other bacteria, possess a 

 delicate membrane of cellulose, and, owing to this, resist the 

 action of alkalies and acids. The contents are homogeneous 

 and highly refractive while active, pale when inactive. 

 They consist, like those of other bacteria, of mycoprotein 

 (Nencki). The size of micrococci varies within considerable 

 limits, say 0-5 to 2yu., or even a little more. Micrococci 

 vary greatly as regards both size and mode of growth. 

 All multiply by slightly elongating and then dividing by 

 a transverse constriction into two : a dumb-bell ; each of 



