MICROBES, OR BACTERIA. 91 
II. CLASSIFICATION OF MICROBES, OR BACTERIA. 
It is very difficult to make any natural classifica- 
tion of the organisms which belong to the group of 
microbes; we have, in fact, seen that they only differ 
from each other in external form, and that these forms 
are very variable, since the same organism may present 
itself successively as an isolated globule, a chaplet, a 
chain, and a more or less articulated rod. Microbes are 
essentially polymorphous, and adapt themselves to 
varied conditions of existence, which influence the 
form taken by these microscopic organisms. For this 
reason their classification has often varied, their dis- 
tinction into genera and species does not yet rely on 
precise data, and the opinions formed by various 
authors in accordance with their personal researches 
still differ widely. . 
We will, however, subjoin Wunsche’s classification. 
Schizophyta, or Schizomycetes, 
A. Division of cells always occurring in the same diree- 
tion, so as to form a chaplet before the joints 
or members separate. 
1. Cells united in mucilaginous or gelatinous families. 
a. Cells united (in a state of repose) in amorphous 
families. 
a. Spherical or elliptic cells, colourless and gene- 
rally motionless ... oss es eee Micrococeus, 
B. Cells elongated in short, avail rods «»» Bacterium. 
6. Cells united in families with sharp outlines, lobu- 
lated and agglutinated like frog-spawn ... Ascococcus. 
2. Cells arranged in filaments, 
