MICROBES, OR BACTERIA. 93 
which we must say a few words, since these microbes 
play an important part in nature, connected with 
hygiene and domestic economy; the second section 
includes Micrococcus pathogenis, or the producers of 
disease, which must detain us longer. 
The genus Bacteriwm, of which the name indicates 
that it is rod-shaped, also includes some coloured 
species and more which are colourless, such as the 
bacteria of putrefaction, of stagnant waters, of vegetable 
infusions, ete. (Fig. 49). 
The genus Ascococcus is less common. The cells, 
united in groups or families, form mucilaginous, 
wrinkled membranes on the surface of putrefying 
liquids, on the juice of meat, on the infusion of 
hay, ete. 
Bacillus (or Bacteridiw, Davaine) forms an ex- 
tremely important genus, characterized by its long, 
flexible, and articulated filaments ; this genus includes 
the butyric ferment, and the microbe which produces 
the disease called anthraa, or splenic fever. 
Leptothriz buccalis is found in the human saliva 
and between the teeth (Fig. 51, &). 
Cladothria dichotoma forms a kind of fine grass, 
which appears like a whitish mucilage on the surface 
of putrefying liquids (Fig. 51, p). 
Vibrio rugula and V. serpens are found in 
infusions in the form of tolerably thick filaments, 
which have only one inflection, while their successors 
are spirally curved (Fig. 51, /). 
