SYNOPSIS OF THE BACTERIA 

 AND YEAST FUNGI. 



CHAPTER I. 



SCHIZOMYCETES. 



The Sckizomycetes, or "splitting-fungi (Spaltpihe), are 

 unicellular plants, which multiply by repeated subdivision in 

 one, two, or three dimensions of space, and also frequently 

 reproduce themselves by spores, which are formed endogenously. 



They live, either isolated or combined in various ways, in 

 fluids and in living or dead organisms, in which they produce 

 decompositions and fermentations, but never alcoholic fermen- 

 tation. 



The Schizomycetes are one of the most difficult and 

 least-known classes of Fungi. In the first place, it is doubt- 

 ful whether they are to be reckoned among the Fungi or not. 

 Cohn unites them with the Phycochromacese, which are 

 usually considered to be Algae, and includes both groups 

 under the name of Schizophytae. I cannot agree to this 

 union. With respect to morphological relations, indeed, the 

 Schizomycetes are in many ways exceedingly like the 

 Phycochromaceae j but their physiological relations are quite 



