ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
661 
Bacillus Cubonianus.* — Under this name, as a new species, Sig. L. 
Macchiati describes the bacillus which causes “ bacterosis ” on the leaves 
of the mulberry. It is a somewhat polymorphic species, but is quite 
distinct from the Streptococcus which attacks the silkworm. It is en- 
dowed with an extraordinary mobility, displaying movements of oscilla- 
tion, translation, and curvature. It is enclosed in an obvious muci- 
laginous sheath, and the cell-contents consist of protoplasm and a 
large number of minute starch-grains. There is distinct continuity 
of protoplasm from cell to cell. The cells have the form of short 
rods, 1* 25-2*0 ix in length, and 0* 75-1*0 p in breadth. They are 
ordinarily propagated by division while still enclosed in the mucilagi- 
nous sheath ; but also by spores, which are formed even under favour- 
able conditions of nutrition, at an optimum temperature of 32°-35° C. 
Bacterosis of the Grape-vine.f — Sigg. G. Cugini and L. Macchiati 
describe a new disease of the vine, which attacks the grapes in northern 
Italy, causing them first to turn brown, then to become dry and brittle. 
It is caused by a bacillus, about 3-1 p long and 0*25 /x broad, usually 
solitary, sometimes united together in twos or threes, rarely into 
filaments. 
Spoilt Maize and its Micro-organisms.}: — Sig. A. Monti and Sig. 
Y. Tirelli find that even by direct microscopical examination of ground- 
up maize-grains, fungi and spores could often be detected, and oc- 
casionally also bacteria and cocci. From cultivations a large number 
of fungi, yeasts, and bacteria were obtained. Among these were pretty 
constant Penicillium glaucum , Mucor racemosus , Rhizopus nigricans , 
Saccharomyces sphser. alb., B. mesent. vulg., B. subtilis, M. aurantians , a 
liquefying micrococcus, a short rodlet resembling Friedlaender’s bacillus, 
B. citreus, and some fluorescing bacilli. The number of the colonies 
was diminished, though always remaining considerable, if the surface of 
the maize-grains was well disinfected. Control plates, inoculated with 
healthy grains, the surface of which had been disinfected, nearly always 
remained sterile. 
Bacteriology of Cystitis.§ — Dr. A. Morelle, who has made quite an 
exhaustive examination of the micro-organisms found in urine asso- 
ciated with inflammation of the bladder, sums up his experiments as 
follows : — 
In cystitis several kinds of organisms are engaged, and, apart from 
the tubercle bacillus, the most important of these are Staphylococcus 
and Streptococcus pyogenes, and Bacterium pyogenes (Albarran and 
Halle). The cocci set up a purely suppurative cystitis and the urine 
is usually alkaline owing to the decomposition of urea. 
Bacillus pyogenes has no action on urea, being found only in acid 
urine, and is probably the most important of the micro-organisms 
infesting the urinary tract. Bacillus pyogenes is none other than B. lactis 
aerogenes (Escherich) met with in the motions of suckling infants, and 
this again is only separated by slight differences from B. coli communis. 
B. pyogenes vel B. lactis aerogenes has been described under other names 
by Clado, Rovsing, and Doyen (bacterie septique de la vessie, Cocco - 
* Malpighia, v. (1892) pp. 289-303 (1 pi.). 
f Le Stazioni sperim. Ital., xx. (1891). See Bot. Centralbl., 1. (1892) p. 24. 
% Rivista d’lgiene e San. Pub., ii. (1891) No. 1. See Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. 
Parasitenk., xi. (1892; p, 470. § La Cellule, vii. (1891) pp. 211-86 (1 pi.). 
