ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
373 
essentially from the rest of the protoplasmic contents of the infected 
meristem-cells. The hyphae have no true cell-wall ; and the substance 
of which they and the rest of the contents of the meristem-cells is com- 
posed may conveniently he termed mycoplasm. The author suggests 
that the so-called hyphae are in reality a formation from the protoplasm 
of the host designed for the reception of the symbiotic micrococcus or 
bacterium swarm-cells. For the infecting microbe he proposes the name 
Hhizobium Leguminosarum, and considers it rather a Schizomycete than 
a Myxomycete, though possibly allied to Plasmodiophora Brassicse. 
The so-called “bacteroids” are not fungi, but formations from the 
protoplasm of the host in which the micrococcus of the microbe is con- 
tained. In Phaseolus vulgaris we have the simplest relation between 
the two symbionts ; the microbe is a parasite performing no service to 
the host. In the lupin and pea the same is the case when the soil is 
rich in humus ; but when the supply of humus is deficient the microbe- 
symbiont is of the greatest service to the host in promoting the various 
vital processes of assimilation, formation of chlorophyll, &c. 
Morphological Constancy of Micrococci.^ — Dr. G. Mirto concludes 
from his experiments made with various micro-organisms that there 
exists a large class of micro-organisms in the coccus form which pre- 
serve their morphological characters unchanged, however the external 
conditions of their existence may be varied ; such micro-organisms never 
give rise to the formation of spores. 
The micro-organisms made use of by the author in his investigation 
were Micrococcus cinnahareus^ M. roseus, M. cereus albus^ M. radiatus, 
M. flavus liquefaciens, M. urese liquefaciens^ and an unclassified micro- 
coccus. The media employed were gelatin, agar, potato, broth, and solid 
flesh. On these media, with the above-named microbes, the author made 
frequent observations, in all of which the morphological constancy of 
the organisms was maintained ; the cocci always producing cocci at all 
periods of their growth and in the different cultivation media. Spore- 
formation was never observed. 
Decomposition of Albumen by Anaerobic Schizomycetes.f — In his 
experiment M. von Nencki used Bacillus liquefaciens magnus, B. spinosus, 
and Bacillus of symptomatic anthrax. Flasks holding 4-10 litres were 
filled with sterilized serum albumen, and the air in the flasks replaced 
with CO 2 , H, or N. In a few days fermentation began, with the develop- 
ment of gas. The decomposition-products of the three bacilli were the 
same. Among these the author found fatty acids, aromatic acids, and a 
new product of albumen decomposition, skatol acetic acid. This, with 
nitrite of potash and acetic acid, forms a yellow crystalline nitrous 
compound. 
Bacteria found in Influenza J — Secretions from the respiratory 
passages and juices from various organs from cases of influenza were 
used by Dr. V. Babes as intravenous and subcutaneous injections in 
guinea-pigs and rabbits. The animals were also infected by rubbing 
* Bollettino Soc. Ital. Microscopisti, i. (1889) pp. 6-25. 
t SB. K. Akad. Wiss. Wien, May 1889. Of. Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. Para- 
sitenk., vii. (1890) pp. 129-30. 
t Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. Parasitenk., vii. (1890) pp. 233-41. 
