ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
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smaller quantities than the albumoses. The author concludes that the 
albumoses and the alkaloid are the toxic and active metabolic products 
of the anthrax bacilli, both bodies having the same action if they bo 
injected under the skin of some animal sensitive to anthrax ; the alkaloid 
is, however, by far the most potent. 
Morphology of Anthrax Bacilli.* — Dr. F. Liipke calls attention to 
the fact that the shortest anthrax bacilli are 1 * 5-2 /x long, and that in 
larger moderately stained rods septa can be perceived at intervals which 
accurately correspond to the isolated short rodlets. This observation, 
and the fact that anthrax filaments caught in sporulation almost always 
show clear divisions into small equal segments, each of which contains a 
spore or its rudiment, renders it probable that these small sections and 
the independent rodlets represent the actual individuals of the anthrax 
germs. 
Aqueous Humour, Micro-organisms and Immunity. f — Prof. E. 
Metschnikoff concludes from experiments made with aqueous humour 
that (1) this fluid is a good cultivating medium, not only for micro- 
organisms in general, but also for that special microbe to which the 
animal from which the aqueous humour has been taken is immune. 
(2) In a few cases the bactericidal property of aqueous humour may be 
demonstrated, but in no case does this property stand in any relation 
to the immunity of the animal furnishing this fluid. (3) The micro- 
organisms cultivated in the aqueous humour of animals rendered arti- 
ficially immune retain their normal virulence. (4) The so-called 
toxinicidal property can in no wise be attributed to the aqueous humour 
of animals rendered artificially immune. 
The explanation given to reconcile the fact that, while aqueous 
humour is not only a suitable medium but also possesses germicidal 
properties, is that the latter action is chiefly due to sudden change of 
environment, and that the bactericidal power of the humour in vitro is 
due to the fact that the micro-organisms are distributed all over the 
test-tube, and hence are immediately acted on by the fluid. 
Structure of the Cholera Bacillus.^— Dr. H. van Heurck records 
some observations made on the cholera bacillus with a Zeiss apochro- 
matic N.A. 1*60. A preparation was mounted in styrax, the cover 
being made of flint glass. Under these conditions certain appearances 
of structure were observable. In the filamentous state the structure 
appears quite homogeneous, but in separated joints 2-4 globules can be 
perceived ; these are stated to be nuclei, one being located at each pole, 
and the other two lying between. 
Another observation disclosed a small group formed apparently of 
protoplasm on the point of disappearing, within which were nine distinct 
nuclei. Of these an illustration is given. 
The author does not draw any definite conclusion from his observa- 
tion, but points out that the protoplasmic contents of the bacterium are 
not so simple as were supposed. 
* Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. Parasitenk., xii. (1892) p. 391. 
t Journ. of Pathol, and Bacteriol., 1. (1892) pp. 13-20. 
f English Mechanic, lvi. (1892) pp. 1G1-5 (3 figs.). 
