ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
357 
being confined to Mammals, Sarcosporidia are now known to occur in 
the lizard, tortoise, and frog, and in the two Crustaceans mentioned 
above. 
Conjugation and Spore-forming in Gregarines.* — Herr M. Wolters 
has studied Monocystis agilis and M. magna of the earthworm, Clepsidrina 
blattarum of the cockroach, and Klossia of the snail. In Monocystis, 
conjugation of living forms was observed. Peculiar changes in the form 
of the nucleus and an increase in the number of nucleoli are regarded 
as preparatory steps. The characteristic granules do not contain fat or 
lime-salts, but seem to be amyloid reserve-products. A cellular mesh- 
work may be demonstrated by the use of reagents, but Wolters regards 
it as an artificial coagulation. The cyst of two conjugating individuals 
is sometimes surrounded by a membrane produced by the cells of the 
host. The nucleus of each unit forms a spindle ; half is extruded as a 
“ directive body ” ; a reconstruction takes place ; a second sheath round 
the encysted pair becomes demonstrable ; fusion takes place, both 
nuclear and cytoplasmic ; the nuclei seem to separate again ; then two 
spindles are seen in each half ; then many spindles around the periphery. 
Each peripheral nucleus eventually becomes the centre of a sporogonium 
within which eight spores are formed around a residual core, the whole 
being surrounded by a sporocyst or pseudonavicella-sheath. The central 
body of the original cyst is gradually used up by the sporogonia. The 
development is the same in both species. Wolters describes some of the 
histological characters of Clepsidrina , especially in regard to the cuticle 
and its striae. As in Monocystis , the nucleus changes its form and 
becomes stellate, while the chromatin elements also vary greatly at 
different stages. The conjugation and spore formation are briefly 
described, and the results corroborate those of Biitschli. The stellate 
stage of the nucleus in Klossia seems to be a preparation for division. 
Typical spindles like those of Monocystis were not demonstrable. Within 
the sporogonium there are often six spores, lying around a sporophore 
which gradually diminishes. Conjugation does not occur. 
Parasitic Protozoid Organism in Cancer.t— Dr. Nils Sjobring ob- 
served in sections of mammary cancer numerous peculiar bodies which 
appeared to represent different stages of development of a micro-organism 
belonging to the group Sporozoa. This organism passes the earlier part 
of its development within the nucleus of the cancer cells, and the later 
period either within the cell protoplasm or as a free wandering body. 
In its adult condition it exercises a pernicious influence on the tissues in 
which it lives. When fully developed the organism forms spores to the 
number of 20 to 30. Bound about its soft body, the plasmodium, a 
membrane appears and germs are soon visible in its interior. The spores 
are surrounded by a common membrane. The germs are supposed to 
escape from their capsule by rupture of the investing membrane. 
The author found this organism in six cases of carcinoma of the 
mamma, in one of the liver and of the prostate. Cultivations of the 
microbe failed. 
* Arch. f. Mikr. Anat., xxxvii. (1891) pp. 99-138 (4 pis.). 
t Fortschr. d. Medicin, 1890, No. 14. See Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. Parasitenk., 
viii. (1890) p. 731. 
