642 
SUMMARY OP CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
Observations on Bacillus Ellenbachensis.* — Dr. R. Kolkwitz cul- 
tivated Bacillus Ellenbachensis on media in which earthworms were an 
important ingredient. The chief observations relate to the spores, which 
measured about 1*7 /x by about 1 fx. Some of the measurements were 
made in monobromnaphthalin. Germination invariably takes place in 
the long axis, and not laterally as in B. megaterium de Bary, a point of 
importance considering the general resemblance of the two. The spore 
membrane remained sticking to one pole of the rodlet. Not unfrequently 
two membranes were observed, the outer being found to be the remnants 
of the maternal cell-membrane. Occasionally, both ends of the young 
rodlet were covered, the one by the spore membrane, the other by cell- 
remnant. 
When grown on potato saturated with 2 per cent, grape sugar solu- 
tion, larger granules resembling spores appear. They, however, do 
not germinate, and stain brown with iodine very quickly. 
The earthworm media used were agar and bouillon. The former 
was prepared by killing 40 ccm. of earthworms by means of hot water, 
crushing up the bodies in a mortar, and mixing with 300 ccm. of tap 
water. Two per cent, of agar was added, and the medium allowed to set 
without being filtered. 
* Centralbl. Bakt. u. Par., 2 t# Abt., v. (1899) pp. 670-8 (1 pi.). 
