A. Balfour 
125 
cell to form the inclusions and I have been able, I think correctly, to 
trace a development of the granule in the red cell, a development 
which results either in a discharge of an encapsuled body containing 
granules or of small granules themselves into the liquor sangtiinis. The 
latter process strongly suggests schizogonyb I see that Galli-Valerio 
is now of opinion that the inclusions are spirochaetal in origin though 
he imagines that the spirochaete sheds granules or coccoid bodies when 
lying in the substance of the cytoplasm. So far I have no proof that 
this occurs. As a matter of fact the method of vital staining has, 
I believe, made clear much that was hitherto obscure and will enable 
one to make absolutely certain as to the true nature of this “ granule 
phase.” Like Kindle I have seen and reported intra-corpuscular bodies 
in normal birds. Their presence is difficult to explain but, as I have 
suggested, they may indicate an hereditary infection of the bird through 
the egg. It is also possible that in some cases they may merely be the 
remnants of an old infection while, of course, nuclear extrusions may 
sometimes simulate the forms I have described. Doubtless at first 
I may have confused two separate conditions but, while I admit the last 
word has still not been said on this difficult subject, I am persuaded 
that the true “ granule phase ” has nothing to do with nuclear degenera¬ 
tion but is as much a part of the life-cycle of the fowl spirochaete as 
are the developmental stages which Kindle has so carefully traced in 
the cells and fluids of Argas persicus, a piece of work which is in accord 
with my own findings and eflfectually, I think, disposes of the arguments 
recently advanced by Blanc (1911). The latter I believe to be mistaken 
owing to his unfamiliarity with the true form of the infective granule 
or coccoid body. Apart from anything else I would like to know how, 
on the nuclear degeneration hypothesis. Kindle can explain certain 
observations recorded in my paper in our Fourth Report (pp. 86 and 95) 
whereby I have shown that after inoculation of spirochaetal blood or 
infected tick tissue {A. persicus) into perfectly healthy chicks the 
inclusions may first appear even as early as the day following the 
inoculation, to be followed later, in some instances, by the appearance 
of spirochaetes. In such cases, and the work with 0. savignyi p. 96 is 
equally suggestive, what was there to cause nuclear degeneration ? 
^ I may say that the little schizonts are beautifully shown by vital staining with toluidin- 
blue. This specially applies to the “spore” or morula stage where the tiny granules 
stain deeply and are shown to be arranged in a regular and definite manner. A glance at 
such a preparation is sufficient to put any question of nuclear degeneration wholly out 
of account. 
