276 
Ureth ral Sinrochaetosis 
In a recent paper on &. eurygymta Fantham (1916) has stated 
that “The coil of the helix of a rapidly moving spirochaete is much 
closer than that of a slowly moving organism.” Although this assertion 
is made in the form of a generalisation it was perhaps intended only 
to apply to the rotatory movements, for it certainly would be incorrect 
to apply it without this qualification to the spirochaete found in this 
case of urethritis. I again and again watched individual spirochaetes 
from this patient and invariably observed that whereas when the 
lashing and undulatory movements were most marked, that is when 
movement was most rapid, the coils of the helix were relatively few, 
they became more numerous as the organisms became quiescent. 
When an organism just removed from the body was watched con¬ 
tinuously until it was completely immobilised it was seen first to cease 
to exhibit lashing movements, then to lose its undulatory movements, 
and finally to give up rotation. The rotatory movements became 
slower and slower as time went on, but even when they had entirely 
ceased and the organism was presumbly moribund the body was still 
well coiled. As a rule there did not seem to be any sensible difference 
in the closeness of the spiral in the rapidly rotating organisms and in 
those revolving more slowly or absolutely at rest. It is true, however, 
that some of the spirochaetes when spinning round their long axes 
at a very great rate, as they sometimes did, appeared to become more 
closely coiled; but even this might have been an optical effect, and it 
would in any case be incorrect to say that the number of coils was 
an index of the rate of motion since the most active individuals were 
those showing lashing movements which often had but few and indistinct 
coils. 
The spirochaetes were able to move in either direction and often 
reversed the direction of their movements; sometimes they showed 
active translatory movements and sometimes remained almost 
stationary whilst exhibiting the most vigorous lashing evolutions. At 
other times they lay stretched out almost in a straight fine, their bodies 
deeply coiled, and exhibiting only helicoid movements. Jerky move¬ 
ments were seen frequently. 
There appeared to be a periodicity in the movements. After 
showing the active movements for a time the spirochaetes quieted 
and then after a longer or shorter interval recommenced activity. 
During the interval they appeared to be motionless, were generally 
stretched out quite straight, and their bodies were always marked 
by a number of waves. 
