J. W. S. Macfie 
277 
The pus in which the spirochaetes were examined contained a great 
number of polymorphonuclear leucocytes and epithelial scales. Living 
spirochaetes were never seen to enter the leucocytes although they 
were sometimes seen attached to them and apparently unable to escape, 
and in stained preparations a few were sometimes found in these cells 
together with granules which may have been the same organisms 
partly digested. Spirochaetes were, however, often observed in what 
appeared to be the act of boring into the epithelial scales. From the 
nature of the case it is impossible to be certain that the spirochaetes 
were actually entering the cell body, but when carefully focussed they 
were seen to be lying at the same level as the nucleus. In the cases 
watched continuously the spirochaetes advanced with one end towards 
the cell, appeared to penetrate it, made their way inside, and then 
became quiescent. The formation of coccoid bodies was not actually 
observed, but some of the cells contained strings of granules arranged 
in sinuous lines as if they had been formed within the bodies of 
spirochaetes. No spirochaete was seen to enter a cell and emerge again 
from it. 
There were also bacteria in the urethral discharge and on one or 
two occasions contact between a spirochaete and a bacterium was 
observed to result in the most extraordinary twisting and contortion 
of the former. It was impossible to follow the movements owing to 
their lightning rapidity but for a moment the whole organism appeared 
to be involved in a violently agitated tangle until it was able to shake 
itself free. At other times spirochaetes collided with bacteria, cells, 
and one another without visible effect. These motions were similar 
to those referred to as “Catherine-wheel-like.” Occasionally two 
spirochaetes were seen to become adherent to one another by their 
ends and to be unable to break apart. This event did not, however, 
suggest conjugation, but appeared to be more in the nature of an 
accident. 
The spirochaetes lived a long time after removal from the body, 
and when kept in an incubator at 37° C. were sometimes still alive 
on the second day. One specimen collected at 9 a.m., still contained 
innumerable motile spirochaetes at 5 p.m., that is after eight hours, 
but the movements were not of the vigorous nature observed at first 
but were almost entirely rotatory. The undulant motion was slow 
and often inconsiderable and lashing movements had ceased. The 
spirochaetes were, however, still well coiled. 
When killed by exposure, and especially after dilution of the pus 
