J. W. H. Mackie 
2S5 
appeared to be endeavouring to break through the cell membrane, 
and on one occasion they were observed to succeed in this attempt 
and to escape as active, independent organisms. It seemed probable 
therefore that the scales in the discharge which appeared to be empty 
shells were infected cells from which the spirochaetes had already 
escaped. 
In living specimens it was impossible to study the spirochaetes 
in detail owing to their active movements and the manner in which 
they were crowded together within the cells, but in dried smears the 
scales became flattened out or were sometimes ruptured and had dis¬ 
charged the majority of the parasites, and many of these were suitable 
for minute examination. The majority of the spirochaetes were well 
Fig. II. A urethral cell crowded with spirochaetes. Drawn from a living specimen 
with the aid of an Abbc-Zeiss camera lucida. Magnification x 2000. 
developed and similar in size and morphology to. the organisms found 
free in the urethral discharge. Others were very minute and all stages 
could be traced between a coccoid body elongated a little so as to be 
bacilliform to well developed spirochaetes with long slender bodies 
thrown into a number of pronounced curves. The very small organisms 
were relatively thick and had rather blunt ends. A few of these forms 
are shown in fig. Ill in one cc ’^aer of a scale. The rest of the scale was 
crowded with spirochaetes and granules but they have not been detailed 
in the drawing. 
The spirgchaete therefore appeared to undergo a phase of develop¬ 
ment in the cells lining the urethra. In fresh specimens of the discharge 
spirochaetes were observed to penetrate into epithelial scales and to 
become quiescent in them. The actual development of coccoid bodies 
19—2 
