Picture - Cosmic Polymath

Pig. 62 (continued)—
B. Gonooocci in gonorrhceal pus—white blood-corpuscles invaded.
0. Pneumococci with capsules arranged in chains as seen in pneumonic sputum.
THE MYCETOZOA 307
D. Oapsulated pneumococci in blood taken from the heart of a rabbit inoculated with pneumonic sputum.
E. Tubercle bacilli (culture on glycerine agar).
F. Tubercle bacilli from phthisical sputum.
G. Spherical amcBba from the wall of a liver abscess, showing nucleus and vacuolated protoplasm.
H. Actinomycosis from human liver, displaying a branched felted mass of parasite surrounded by pus.
1. Anthrax bacilH (culture on agar). Contains spores—the darkly-coloured bodies.
J. Typhoid bacilli (culture on agar). Shows filamentous forms.
K. Typhoid bacilli, showing flagella.
L. Diphtheria bacilli (agar culture).
M. Tetanus bacilli, some of which possess spores.
N. Spirilla with red and white blood-corpuscles in relapsing fever (human).
O. Glanders bacilli culture. Shows segmentation of protoplasm.
PLATE LXXrX
Plate Ixxix. shows rudimentary plant and animal forms'. Illustrates spherical, concentric, radiating, branch-
ing, spiral, and segmented arrangements.
Fig. l.—Sanina ventriculi. Low form of plant found in the human stomach—magnified (a) 1000, and (/;) 250 diameters
(Goodsir).
Fig. %.—Palmella cruenta. a, Patch of jelly with single cells, and dividing and divided pairs, x 400 ; b, similar cells without
the gelatmous layer, the smaller granules similar to those seen in the jelly of a, x 800 ; c, cells treated with sulphuric acid and
iodine, showing the cellulose coat and granular contents, x 800 (after Griffith and Henfrey).
Fig. Z.—CMorococcum vulgare. a, Group in natural condition, x 800 ; h, an isolated cell, showing granular contents, x 1500
c, dividing cells treated with sulphuric acid and iodine, x 1500 (after Griffith and Henfrey).
Fig. 4.—A, B, C, Mucor niucedo—stages in the formation of a zygospore ; D, a sporangium containing spores ; B, Oidium ladis ;
F, Aspergillus rjlaucus—myceliam (1), gonidiophore (2), and H bearing spores ; a perithecium (3) and G—the latter containing
rudimentary asci ; piece of gonidiophore (J) with sterigma (a), and spore (6); K, branched gonidiophore of Penicillium glaucum
bearing spores ; L, M, Sacclmromyces cenvisiee—cells budding ; N, the same showing the formation of endospores (after Hansen).
Fig. 5. Protococcv.s viridis. a, Group of cells, the upper one with eight in a linear series ; those to the right {a'), dividing into
numerous gonidia ; 6, zoospores set free from the cells by the solution of the cellulose membrane ; c, an isolated cell dividing, and
about to set free its contents as two zoospores ; d, resting cells with a thick coat and reddish contents ; e, a zoospore with the cilia
cast off ; /, zoospore with imperfect or retracted cilia, x 400 (after Griffith and Henfrey).
Fig. 6.—Blood-corpuscles of the cray-fish (Astacus flumatilis), magnified 1000 diameters. 1 to 8 show the amoeboid movements
occurring in a single corpuscle in a quarter of an hour ; 9 and 10 are corpuscles killed by magenta and having the nucleus deeply
stained by the colouring matter ;
n, nucleus (Huxley).
Fig. 7. Trichina spiralis, magnified 50 diameters (after Dalton). Encysted worm occasionally found in human muscle, spirally
coiled up.
Fig. 8. Gromia terricola, greatly magnified (after Leidy). Shows an amazing display of sensitive living sarcode streaming and
radiating by centrifugal movements from the body of the animal, which is encased in a horny shield. The streams of sarcode
(pseudopodia) emerge from apertures in the shield ; they sometimes proceed in straight lines and sometimes branch and form
networks. They seize whatever edible particles float in the water in which they are immersed and which come within their reach.
These they quickly transfer to the interior of the body by centripetal movements. In the whole range of natural history there is no
more remarkable example of aggressive, vital, purposive movements. The streaming of Gromia greatly resembles the streaming of
the Plasmodium of the Mycetozoa. In both cases the movement is an active, aggressive, spontaneous one, essentially rhythmic in
character, and consists of an advancing or centrifugal act (extension in space), and a retreating or centripetal act (retraction in
space). The centrifugal and centripetal rhythmic movements, in one form or other, may be traced throughout the entire inorganic
and organic kingdoms ; life without them would be impossible.
The movements in question are seen in endosmose and exosmose, in the formation and disintegration of crystals, in the
condensation and rarefaction of nebute, in cilia, in hollow and solid muscles, in respiration, alimentation, reproduction, circula-
tion, &c. (Compare with Fig. 3 of Plate Ixxx.)
Fig. 9. Ammba diffluens, commonly known as proteus from its continually changing its shape. It affords an example of the
lowest animal form. Magnified 400 diameters (after Dallas and Jeftrey Bell). Consists of a granular jelly mass of sarcode with
a contractile vesicle and nucleus seen at D, J, and G, but no other trace of structure. The amoeba possesses the remarkable power
of assuming an infinite variety of shapes by rhythmic streaming, as indicated at A, B, C, D, E, F, G. This it does by alternately
pushing out and withdrawing finger-like conical processes by centrifugal and centripetal movements, voluntary in character. The
creature can slowly advance its whole body, or a portion thereof, in search of food, which, when found, is enveloped as seen at B.
That portion of the body in contact with the food forms a temporary stomach. The animal can move to definite ends as in Gromia
(Plate Ixxix., Fig. 8). It reproduces itself by simple division. The centrifugal and centripetal rhythmic movements have much
significance when viewed in connection with similar movements occurring in the sarcous elements of muscles, in the movements of
extension and flexion, and in the opening and closing of simple and compound hearts, as fully explained further on.