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BIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE BACTERIA OF THE MOUTH. 75

which one or more cells are missing, i.e. have escaped from tlie
sheath; others again, whose sheaths have burst, while the
separate members have not entirely severed their connection with
the chain. Sometimes the remains of the broken sheath may be
it does not show the iodine reaction, but remains
easily detected ;
colorless, or becomes yellowish after the continued action of the
reagent. The contents of the cells are always stained dark blue
to violet by iodine.
Spirillum sputigeyium.

Spirillum sputigenum also occurs in every mouth, but in vary-
ing proportions. In mouths properly cared for it will be found
only in very small numbers; in neglected mouths, however, it
often exists in enormous masses. If a small quantity of the soft
deposit on the margin of the inflamed gums is taken from an
unclean mouth and brought under the microscope, we some-
times find an almost pure culture of Spirillum sputigenum, or of
Spirochpete dentium. The former occurs in the shape of rods,
curved like commas, which show very active spiral movements.
By the growth of the rods, where fissation does not occur,
or when the separate rods remain connected with each other,
S-forms and short spirals are produced. (See Figs. 23 to 29.)
This bacillus was regarded by Lewis, Klein, and others as
identical with the cholera bacillus, a view which a more careful
study of these two morphologically similar organisms will show
to be incorrect. I have given an exposition of the real relation
of the curved bacilli in the oral cavity to the cholera bacillus, in
the DeutscJie med. Wochcnschr.^^ From this source I quote the
foUowins: : Prof. Lewis's communication on comma bacilli in the
human mouth has added extraordinary interest to the study of
the fungi of the oral cavity. As is known, Lewis''' discovered(?)
a curved bacillus in the mucus of the mouth, which in form, size,
and color-reaction is said to correspond to the cholera bacillus
and consequently to be identical with it. Its occurrence in the
mouth is, however, by no means a discovery of Prof. Lewis's,
but a long-known fact. I mentioned it in the Transactions of the
Botanical Society, 1883, p. 224, and expressed the opinion that
it belonged in the cyclus of development of Spirochsete dentium.