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352 THE MICRO-ORGANISMS OF THE HUMAN MOUTH.

ccption of spherical shape, and present the structure of simple
funii'us-spores. In the process of germinating, the spores swell
up in consequence of absorption of water, the spore-membrane
ruptures, " and a protoplasmic body exudes or crawls slowly
out of the orifice" (Fig. 128, a, b, c).
In this state the organism forms a naked protoplasmic body
of changeable shapes, and is called a " swarmer" (Schwiirmer).
These " Schwarmer" (Fig. 128, d, e,f) are partly provided with
cilia, partly without them, and manifest, according as they are
with or without cilia, two kinds of
FiQ. 12S. movement, a hopping (hlipfende) and a
crawling.
Zopf therefore distinguishes a
" Schwarmerstadinm" and an " Amce-
bastadium." According to him, a
Schwarmer is a membraneless lump of
plasm (primordial cell) in which we
may distinguish plasma, nucleus, vacu-
oli, and cilia. The amoeba also repre-
sents a primordial cell, in which plasma,
nucleus, and vacuoli may be distin-
guished. As they further develop, the
Budding of a Spore of a
" Schwarmer" unite, forming larger
Myxomycetes (Tiichia varia).
«, thesroreat rest ; 6,c,(/, rup- motile protoplasmic bodies (Plasmodia).
ture of tbe spore-membrane
By the fusion of these plasmodia larger
and escape of the "swarmer;"
c. amceboid s\v;irmer with, / Plasmodia are formed, which resemble
without cilium.
m-A. (After de Bary.) arboreally ramified bodies or nets.
The development of the plasmodium
ends in spore-formation, either in the interior of sporangia or on
the surface of spore-bearers, sporophores, or in the form of
free reproduction-cells.
All better-knoAvn Myxomycetes are adapted to a saprophytic
mode of life. They occur in moist places or dead vegetable
matter, on decayed wood, on parts of trees, etc., but manifest no
pathogenic properties.
I am not acquainted with any investigations concerning the
occurrence of Myxomycetes in the oral cavity.
The Acrasia, a small group of fungous organisms belonging to