The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-23

land revealed by the highest powers OF
the microscope, and careful comparison
shows minor differences among them. For
instance, some of them are capable of in
dependent motion-we can hardly call it
swimming-others are non-motie, some
are tnclosed in a jelly-like covering, others
are without this sheath. Their power of
motion is probably due 10 excessively fine
hairs at the eXtremitieS, which, moving
to and fro in The water, act the part of
oars. These ella have not been found in
all forms of bacteria which move, but
their presence is inferred. since every adj
vance in the study of motile forms in
creases the number of bacteria which are
seen TO possess them.
These Ight-producing bacteria are
known as photo-bacteria, and so far some
half dozen varieties have been distinguish
ed and named. The names in such cases
are usually either given from the, locali-
ty of their appearance 0hus photo-bac-
terium Balticum, found in the Laltic),
from their discOYerer (for example, photo
bacterium Fischeri, after Prof Fischer),
or from some striking attribute Ito wit,
photo cterium phosphorescens the COM
monest lght-givng species).
That they lie at the bottom of the mat
ter-that phosphorescence IS due to their
presence-has been and can be proved in
several pretty ways. 1t is not sufficient,
of course that we should always detect
III any I'll ESe~
water; to prove that they are the cause
of light we must be able to procure lumi-
Mostly by Introducing them into water
that did not previously show the quality,
and this cam be done thus:
Place few of these tiny organisms in
to sea-water or broth prepared from fish,
and keep at a suitable temperature, they
can then be cultivated without much diff
nculty, and as they spread and develop
phosphorescence appears, so that re-
moval of the vessel into another room
shows Enthusiastically the glow of the fami-
liar light Ii only appears, however,, at
the surface of the liquid, where the oxy-
gen of the air has free access to the bae-
terra; it, for experiment. sake, the supply
OF fresh air be cut Off-that is, if no oXy-
gen be allowed to come near them-then
the little colony of bacteria loses its fas-
cinating power and remains dun and
shorn Of its glory. But restore the air,
and the microbes again recover their
normal condition and luminosity seems a
natural corollary. There is tale told
that woman whose husband made bac-
terra his study took leaf out Of his book
and cultivated these bacteria on gelatlne
in such way that as they developed they
shone out the message "Hommage a NJ.
PaSteur. The shining letters were then
photographed and the picture sent to the
great bacteriologist, thus conveying in
graceful form the warm appreciation in
which he was held by those following in
his steps.
The explanation, too. of the luminous
shoals of fish is now made plain, and we
can apparently get fiery herrings' al
will. No longer are we 10 believe that
the herrings themselves, by the exercise
OF some marvellous power. or by the ex.
erection of an extraordinary substance.
give rise to the striking luminosity, but
rather that their brightness is due to N.Y.
10 rgIa !, a.
cling to their surfaces and invest them in
a coat of shining light. Thus, if some
herrfngs, newly caught, and with the sea-
water still fresh on them, be placed on
one plate and covered down with another.
and left for a day and q night glints Of
light can, at the end of the time, be de-
tected at various points on their bodies
when they are examined in a dark room
If they are yet again put away for an
other twenty-four hours, the points Of
light spread until the whole of the fish
are enveloped in a beautiful blush glow
The light is then at Its best, and gradual
iy fades away as the fish putrehes and
the sea-water matter dries up If a lit
tie of the light-giving matter be scraped
off the skins of the herTings ana examined
under the miscrocope, 1t shows itself to
be nothing but colonies or collections of
bacteria all living at a great pace, divid-
ing, multiplying and developing at a ire
mendous rate. Each member of a colony
is normally roundish in shape, but in this
stage of reproduction it is continually
elongating into a long ellipse, a constric-
ton appears at the middle, and Il divides
into two. Each of these two In their turn
elongate, become CONSTRUCTED, and divide
And so it goes on, the process being Of
ten so rapid that short chains are formed,
the various portions being unable to break
away in time. The particular bacterum
which affects herrings and cod is remark
able for its great luminosity: in fact, it
exceeds all other species in this quality
It is a curious fact that the addition of
little sugar to the liquid or the gelatine
on which these phosphorescent bacteria
are being cultivated increases very rnu,h
their power of producing light; the sugar
must, however, be used with great mol
Grafton, as too much of 1t has a contrary
effect and checks the luminosity alto
gether. The reason for this is that near
ly all this class of bacteria require car
bon as nourishment if they are to develop
to their highest powers. Like much OF
the food we eat, it is not essential to
them; they can manage very well with
out it, but they are all the better for
having II. Now, sugar is very largely
composed of carbon; hence the good re-
suits which follow its presence. Glycer-
inc, which Is of similar composition will
do almost as well; from both bacteria can
terra have however, been observed which
are somewhat differently constituted; one
is found round the West Indies, and the
other in the North sea, and neither an
parently requires sugar or glycerine in any
form-in fact, either of these substances
even in the smallest quantity, appears
to be directly injurious. But why this
should be so 1t is not easy to define.
Dutchman named Beyernick has late
ly made a special study of these photo-bac-
terra, and has experimental with them in
a great number of ways, to determine, IL
possible, why they should thus become IL
Illuminated, and If the light plays any no
table part in their life history; but his re-
suits are, seemingly all more or less Of a
negative nature. He cannot find that IL has
any very important function. The breath
ing of these tiny organisms Is not, appar-
emily, in any way bound up with 1t; their
nutrition, growth and development go on
quite well even If they are placed under
such conditions that their luminosity is
arrested; in no way, indeed. Is it a vital
process. 1t only seems to depend on the