ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 93- 



taining salts, tubercle bacilli assume Streptothrix forms, and expresses 

 the view that the study of these endophyta associated with plants may 

 throw light upon the pathology of infections in man and animals. 



Disease-carriers.* — In opening a discussion upon this subject, 

 A. C. Houston pointed out that, hitherto, attention had been paid to 

 the passive transmitters rather than to the living storehouses of disease. 

 It is now known that, after an attack of enteric fever, a person may 

 continue to harbour and excrete typhoid bacilli for many years. Recent 

 work has shown also that pathogenic bacteria may increase and multiply 

 within the stomachs of flies and other insects. On the other hand, the 

 conditions existing in soil, water or air are unfavourable to the multipli- 

 cation, even to the survival, of disease germs. 



0. Lentz described the organization of the typhoid campaign in 

 south-west Germany. Bacteriological stations were organized for the 

 purpose o'f assisting practitioners in the diagnosis of typhoid, investi- 

 gating sources of infection and finding when convalescents cease to 

 eliminate the bacteria. Convicted carriers received instructions as to 

 care and cleanliness, but were subject to no legislative control. The 

 results of this campaign were satisfactory, as statistics showed a material 

 reduction in the number of typhoid cases. 



Papers upon diphtheria and dysentery carriers were read. In both 

 these diseases the convalescent carrier is an important agent in the 

 spread of infection, but this condition is not so persistent as in the case 

 of typhoid. Lastly, in a summary of recent researches upon the trans- 

 mission of the plague bacillus, G. F. Petrie stated that human carriers 

 played no important part in the transmission of disease. The rat 

 appears to be the ultimate reservoir of this organism. 



New Types of Urobacteria.f — From various samples of urine, 

 A. Roehaix and A. Dufourt have isolated eight new microbes of ammo- 

 niacal fermentation. These organisms also produce ferments capable 

 of liquefying gelatin or serum, and of coagulating milk. They act 

 upon neutral red media, producing canary-yellow with green fluorescence. 

 All but one form indol. Their power of transforming urea into ammo- 

 nium carbonate diminishes as the cultures become old and accustomed 

 to artificial media. These organisms are pathogenic to laboratory 

 animals, and may cause fatal septicemia. 



Relation between Avian and Mammalian Tuberculosis.! — D. A. de 

 Jon^, who formerlv held the doctrine of the duality of the bacilli of 

 Birds and Mammals, now gives reasons for altering his opinion, and 

 declares in favour of unity. He has made observations which have led 

 him to the conclusion that the difference between Avian and Mammalian 

 tubercle is not absolute, and that the passage from one form to the 

 other is possible. Health authorities should therefore take measures 

 against Avian tuberculosis, as man, monkey, ox, pig, rabbit, rat, and 

 mouse may be infected. 



* Brit. Med. Journ., 1910, ii. pp. 1499-1510. 

 t C. R. Soc. Biol. Paris, lxix. (1910) pp. 312-14. 

 X Ann. Inst. Pasteur, xxiv. (1910) pp. 895-906. 



