ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 91 



and p. zenJceri are probably identical. F. mirahilis seems to be an 

 intermediate form between P. zenkeri and P. vulgaris, which differs in 

 the intensity, but not in the quality of its microchemical reactions. 



Non-sporing Anthrax Bacilli.* — After giving a comprehensive 

 account of the literature upon the subject, E. A. Baudet describes his 

 own researches, conducted with the object of producing non-sporing 

 strains of Bacillus anthracis, by treating the cultures with certain re- 

 agents. He investigated the influence of phenol, diaphtherin (oxy- 

 chinolaseptol), and formalin, and found that of 18 strains investigated, 

 it was possible, by means of phenol, to produce a non-sporing strain in 

 four cases. He concludes that it is possible sometimes to produce non- 

 sporing strains, but no method with certain results has been devised. 

 Some factors influence the process which have not yet been defined, and 

 until these have been determined, it is impossible to w^ork with certainty. 

 The phenol method of Roux is the most satisfactory. 



Variations of Bacillus anthracis.f — H. Preisz has found that, when a 

 virulent strain of this organism is cultivated at 42 'SX'., a series of 

 varieties are produced which differ from one another in cultural and 

 morphological characters as well as in virulence. Some forms produced 

 upon agar fine slimy confluent colonies, very different from the typical 

 growth. Diminution in virulence was associated with impairment in the 

 quality and degree of capsule-forming power. In a single attenuated 

 culture, avirulent and highly virulent varieties may be found in juxta- 

 position. Virulence and spore-formation, during attenuation, are not 

 necessarily diminished to the same extent. Varieties, remaining viru- 

 lent, may' lose the power of forming spores, or vice versa. Attenuation 

 of different strains of organism, under the same conditions, does not 

 necessarily proceed at proportional rates. In the majority of strains, 

 even before attenuation, variant colonies may be found. 



Survival of Bacillus coli and of Anthrax Spores. J — B. Busson gives 

 an account of certain observations upon the length of time B. coli was 

 found to survive when inoculated into sterile distilled water. The strain 

 which was selected for experiment was cultivated from spring water. 

 Sterile water in a glass vessel was inoculated with this organism, the 

 vessel was sealed up, and loopf uls removed at intervals for culture. The 

 experiment was started in 1904, and at the end of six years and three- 

 quarters the bacilli are still alive. The author has found also that 

 anthrax spores dried upon silk threads remained alive for seventeen 

 years, capable of giving rise to healthy growth, pathogenic for white 

 mice. 



Transmission of Scarlet Fever to Monkeys.§— K. Landsteiner and 

 €. Levaditi, by inoculation of material from throat and tonsils, and of 

 blood from scarlatinal patients, into chimpanzees, have succeeded in 

 reproducing in these animals a disease presenting some of the features 



* Centralbl. Bakt., Ite Abt. Orig., Ix. (1911) pp. 462-80. 

 t Centralbl. Bakt., Ite Abt. Orig., Iviii. (1911) pp. 510-65. 

 X Centralbl. Bakt., Ite Abt. Orig., Iviii. (1911) pp. 505-9. 

 § Ann. Inst. Pasteur, xxv. (1911) pp. 754-75. 



