280 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



be little choice in this regard between the human and bovine bacilli. A reaction 

 to tuberculin takes place before any infection has occurred, therefore, in the 

 absence of all tuberculous lesions. 



The effects of tuberculin absorbed by the digestive tract in healthy and 

 tuberculous animals, A. Calmette and M. P.ketox (Compt. Rend. Aciid. HcL 

 [Paris], 1J,2 {1906), No. 11, pp. 616-618).— The author's experiments were 

 carried out on guinea pigs, for the reason that these animals are particularly 

 susceptible to tuberculosis. 



It was found that tuberculin absorbed l>y the alimentary tract has a toxic 

 effect upon nontuberculous animals and that this toxicity is particularly mani- 

 fest in young animals. There appears to be no tendency toward the establish- 

 ment of a tolerance for the ingestion of the gradually increasing doses of 

 tuberculin. If guinea pigs are rendered tuberculous by a single alimentary 

 infection they react regularly to tuberculin if they are fed this reagent in doses 

 of 1 mg. which are entirely without effect upon healthy guinea pigs. It was 

 also shown by the experiments in question that in the case of tuberculous ani- 

 mals a reaction takes place to tuberculin whether this reagent is administered 

 hypodermically or by way of the alimentary tract. 



Griserin as a treatment of tuberculosis, Springefeldt {Arch. Wiss, u. 

 Prakt. TkrheUlc, 32 {1!)0G). Xo. 6. pp. 5'i5-'>61). — (iriserin has been proposed 

 by certain German investigators as a chemical cure for tuberculosis in human 

 beings and animals. 



The author tested this chemical on 24 guinea pigs, which were artificially 

 inoculated with tuberculosis and afterwards treated with griserin. In no case 

 was the disease checked by the treatment with griserin. The lesions spread and 

 the disease showed a tendency to become generalized as rapidly as where no 

 treatment was applied. 



The action of essence of turpentine upon the virus of glanders, tubercu- 

 losis, and anthrax, V. (iAltieb {.Jour. Mvd. Yet. ct Zooiech.. .',1 {1906), Mar., 

 pp. l-'iO-lltl). — It has long been known that the virus of glanders is quite easily 

 affected by the essence of turpentine. The tubercle and anthrax bacilli, however, 

 are far less susceptible. According to some experiments the tubercle bacillus 

 is not destroyed by immersion for 8 hours in essence of turpentine. It would 

 appear, therefore, that this substance is not suitable for disinfecting objects 

 which have become contaminated with the tubercle bacillus. 



Turpentine is also of little avail in destroying anthrax infection, particularly 

 if spores are present. Experiments were carried on by the author in inocu- 

 lating guinea pigs and rabbits with anthrax virus followed by vaccination 

 with 0.25 cc. of essence of turpentine. The turpentine appeared in all cases to 

 prolong life somewhat, and in a few instances the animals recovered entirely 

 from a fatal dose. 



The effect of preparations from tubercle bacilli upon the tuberculous 

 organism, A. Wassermann and C. Brook {Dent. Med. Wchnschr., 32 {U>ii6). 

 'No. 12, pp. 450-.'i54). — In tlie experiments reported in this article the authors 

 gave attention chiefly to establishing the location of antituberculin and tuber- 

 culin in the organism of the affected animal and the reaction between these two 

 substances. 



It appears that antituberculin may be quite readily demonstrated in the 

 tnl)erculous organs of man, guinea pigs, cattle, and other animals. During the 

 treatment of tuberculous animals from preparations of tubercle bacilli a 

 specific antitul^erculin appears in the general blood circulation. While the anti- 

 tuberculin is present in tuberculous organs of tuberculous animals it does not 

 appear in the serum. If such animals are treated with tuberculin or other 

 preparations from tubercle bacilli these materials, on account of their aflinity 



