876 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



investigations including cattle, swine, horses, rodents, birds, and otlier verte- 

 brates, three nonpathogenic acid-fast species were isolated. Their cultural 

 characteristics and mode of isolation are described. 



Some structural transformations of the blood cells of vertebrates, G. L. 

 Kite {Jour. Infect. Diseases, 15 {1914), No. 2, pp. 319-330, pi. 1, figs. 2). — 

 Through the employment of a special mounting or culture medium the author 

 has been enabled to determine that both white cells and erythrocytes of all 

 classes of vertebrates may undergo many marked structural transformations 

 of a reversible nature. In this paper the more important of these transforma- 

 tions so far observed are described. 



Effect of poisons on the g'erm cells of the male {Wisconsin Sta. Bill. 240 

 {1914), PP- ^4, 35). — In studies by L. J. Cole, alcoholic and lead poisoning of 

 rabbits resulted in lessened vitality in the males and in their offspring. 



The behavior of body temperature before, during, and after parturition 

 with the bovine, sheep, and g'oat, M. Limmee {Ueher das Verhalten der 

 Korpertetnperatur vor, xcdhrend und nach der Gehurt bei Rind. Schaf und 

 Ziege. Inaiig. Diss., Univ. Leipsic, 1912, pp. 124, P^^- 5). — The results are 

 reported of an investigation of taking numerous temperatures before and during 

 pregnancy of bovines, sheep, and goats for the purpose of determining the value 

 of the procedure for diagnosing the time of parturition. 



An anteparturient rise takes place most markedly in bovines, and very often 

 the temperature rises above what is usually assumed to be a physiological 

 Limit. In the goat and sheep the temperature rise is not so regular and rarely 

 reaches a, physiological hyperthermia, although in the goat, the second phase of 

 the temperature rise is more definite and resembles that of the bovine. After a 

 rise in tempei'ature takes place in either of the animals, a fall in temperature is 

 noted which in the bovine takes about two days. In the sheep it is very slow. 



The temperature as an indicator for time of birth seems to be of practical 

 and scientific value for the bovine but not for the sheep, and for economic 

 reasons need not be considered for goats. 



The signifi^cance and the origin of the so-called defensive ferments, E. 

 Abderhalden {Deiit. Med. Wchmchr., 40 {1914), No. 6, pp. 268-270).— The 

 organs are deemed responsible for the enzym action and not the leucocytes. 

 Castrated animals do not yield ferments for testicle substance when injected 

 with the inactivated press juice of the testicle. Neither pancreas nor intestinal 

 substance can be considered a single protein and when injected they will yield 

 several enzyms. 



This method may be of special value for determining the defensive powers of 

 the body toward invading organisms. 



The article constitutes a reply to various authors as to the objections which 

 have been raised against the method. 



Animal experimental investigations in regard to the specificity of defen- 

 sive ferments, P. Hirsch {Dcut. Med. Wchnschr., 40 {1914), No. 6, pp. 270, 

 271). — The results show that after the parenteral introduction of placenta and 

 carcinoma tissues from the uterus, defensive ferments are produced which 

 cleave placenta tissue but not uterine carcinoma tissue. On the other hand, 

 the sera from carcinomatous animals cleave only carcinoma tissue. 



Further experiments are in progress in regard to carcinoma and sarcoma. 



Experimental investigation about autoserotherapy, G. Eisner {Ztschr. 

 Klin. Med., 76 {1912), No. 1-2, pp. 84-44, pl- 1; «&«• in Zenthl. Biochem. u. 

 Biophys., 14 {1912), No. 1-2, pp«74, 75). — In none of the 19 cases was a rise in 

 temperature noted. The leucocyte curve, however, was positive and in almost 

 all cases when sterile exudates were used the curve rose. The fastigium was 

 reached four days after the injection. Pus from tuberculosis subjects induces 



