878 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. 



About the hemolytic powers of the anthrax bacillus and the saprophytes 

 similar to the anthrax bacillus, K. Jarmai (CentM. Bakt. [e/c], 1. AM., 

 Orig., 70 (,1913), No. 1-2, pp. 12-80, pi. i).— Several investigators have noted 

 that Bacillus anthracis has weak hemolyzing properties, and according to 

 Burow, rabbits and guinea pigs affected with anthrax give evidences of a de- 

 struction of their erythrocytes in the course of the disease. Hutyra noted that 

 B. pseudoanthracis and B. anthracoides hemolyze red blood cells in bouillon 

 cultures. As these two micro-organisms are apathogenic, there apparently 

 seems to be a contradiction as to the relation of hemolysis to pathogenicity. 

 The micro-organisms studied in this investigation were B. anthracis, B. pseu- 

 doanthracis, B. anthracoides, and B. anthracis similis. 



The slight hemolysin production of the anthrax bacillus is said to be due to 

 its capsule, which possibly may hinder the secretion of the hemolysin into the 

 culture fluid. The saprophytic organisms can best be differentiated from the 

 anthrax bacillus by noting their hemolytic properties, and this can be done by 

 observing the colonies on the blood agar plates ; these, in contradistinction to 

 the anthrax bacillus, show zones of hemolysis surrounding the colonies. 



The blood of animals affected with anthrax gives a positive Ascoli reaction 

 six hours after death. The red blood cells of animals affected with anthrax 

 show no change but after death, when capsule formation could not take place, 

 they are apparently acted upon by the anthrax bacillus; consequently the 

 hemolysis noted in cadavers is a post-mortem phenomenon. 



Results and outlook of the thermoprecipitin reaction, A. Ascoli (Arch. 

 Path. Anat. u. Physiol. [Virchoiv], 213 {1913), No. 2-3, pp. 181-233, figs. 5).— 

 This deals with the evolution of M. Ascoli's reaction for diagnosing anthrax, 

 and discusses succinctly the various phases of the topic under the following 

 headings: The precipitating serum (preparation, standardization, and con- 

 servation), specificity, the material to be examined, the extracts of organs for 

 the precipitin reaction, conducting the reaction (in the well-appointed lab- 

 oratory and by the veterinarian in everyday practice), examination of bovines, 

 pigs, horses, etc., further uses of the reaction in examining foods, in forensic 

 medicine, hog erysipelas, blackleg, paratyphoid and meat poisoning, tubercu- 

 losis, and Malta fever, and the possible future use of the reaction for hog 

 cholera, typhoid fever, etc. 



A large bibliography accompanies the article. 



Contribution to elucidating open questions in regard to anthrax and 

 combating this disease, W. Burow (Beit rage ziir Kldrung offener Fragen heim 

 Milzbrand und seiner Bekdmpiung. Berlin, 1912, pp. 88, figs. S). — This is the 

 text of an address given before the council of the Royal Veterinary High School 

 at Dresden as a part of the requirements to gain the right to teach at that 

 institution. It discusses and gives the reasons for the occurrence of the disease 

 in certain animals and under certain conditions, and deals with the methods of 

 protective and curative vaccination, the precautions to b? observed when vacci- 

 nating, and the causes for failure in some cases. 



Investigations in regard to the etiology of foot-and-mouth disease. — The 

 cause and active immunization, Siegel (Berlin. Tierdrztl. Wchnschr., SO 

 (1914), Nos. 1, pp. 1-3; 2, pp. 2,5-27).— The work of the Imperial Health 

 Department (B. S. R., 31, p. 282) is criticized inasmuch as no experiments 

 were conducted in regard to the presence of micro-organisms in the blood, the 

 presence of cocci in the undeveloped vesicles, or the filterability of the virus. 

 The results obtained in the infection tests point to specific properties of the 

 cocci although the lesions present in the mucous membrane of the mouth were 

 only a modified form of foot-and-mouth disease. Many cases of natural foot-and- 

 mouth disease occur in which blebs are not present. 



