780 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Researches on the spirochetes and related organisms, C. Dobeli, (Arch. 

 Protislenk., 26 {1912), No. 2. pp. 117-21/0, pis. 5, fuj^. S).— "From a comparative 

 study of the spirociietes, bacteria, and Cyanophycea», I ha^-e reached the fol- 

 lowing conclusions : The spirochetes may be collected into a single group, which 

 may be called the Spirochsetoidea. The Spirochaetoidea are noncellular organ- 

 isms (Protista). They undoubtedly belong to the Schizophyta ( bac- 

 teria +Cyanophyce8e), and not to the Protozoa. Among the Schizophyta, they 

 must be placed in the subdivision bacteria and among the bacteria they prob- 

 ably constitute a group of the same systematic status as the cocci, the bacilli, or 

 the Spirilla. The spirochetes differ from the other bacteria in only one fea- 

 ture — though actively motile, they possess no specialized organs of locomotion. 

 Every other character which they possess is represented in other forms of 

 bacteria. 



" The group Spirochsetoidea comprises 4 different sets of organisms, which 

 may be classified in the 4 genera Spirochteta, Treponema, Cristispira, Sapro- 

 spira." 



A bibliography is appended. 



T'he separation of protozoan species by means of immunity, A. F. Coca 

 (Ztschr. Immnniliitsf. u. Expt. Ther^ I, Orig., 12 {.1912). No. 2. pp. 127-133; 

 abs. in Zentbl. Biochem. u. Biophys.., 12 {19i2), No. 23, pp. 938, .93.9).— The re- 

 sults show that the various members of the same group (amoeba) can be differ- 

 entiated with the specific agglutination and complement fixation reactions. 



The nature of trachoma bodies, S. B. Wolbach and S. H. McKee {Jour. 

 Med. Research, 21/ {1911), No. 2, pp. 259-26''/, pis. 3).— The authors find that 

 trachoma bodies, the discovery of which resulted in the introduction of the new 

 term " Chlamydozoa " for a possibly new group of intracellular protozoa, in- 

 cluding the bodies found in variola, vaccinia, scarlet fever, contagions epithe- 

 lioma of fowls, molluscum contagiosum, rabies, and other diseases of animals, 

 are not specific, uor are they parasitic in nature. " We have come to the con- 

 clusion that trachoma bodies are the product of mucus secretion under patho- 

 logical conditions." 



The filterable viruses, a summary, S. B. Wolbach (Jour. Med. Research, 

 27 {1912), No. 1, pp. 1-25). — This is a summarized account in which the author 

 discusses 30 diseases produced by filterable viruses. (See also E. S. R., 27, 

 p. 181.) 



In regard to the action of the barium ions upon the heart, N. Werschinin 

 {Arch. Expt. Path. u. Pharmakol., 66 {1911), N'o. 3, pp. 191-201/ ; abs. in Chem. 

 Zig., 36 {1912), No. 15, Repert., p. 73). — Like the substances containetl in digi- 

 talis the barium ions inhibit systole and diastole. The difference, liowever, is 

 only a qualitative one and is explained by the slight capacity which the barium 

 ions have for penetrating (from without inward) the walls of a frog's heart. 

 Barium ions can be easily removed from the heart by washing. 



Researches on the poisons produced by Aspergillus fumigatus, E. Bodin 

 and C. Lenormand {Ann. Inst. Pasteur, 26 {1912), No. 5, pp. 371-380).— In con- 

 tinuing investigations with A. fumigatus (E. S. R.. 18, p. 88), the authors find 

 that instead of a single toxin at least 2 are produced by this fungus. One acts 

 as a convulsivant and is soluble in ether, the other is a depressant, insoluble or 

 slightly soluble in ether and volatile. 



Mortality of stock on mangels, C. Aston {Jour. New Zeal. Dept. Agr., 

 3 {1912), No. 3, lip. 211/, 215; Vet. Jour., 68 {1912), No. J/1/5, pp. 425-427).— The 

 author reports briefly on investigations conducted following the loss in August 

 of cattle and pigs which had been fed on mangels. Analyses of these mangels 

 made during September showed the .iuice to contain 0.06 per cent of nitrogen 

 as nitrites and nitrates. Nitrites were present in traces, a fact which seems 



