778 EXPERIMENT STATION KECOED. [Vol.36 



Directions for preparation of veterinary specimens for examination, M. 

 Francis (Texas ^S'?a. Virc. 16 (.1916), pp. 7, figs. S).—A brief descriptive account. 



Studies on the blood proteins. — I, The serum globulins in bacterial infec- 

 tion and immunity, S. H. Hurwitz and K. F. Meyer (Jour. Expt. Med., 24 

 (1916), No. 5, pp. 515-5^6, figs. 7). — The results of the investigation reported 

 are summarized as follows : 



" The progress of an infection is usually associated with marked changes 

 in the serum proteins. There may be an increase in the percentage of the total 

 protein during some stage of the infection, and there is usually a change in 

 the albumin-globulin ratio with an increase in the total globulins. This rise 

 may antedate the development of any resistance by a considerable period of 

 time. The nonprotein constituents of the blood show fluctuations with a 

 tendency to rise as the infection progresses. 



" The process of immunization is in almost all instances associated with a 

 definite increase in the globulins of the blood, and in some cases with a com- 

 plete inversion of the normal albumin-globulin ratio. This may be produced 

 both by living and dead organisms and by bacterial endotoxins. Massive doses 

 usually result in an upset which shows no tendency to right itself during the 

 period of observation. A rise in the globulins has been shown to occur long 

 before the animal develops immune bodies in any appreciable concentration ; 

 and where the globulin curve and antibody curve appear to parallel one an- 

 other it can be shown by a careful analysis of both curves that there is a 

 definite lack of correspondence at various periods of the experiment. Ani- 

 mals possessing a basic immunity show a more rapid rise in the globulin curve 

 following inoculation." 



No parallelism was observed between the leucocytic reaction and the globulin 

 reaction. The globulins may be as high during periods of leucopenia as during 

 the period of a leucocytosis. As striking an increase in the serum globulins is 

 produced by bacterial endotoxins as is produced by living and killed bacteria. 

 This would seem to indicate tliat a bacterial invasion of the organism is not 

 absolutely essential for the globulin changes, and that the toxogenic factor 

 in infection and immunity must play a part in the production of the changes 

 noted. 



" Inflammatory irritants injected intraperitoueally also result in a globulin 

 increase. In this case the changes produced may best be explained by the 

 toxogenic effect produced by the protein-split products resulting from the 

 inflammatory condition. Intraperitoneal injections of killed bacteria give 

 rise to a more rapid increase in the serum globulins. Tlie rapidity of the re- 

 sponse following intraperitoneal as compared with intravenous injections doubt- 

 less stands in intimate relationship to the neutralizing power possessed by the 

 blood serum, and perhaps to the more extensive surface of absorption follow- 

 ing injection by the intraperitoneal route." 



Experimental observations on the pathogenesis of gall-bladder infections 

 in typhoid, cholera, and dysentery, H. J. Nichols (Jour. Expt. Med., 24 

 (1916), No. 5, pp. 497-514). — The results of investigations with the common 

 duct fistula method in the rabbit lend support to the theory of the productiou 

 of gall-bladder lesions in typhoid by a descending infection of the bile from the 

 liver. " More bacilli appear in the bile with increased doses, and more gall- 

 bladder infections are obtained by increased doses. More bacilli appear in the 

 bile after mesenteric vein injection than after ear vein injection, and more 

 lesions result under the first condition. More bacilli appear in the bile after 

 injection of the same dose in immunized animals than in normal animals, and 

 more lesions also result in immunized animals." 



