1918] VETERINARY MEDICINE. 181 



zoocidal properties than the methyl ether (emetin). Cephaelln isoamyl ether 

 phosphate was the most effective alkaloid of this group in killing paramecia, 

 being 15 to 20 times as active us emetin phosphate. 



"Tested on Staph iiloeoccnis aureus in the manner described, cepliaelin propyl 

 ether phosphate is germicidal in solutions of 1 : 222, and cephaelin isoamyl ether 

 phosphate in solutions of 1 : 4,120. Botli of these derivatives are much stronger 

 than emetin in germicidal action." 



The toxicity of salvarsan and neosalvarsan, Louise Peaece and W. H. 

 Brown {Jour. Pharmacol, and Expt. Ther., 9 (1917), No. 6, pp. 354, 355; Jour. 

 Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc., 51 {1911), No. 6, pp. 835, 836).— In experimental tests of 

 the toxicity of these drugs, carried on with laboratory animals, neosalvarsan has 

 shown greater irregularities in toxicity than salvarsan and produced more marked 

 pathological alterations and impairment of vitality in experimental animals. 



The Abderhalden test for pregnancy in animals, C. A. Zell {Jour. Amer, 

 Vet. Med. Assoc, 52 {19 H), No. 1, pp. 39-47). — This is a general review of the 

 theory and technique of the test, together with summarized data of the author's 

 personal experience with it. 



It is concluded that the test in animals is very reliable if a very exact 

 technique is employed. Special care should be taken in the preparation of 

 substrates and in the selection and use of the dialyzers. The blood sample must 

 be taken in an absolute stage of hunger and the serum must be sterile and free 

 of hemoglobin and blood corpuscles. In cases where it is possible, the animal 

 should be examined for the presence or absence of any form of leucocytosis. 



The value of physical examination in conjunction with the biological test is noted. 



The biochemical activity of agglutinating bacteria, A. Zironi {Atti R. 

 Accad. Lincei, Rend. CI. Sci. Fis., Mat. e Nat., 5. ser., 26 {1917), II, No. 1, pp. 

 19-23, fig. 1). — The author studied the acid and carbon dioxid production and 

 the reduction of methylene blue by the agglutinating bacilli paratyphoid B 

 and cholera vibrio. No great differences were observed in the activities between 

 the agglutinating organisms and the controls. 



It is conchided that the agglutinating property possessed by bacteria does 

 not modify their general biochemical activity or power of reproduction. 



A special apparatus for determining the carbon dioxid production of cultures 

 was devised for the work and is described. 



A simple method of obtaining blood serum, M. G. Wohl {Jour. Lab. and 

 Clin. Med., 3 {1917), No. 1, pp. 68, 69).— The author has found that a thin coat 

 of paraffin on the walls of the test tubes causes blood which usually adheres to 

 the walls of an ordinary container to yield a clear serum. The paraffin was 

 not found to alter the serum in any way for use in either the Wassermann or 

 Widal reactions. 



Preservation of antisheep hemolytic amboceptor in glycerol, R. O. Clock 

 and S. D. Beard {Jour. Infect. Diseases, 21 {1917), No. 4, pp. 404-4O8).—" Fresh 

 antisheep hemolytic amboceptors that were heated to 55° O. for one-half hour 

 and then mixed with an equal volume of glycerol did not deteriorate but 

 retained their original titer for three yeai*s. During that period anticomple- 

 mentary properties did not develop. The glycerol in the glycerolated antisheep 

 hemolytic amboceptor did not influence the complement-fixation reaction. Fresh 

 antisheep hemolytic amboceptors that were inactivated and then preserved in 

 glycerol . . . were not only remarkably stable but were also protected from 

 bacterial gx-owth for a period of three years." 



Toxicity of heterologous and homologous serums, C. E. Roser {Jour. Lab. 

 and Clin. Med., 2 {1917), No. 8, pp. 536-551). — This is a general discussion of 

 the subject and of the two principal theories of anaphylaxis. 



A biblography of 51 references to the literature cited is appended. 



