VETEEINAKY SCIENCE AND PRACTICE. 807 



the active properties of these sera occurs as a consequence of the coiiilnnation of the 

 alexin with the other bodies mentioned and is in the nature of a (•hemicul rather 

 than a purely physical absorption. The absorption of the alexins does not depend 

 entirely upon the quantity of the substances and the time of exposure, but also upon 

 the temperature at which the mixtures are maintained. At a temperature of 0° C. 

 no absorption of the alexin took place. No regeneration of alexin occurs after it has 

 once become fixed. The absorptive power of the various su1>stances already 

 mentioned is not removed l)y heating to the l)oiling temperature. The experiments 

 of the author give nosupi)ort to the as.^umption of a plurality of alexins in the serum 

 of one species of animal. The alexin may also be fixed inside of the animal body so 

 that guinea pigs are destroyed by an intraperitoneal injection of a nonfatal dose of 

 cholera or typhoid bacilli if a certain (luautity of absorlnng material is injected at 

 the same time. 



The role of the membrane of bacteria in agglutination, W. Dkkai.i.e {Ann. 

 Ltd. Paxteur, 16 {1902), No. 8, j>]>. r><)5-613).—ln the author's experiments a large 

 number of the more common species of bacilli were employed. As a result of the 

 experiments and observations made by the author it is conclude<l that the antibodies 

 as well as the agglutinins, and to a certain extent the sensibilizing substances appear 

 to be products formed in the organism as a result of resorption of the l)acterial mem- 

 branes. The author found that, other things ])eing ecpial, the better developed the 

 membrane an lund a given species of bacteria the richer it was in substance capable 

 of i)roducing an organic reaction and the more abundant was the production of anti- 

 bodies. The bacterial organism was also more susceptible to these substances than 

 bacteria in which the membrane was less well developed. 



Variations in the effects and nature of the secretions of a pathogenic 

 organism, Charrix and Guillemonat {Coinpt. Rend. Acad. Scl. Paris, 134 {l^>0:j), 

 Xo. ^I, p]>- 1240-1343) .—Attention is called to the fact that inoculations with the 

 soluble products of different pathogenic organisms vary extremely in the rapidity 

 and intensity of their action. In the case of some organisms the effect is shown only 

 after a period of considerable length, while with Baeillm jniocyanrm injurious effects 

 may be produced within a few minutes or almost instantaneously. A study of the 

 secretions of this organism shows that death may be produced by inoculation of its 

 soluble products without any intervening period of incubation. The toxicity of 

 these products is shown not to be due to the coloring matter, since the latter is even 

 less toxic than certain organic coloring matters, such as bilirubin. 



The differentiation of anaerobic bacilli, P. Achalme {Ann. Inst. Pasteur, 16 

 { 1903), Xo. 9, pp. 641-663). — A variety of bacterial organisms were studied, including 

 the l)acillus of tetanus, blackleg, l)otulism, as well as B. enteriiidh sporogenes. The 

 author concludes from his studies that the morphology of bacteria can not lie used 

 as a basis for differentiating the species. The motility of bacterial organisms is also 

 of little diagnostic value. A large number of bacteria are motile at times, and those 

 which are most actively motile are sometimes comparatively motionless. The reac- 

 tion of bacteria to stains is of more value in diagnosis. Similar statements are made 

 for the aspect of colonies of bacteria on solid media, sporulation, and especially for 

 the assimilative functions of bacteria. The growth, absorption of material, and 

 excretion of bacteria on various nutrient media form, according to the author, the 

 most important criteria for differentiating species. 



The physiology of spore formation in bacilli, and notes on the growth of 

 certain anaerobic bacteria, T. Matzuschita (Arch. Hijg., 4-i {1903), Xo. .3-4, pp- 

 367-376, pis. :?).— An elaborate review of the literature of this subject is presented 

 and detailed notes are given on the various methods which have thus far been 

 employed for producing anaerobic conditions for the development of bacteria. The 

 author's experiments involved tests of all the original methods, and the organisms 

 experimented with include the bacillus of malignant edema, blackleg, anthrax, Bacil- 

 lus botulinus, B. sporogenes, B. subtilis, and Clostridium butijricum. 



