230 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



FERMENTATION BACTERIOLOGY. 



A note on the action of radium on micro-organisms, A. I!. Green I Proc. 

 Roy. Soc. \ London], 73 ( 1904), No. /.'//'< pp. S75-S81, pi. 1). — Experiments to test the 

 effect of radium hromid on various organisms are reported. The investigations were 

 made to determine the germicidal action of the radium emanations, and in the sec- 

 ond place to determine whether the micro-organisms themselves became radio- 

 active. 



Fresh calf vaccine winch contained 4 species of extraneous bacteria, and about 

 L* dozen species of miscellaneous bacteria were subjected to the action of radium 

 bromid, and it was found that the radium exerted ;i marked germicidal action on 

 the specific and extraneous micro-organisms of vaccine, as well as upon the other 

 organisms when exposed to radium at a distance varying from 1 to 2 mm. 



The details of the experiments are given at some length, and it was found that 

 while the micro-organisms which had been killed by exposure to radium became 

 radio-active it was not ascertained whether the living ones could exhibit that 

 property. 



Investigations on the ferments causing depreciation of wines, P. Maze and 

 P. Pacottet (Rev. Vit., 21 (1904), Nos. 541, pp. 461-563; 542, pp. 489-494; 543, pp. 

 517-519; 544, ]>p- 545-548, pi. 1. figs. (J). — A brief summary is given of the work of a 

 number of prominent investigators on the ferments which cause the deterioration of 

 wines, after which the methods of isolation and study are described. A number of 

 the more common forms are figured and described and their effect on various wines 

 and other media shown. 



The effect of aniline colors on invertin, 8. 8. Mekeshkowsky ( Centbl. Hull. u. 

 Par., 2. Abf., 11 (1903), No. 2, pp. 33-45). — In order to determine the effect of varii mis 

 coloring materials on ferments, the author conducted a series of experiments in which 

 the effect of fuchsin, Congo red, and safranin on invertin was investigated. 



The experiments are reported in detail and it was found that the anilin coloring 

 materials undoubtedly had a direct action on invertin in proportion to the molecular 

 structure of the coloring matter. It appeared that invertin in the presence of anilin 

 colors of known concentration is not destroyed, but there is set up an unstable com- 

 pound that acts indifferently toward cane sugar. If, however, a fresh solution of 

 sugar be added to the mixture the former compound is broken up and part or all of 

 the invertin is liberated. 



The preparation of nutrient media for the cultivation of bacteria, (J. Hesse 

 (Zlschr. Hyg. u. Infectionskrank., 46 (1904), No. 1, pp. 1-22). — As the result of an 

 elaborate study of this subject, during which various bacteria were grown on different 

 media contained in different kinds of glass, the author recommends that in sterilizing 

 culture media glassware be used which does not yield alkali. 



For determining the reaction of nutrient media phenolphthalein is considered a 

 much more delicate reagent than litmus paper. The author believes that this is the 

 only method by which the alkali content of a culture can be accurately determined 

 as well as the proper amount to be added to any particular culture. The proper 

 reaction of the medium should be brought about while the material is at a tempera- 

 ture of 40° C. 



A method of cultivating anaerobic bacteria, J. Bordet (Ann. Inst. Pasteur, 

 IS (1904), No. 5, pp. 332-336, figs. 2).— Most methods proposed for the cultivation of 

 anaerobic bacteria suffer from the disadvantage of requiring complicated apparatus. 

 The author attempted to devise a simplified method. The test tubes and flasks are 

 placed in bell jars from which the air is exhausted by the use of air pump and pyro- 

 gallate of potash. The technical cultural details are carefully described. The method 

 has given good results with the tetanus bacillus. 



