114 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



living for 9 years, in double beer 5 or years. In a saccharose solution the limit of 

 vitality was about 2 years, and in water about 16 months. The limit of \'itality of 

 B. pasteurianum in the low fermented beer is about 10 years, in double beer about 6 

 years, in saccharose solution about 1 year, and in water from 6 to 12 months. The 

 third species investigated, B. kutzingianum, remains viable in the low fermented beer 

 from 5 to 7 years, in double beer about 6 years, in the saccharose solution about 1 

 year, and in water 9 months. The variation of these different bacteria in different 

 media and at different temperatiu'es and under other conditions was determined. 



Gro'wtli of bacteria in the presence of chloroform and thymol, E. F. Smith 

 {Ahs. in Science, n. ser., 13 {1.901), No. 322, j). 327). — Onaccomitof the fi-equent depend- 

 ence of bacteriologists upon the antiseptic property of chloroform and thymol, the 

 author calls atti'ntion t« the fact that 12 micro-organisms are known which l;ii>w 

 readily in te.st-tube cultures of milk or beef bouillon to which an equal yulumc of 

 chloroform has been added. Two organisms, it is stated, are known to grow readily 

 in beef liouillon to which thymol has been added. 



Duration of life of typhoid bacilli, from different sources, in ice; and the 

 effect of intense cold on bacteria, W. H. Park [Ahi'. in. Science, v. .srr., 13 [lUOl), 

 No. 322, J). 323). — An account is given in which 20 cultures of bacteria of typhoid 

 fever, after having l)een grown for 28 hours in nutrient agar, were placed in a room 

 the temperature of whicli was rather constant at al)Out 23° F. From time to time 

 tubes were removed and the effect of the cold, as shown in the development of liac- 

 teria, was noted. At the end of one week, only 14 per cent of the l)acteria were then 

 living, and at the end of 22 weeks all the cultures were dead. AVatery suspensions 

 of different bacteria were placed in small tubes and dropped into li(iuid air, expo- 

 sures being from 3 minutes to 2 hours and 10 minutes. As a result of tliis exposure 

 the virulence of the organisms was only slightly diminished. 



The use of carbolic acid in isolating Bacillus coli communis from river 

 ■water, W. B. Copeland {Ahs. in Science, n. .ser., 13 [1901), No. 322, 2)p. 330, 331). — 

 A destTi])tion is given of a method by which the author has been able to separate 

 the colon bacillus by the use of solid media. The cultures were made on AViirtz 

 agar and the acid colonies were readily distinguishable by the reddening of the 

 litmus. As numerous other bacteria are present in river water, the author has found 

 that by adding 0.2 cc. of a 2 per cent solution of carbolic acid the number of bacteria 

 in the water is greatlj reduced, while there is ai^parently no effect u])oii the colon 

 bacilli. 



A compendium of bacteriological "water investigations, W. .Mkui.a {('oin- 

 pendium der Ixikteriologi.'tclien Wat^aei-uidcrsucliung nehd rolUtdndigcv UeberaicJtt der 

 Trinhveuiserhakterien. Wieahnden: Otto NemnicJi, 1901, pp. VII -r 440, tables 2). 



Formation of sulphureted hydrogen in town drains, and the genus Aero- 

 bacter, INI. AV. Bei.ierixck {('eutbl. Bakt. n. Par., 2. Abt., 6 {1900), No. 7, j)]). 193- 

 206). — The formation of sulphureted hydrogen in town drains by Spirilhun desul- 

 phuricans is mentioned. As a result of further research in this direction, the author 

 suggests that this is due not only to the reduction of sulphate but also to free sulphur 

 and to albuminous bodies. The decomposition of albuminous bodies is brought 

 about either by aerobic organisms or by temjHjrary anaerobes. These organisms 

 M^ere found by a special method of investigation to form sulphites. As a result of 

 the author's investigations, the suggestion is made that these gas-forming species 

 endowed with this temporary anaerobism should be classed together in a genus to 

 which he gives the name Aerobacter, the species mentioned being (1) AeroUuicr 

 aerogenes= Bacillus lactis aerogenes; (2) ^1. iit<vosum; (S) A. coli=B. colicomvmnis; (4) 

 A. coli infusionum; and (5) A. liquefaciens. Tlie different sources from which the organ- 

 isms obtain their sulphur are said to be albumin, sulphur, sulphites, and sulphates. 



Bacteria in the Ames, lo-wa, se-wage disposal plant, L. H. Pammkl {Abs. in 

 Science, n. ser., 13 {1901), No. 322, jip- 323, 324). — A brief description is given of a 



