1919] Yl.Tl.mN \KY MEDICINE. 381 



hulin. It also contains lipoids, but these probably are nol essential to its anti- 

 genic function. 



"The presence or absence of the anaphylactic reaction Is not a certain 

 criterion for Bpedflclty when nucleo-proteins are used -is antlge 



A synthetic medium for the direct enumeration of organisms of the 

 colon-aerogenes group, S. H. AYEBS and P. EtUPP (Jour. Bad., A [1918), Vfl 

 pp. '/.i.i-JfS6) . — In the course of Investigations carried <>n by the Dairy Division 

 of the r. s. Department of Agriculture, the authors have devised a Blmple syn- 

 thetic medium In which there is a single source of altrogen, namely, sodium 

 ammonium phosphate, and ;i single source of carbon, namely, lactose. This 

 medium consists of two solutions: (l) Sodium ammonium phosphate 0. I per 

 cent, add potassium phosphate 0.2 per cent", lactose i per cent, dissolved In dis- 

 tilled water: and (2) a filtered solution of agar In distilled water .". per cent. 

 " Mix solution l anil 2 in equal proportions while hot and pu1 up In definite 

 amounts of 100 cc. or more In flasks or bottles, and then aterilize. The .". per 

 cent agar solution is made op separately and kepi In stock merely for con- 

 venience. Agar can be added directly to solution 1 at the time of preparation if 

 desired, using 1.5 per cent A slight precipitate may appear apon sterilization, 

 but this does not Interfere with the count and may not appear on the plate." 



The advantages of this medium include (l) apparent accuracy in the direct 

 enumeration of bacteria of the colon-aerogenes group, (2) eonstancy of compo- 

 sition, (8) simplicity of preparation, and (4) cheapness. 



Standardization of blackleg vaccine, L. W. Goss and J. P. Scott (Jour. 

 Amer. Vet. Med. lasoc, ■'.'. [1918), No. S. pp. .'.", US).— Data are presented 

 Bhowlng thai by Injecting into horses cultures of Bacillus chauvaH a serum can 

 lie made which will protect guinea pigs from blackleg ween they are Injected 

 With 0.5 cc. Of cubure virus ( 10 mid.) after bavin- received 0.02 CC. of the serum 

 15 hours previous to the injection of the virus. Tt was found thai the patho- 

 genic properties of It. chauvaH cultures are greatly reduced by washing. 



Aggressins and filtrates In quantities of from 2 to •". cc. produced an active 

 immunity in 11 days which protected 50 per cent of the guinea pigs when given 

 5 mid. of culture virus. Blackleg aggressins and filtrates have an aggressive 

 action Which seems to neutralize the protective action Of scrum. 



The authors state In conclusion that the laboratory standardization of anti- 

 blackleg serum is a comparatively simple procedure, bu1 thai the standardiza- 

 tion of aggressln and filtrate Is somewhat more difficult, as the highest active 

 immunity which can be produced in guinea pigs is of a low degree. Tbe neutral- 

 ization of the serum by the aggressln or filtrate is considered to give a method 

 by which the value of the product may be measured. 



The preventive and curative treatment of gas gangrene by mixed serums, 

 V. Ivf.ns {Brit. 1/'-/. .four.. No. S016 (WIS), pp. ',.'■' #7; aba. in Jour, h 

 Mi J. isaoc., 11 (1918), No. ..'.'. pp. 1861, 1862).— Case reports of the treatment 

 of gas gangrene by mixed serums are given, from which the following con- 

 clusions are drawn : 



The administration of a powerful antlgangrenous serum is of real value 

 in preventing tbe Incidence of gas gangrene, nol replacing but assisting 9urgical 

 treatment. Employed as a curative agent In cases of advanced Infection, it 

 is a disintoxicating agent of great value if used In sufficient quantities. Tbe 

 polyvalent serum of Leclalnche and Yail.v (E. s. K.. 86, p. 882) has a marked 

 influence on the after-history Of cases with coincident streptococcal infections. 

 The dilution of the serum by normal saline solution and its subcutaneous ad- 

 ministration have made anaphylactic phenomena extremely rare. In ca 

 where tbe special microbe can be Isolated, or In blood infections, the appropriate 

 serum can be used with advantage on account of the length of time essary 



