180 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



of cells in a medium containing a constant and known quantity of diphtheria 

 antitoxin. The blood of passively immunized chickens was found to con- 

 tain a substance capable of neutralizing diphtheria toxin. The tissue cells of 

 chick embryos were able to resist otherwise lethal doses of diphtheria toxin 

 after they had remained a short time in the plasma of a passively immunized 

 chicken. 



The author concludes that the tissue culture has a very definite value for the 

 study of toxic and antitoxic substances. 



A new culture bouillon particularly favorable to the development of 

 Streptococcus pyogenes, L. Buyer (Coinjit. Rend. Soc. Biol. [Pari*], 81 (1918), 

 No. 5, pp. SS9 281). — The medium is prepared by macerating for from 12 to 24 

 hours B mixture of 500 gm. crushed beef ribs. 100 gin. N hydrochloric acid, anu 

 900 gm. water, and then heating the mixture in an autoclave at from 125 to 

 130° C. for one-half hour. It is then cooled, filtered through cloth, added 

 to 15 gm. peptone in 1,000 parts of water, and neutralized with dilute sodium 

 hydroxid to an amphoteric reaction. After a second heating in the autoclave 

 it is filtered hot. tubed, and sterilized at 120°. 



The medium is considered to be excellent for the growth nut only of strepto- 

 cocci but also of other aerobic organisms of war wounds and has given good 

 satisfaction in the qualitative bacteriological examination of such wounds. 



Liberation of antibodies on injection of foreign proteins, S. 1". Hi:kiim\nn 

 (.four. Infect. Diseases, 28 (1918), No. 5. pp. -}•"? \69, figs. 5; abs. in -J<>ur. Amer. 

 Med. Assoc, 71 (1918), Xo. 21, p. 777.',). — To determine the factor responsible 

 for the apparent benefits of foreign protein therapy, experiments were con- 

 ducted on rabbits sensitized in various ways. The following results wire 

 obtained : 



"In rabbits sensitized with streptococci a definite liberation of specific 

 opsonins and agglutinins follows the injection of foreign protein. A similar 

 rise in specific opsonins also occurs in rabbits sensitized with meningococci. 

 Foreign protein injections have no effect on antibodies in typhoid-immune 

 rablnts. In suitable rabbits, which do not readily prodnce lysins against sheep 

 corpuscles, the injection of foreign protein within 10 days after the Injection 

 of antigen is followed by a marked liberation of specific lysins. A variety of 

 foreign proteins can be used. Human serum, typhoid vaccine, human ascitic 

 fluid, and guinea-pig serum proved equally efficacious." 



The author concludes that "the intravenous injection of foreign protein 

 serves as a stimulus for the liberation of specific antibodies in animals in 

 which the previously injected antigen is unable to cause such a liberation. This 

 Insufficiency may lie either in the antigen or in the rabbit." 



Sporotrichosis following mouse bite with certain immunologic data, J. 7. 

 Moobe and D. J. Davis (Jour. Infect. Diseases, 18 < 1918), Xo. S. pp. 252-266, pi. 

 1. figs. 8). — "An instance of an infection with Bporotriehvm soh* nckii following 

 the bite of a field mouse in North Dakota is described. It is not known whether 

 the organisms came from the mouse or from the soil or the skin. The infec- 

 tion has now persisted for about IS months, improving with administration of 

 lodid and relapsing when the iodid is discontinued." 



Bacteria of infectious diseases of man and animals, G. II. Jones (Ontario 

 T)<pt. Agr. Bui. 265 (1918), pp. 88-68, figs. H).— This is a collection of informa- 

 tion on the organisms, diagnosis, treatment, and control of infectious discuses 

 of man and animals. 



The germicidal action of freezing temperatures upon bacteria. 0. M. 11 n- 

 liari) and MlLDBKD A. Davis (.four. Bart.. 3 (1918), Xo. ',. pp. ',!■'- ;.>'M.— From 

 the data presented the authors have drawn the following conclusions: 



