678 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol 40 



centratlon of the substrate appeared within limits to be of greater importance 

 than time of hydrolysis in determining the nutritive value of the media. 



Dried bacterial antigen, YV. F. Harvey (Indian Jour. Med. Research, 6 

 (1918), No. 2, [>i>. 131-1)2). — The advantages in the use of a dried bacterial 

 antigen are pointed out, and experimental data are given indicating that such 

 an antigen is easily tolerated and is as capable of Stimulating the production of 

 antibodies as the more commonly used suspension. 



The antigen is prepared by inoculating the surface of agar slopes with a 

 24-hour culture of tin- organism to be employed, Incubating until a good growth 

 has been maintained, transferring the growth to u sterile watch uiass, and dry- 

 ing to constant weight in a desiccator over sulphuric acid at room temperature. 

 When used, a weighed amount of the antigen is allowed t<» stand overnight 

 with a small amount of sterile salt solution and is then ground to a homo- 

 geneous suspension, taken up in a sterile syringe, and administered Intra- 

 venously, intraperitoneally, or subcutaneously in calculated amounts. 



It is stated that Midi an antigen conserves Its power of production of agglu- 

 tinins for a long period. 



Experiments on the production of specific antisera for infections of un- 

 known cause, I, II, P. Rous, < •. 11. ROBERTSON, and J. Oltveb {.lour. Expt. 

 Med., 29 (.1919), No. S, pp. 283 380, figs. 5).- Two papers are presented. 



I. Type experiments with known antigen* <>. bacterial hemotoxin (megather- 

 iolyvin i, the pneumococcus, and poliomyelitic virus. — The purpose of this Investi- 

 gation was to determine whether sera obtained by the immunization of animals 

 with Infected tissue of another species can be rendered available by absorption 

 for therapeutic use in the last mentioned Bpecles, in order to test this possi- 

 bility, type experiments were carried out with immune sera effective against 

 known antigens Of three different varieties: (1) Sera resulting from the Injec- 

 tion Of rabbits and a goal with normal guinea pi:: tissues and a bacterial hemo- 

 toxin produced by Bacillus megatherium which hemolyses guinea pig ceils. 

 (2) antirahhit dog sera containing antibodies protective against pneumococcus 

 infection, and (.'!) the serum of a monkey recovered from poliomyelitis and re- 

 peatedly Injected With human red cells and extract of placental tissue. By 

 means of selective absorption, the sera of the first were used successfully to 



protect guinea pigs from lethal doses of the- megatheriolysin, of the second to 

 protect mice against pneumococcus infection, and of the third to protect monkeys 

 against poliomyelitic virus. 



The results are thought to Indicate some usefulness for the absorption method 

 in the study of immunity to Infections of unknown cause, 



II. 'I in- production of a serum effective against the agent causing a chicken 

 sarcoma. — This paper deals with the application of the method noted above to 

 the treatment Of a sarcoma of the fowl caused by a filterable agent. Geese were 

 repeatedly injected with the finely ground sarcoma and with blood from fowls 

 dying with it, and their sera acquired the power to prevenl the tumor-producing 

 agent from causing growths. 



The authors point out that, as serum Immunity to chicken sarcoma is weak 

 at best, more striking results may be anticipated from the method of selective 

 absorption in case of some other infections of unknown cause, and that by its 

 means more sera of therapeutic usefulness may become available. It is stated, 

 however, that much remains to be settled as regards the dangers of exhausted 

 sera and the limitations of the method. 



A method of wound treatment by the introduction of living cultures of a 

 spore-bearing anaerobe of the proteolytic group, EL DoNALBBOU and .1 I. 

 Joyce (Lancet [London], 1917, II. No. 12. pp. M5-l,r>2. Has. 5).— This is a pre- 



