1910] VETERINAKY MEDICINE. 179 



Investigations on the disinfectant strength of disinfectants in relation to 

 their concentration, J. P. Gregersen (Centbl. Bakt. [elc], 1. AM., Orig., 77 

 (1915), No. 2, pp. 16S-185). — Experimental data submitted indicate that the 

 reciprocal of the time in which an antiseptic kills a given micro-organism may 

 serve as a measure of the disinfectant strength of the material under given 

 conditions of concentration and temperature. The disinfectant strength of 

 aqueous solutions of hydrochloric acid, mercuric clilorid, iodin-potassium iodid, 

 and formaldehyde is proportional to tlie concentration. For aqueous solutions 

 of phenol, thymol, and chloral hydrate the dishifectant strength is propor- 

 tional to the fourth power of the concentration of the material. 



The product of the concentration and the time is designated as the " disin- 

 fectant constant." To compare the disinfectant strengths of various materials 

 the relation between the reciprocal values of their disinfectant constants can 

 be used. 



The formation of specific proteoclastic ferments in response to the paren- 

 teral injection of foreign proteins, Florence Hulton {Jour. Biol. Chem., 25 

 (1910), No. 1, pp. 163-171). — " Protamin, phaseolin, and gliadin are not digested 

 to any degree by either normal serum or that of an animal injected with these 

 substances. Casein and soy-bean globulin are digested to a greater extent by 

 the normal serum than by that of the injected animal. Edestin and milk 

 albumin are digested to the same degree by the normal and experimental 

 serum. Bence-Jones protein is digested to a marked degree by both sera and 

 equally well in each case." 



Earlier work on the subject is briefly reviewed and a bibliography of the 

 important contributions included. See also a previous note by Taylor and 

 Hulton (E. S. II., 34, p. 578). 



Cachexia following the parenteral injection of homogenous organ pro- 

 teins, H. DoLD {Ztschr. Immunitdtsf. u. Expt. Ther., I, Orig., 2Jt {1916), No. 4, 

 pp. 355-360). — Confirming the findings of earlier investigators it is shovfn that 

 the repeated parenteral injection of sterile aqueous organ extracts into rabbits 

 and guinea pigs causes a decided emaciation. In rabbits the loss varied from 

 12 to 18 per cent in from 11 to 14 days. In guinea pigs the loss varied from 18 

 to 24 per cent in 31 days. 



Histologically the organs of the animals indicated a general atrophy. An 

 acute inflammation was manifest at the site of injection. 



On the mechanism of the cleavage process in Abderhalden's dialysis pro- 

 cedure, F. Plaut {Ztsclir. ImmuYiitatuf. u. Expt. Ther., I, Orig., 2.'i {1916), No. 

 4, pp. 361-379). — It is indicated that in the dialysis procedure the organ sub- 

 strate has a nonspecific hemolytic action. By digesting the substrate with 

 serum this action can be preserved. By the repeated digestion v.'ith blood these 

 organ preparations become antihemolytic. These phenomena are attributable 

 to the adsorption of protein and are similar to the behavior of inorganic sus- 

 pension colloids. 



The significance of these phenomena in connection with the dialysis pro- 

 cedure is indicated. The adsorption capacity can be greatly reduced and the 

 disturbing side reactions weakened by thoroughly boiling the organ substrate 

 shortly before using, as well as by the complete removal of blood. 



The Abderhalden dialysis procedure used in testing the serum of horses, 

 Beenhakut and Hofhekr (Berlin. Tieriirztl. WelinscJir., 31 (1915), No. 33, pp. 

 385-389). — The investigation has demonstrated that the serum of horses con- 

 tains protein-cleaving enzyms, and that these enzyms can be detected in the 

 serum even after a fasting period of 26 hours. They are easily inactivated by 

 heating at from 56 to 60° C. The age and hemolytic properties of the serum 

 have a marked influence on the intensity of the ninhydrin i-eaction, so that 



