1916] VETERINARY MEDICINE. 883 



The influence of tuberculosis on the chemical composition of the animal 

 body, K. Dkoge (Pfluger's Arch. Physiol., 163 {1916), No. J,-6, pp. 266-288, 

 pis. 2 ) .—Analytical data of the chemical composition of normal and tubercular 

 guinea pigs are reported in detail. The weiglits of the animals, taken weekly 

 over a period of a number of months, and the post-mortem findings in a num- 

 ber of animals are also reported. 



While the data show a normal fat content in animals in which there was 

 either no active infection or a process of recovery and a low fat content in 

 severely infected animals or animals which had died from the disease, the 

 author contends that a high fat content with an increased resistance or a low 

 fat content with a decreased resistance is not necessarily always the case. In 

 slightly affected animals the water content was found to be normal, while in 

 acutely affected animals a considerable increase was noted. 



The data submitted, together with that reported by earlier investigators, are 

 discussed in detail. 



Studies in immunity to tuberculosis, A. K. Kbause {Jour. Med. Research, 

 S5 {1916), No. 1, pp. 1-50) .—ThvQe studies are reported. 



I. Experimental studies on the cvtaneous reaction to tuhcrculo-protein. — Fac- 

 tors governing the reaction (pp. 1-23). — It was found that cutaneous hyper- 

 sensitiveness to tuberculo-proteln is inaugurated by the establishment of infec- 

 tion and the development of the initial focus. The hypersensitiveness increases 

 with progressive disease and varies directly with the extent and intensity of the 

 disease. With the healing of the disease it diminishes but is probably never 

 entirely lost (except in the presence of intercurrent disease, pregnancy, etc.). It 

 is increased by reinfection and diminished or completely wiped out during the 

 period of general tuberculin reaction. 



It is suggested that " tissue hjrpersensitiveness may be a function of immunity 

 to reinfection." 



II. The anaphylactic state in its relation to resistance to tuberculous infection 

 and, tuberculous disease. — Ari experimental study (pp. 25-42). — "Anaphylactic 

 shock, experienced by guinea pigs a short time before infection with tubercle 

 bacilli of lovr virulence, did not reduce their resistance to such an extent that the 

 parasitism of the particular micro-organism concerned was markedly increased, 

 although there were suggestions that the extent of disease was probably in- 

 creased. If tuberculous disease of low grade is once established in guinea pigs 

 a single attack of anaphylaxis does not bring about conditions that favor the 

 extension of the disease. Anaphylactic shock sulTered just before the inocula- 

 tion of a nonpathogenic acid-fast organism, the Mist bacillus [Moller's grass 

 bacillus], does not lay the body open to progressive invasion by this germ. 



" No success attended the efforts to enhance the virulence of a strain of the 

 tubercle bacillus {Rl) when the method of Thiele and Embleton was followed. 

 Evidence is submitted that tubercle bacilli can preserve their viability and their 

 original virulence after being kept in a dried state for as long a time as from 

 15 to 17 months." 



III. Concerning the general tuberculin reaction (pp. 43-50). — "An extract of 

 an animal's own normal tissues if introduced rapidly into it<5 circulation is 

 toxic. The products of tuberculous foci are primarily toxic if received into the 

 blood stream (or, perhaps, lymph stream)." 



It is suggested that " the symptoms of the general tuberculin reaction are 

 due to the primary toxicity of focal products, the absorption of which is favored 

 by the focal reaction that results from the injection of tuberculin." 



The antigenic properties of tubercle wax, B. Lucre {Jour. Immunol., 1 

 {1916), No. 4, pp. 457-464). — From a study on the possible antigenic value In 

 serum diagnosis of tubercle wax the author found that the wax antigens caused 



