882 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



In regard to the epiphanin reaction, C. von Angebeb (MuncJien. Med. 

 Wchnschr., 59 {1912), No. 53, pp. 2915, 2916, figs. 6; ahs. in Ztschr. Immunitdtsf. 

 u. Expt. Ther., II, Rcf., 6 {1912), No. 11, p. 859).— A polemic showing that the 

 statements of Weichardt (E. S. R., 26, p. 579) and ethers in regard to the 

 accuracy of this reaction do not hold good. 



Is the pressor effect of pituitrin due to adrenal stimulation? R. G. Hoskins 

 and C. McPeek {A^ner. Jour. Physiol, 32 {1913), No. 5, pp. 2U-2U) .—" In- 

 travenous injections of pituitrin in small dosage can be repeated at intervals 

 of 10 or 15 minutes without significant failure of their pressor effect. The 

 adrenal glands of the dog can be ligated off without affecting general blood 

 pressure; in the pregnant cat, however, such ligation has been observed to 

 cause fall of blood pressure with subsequent rise when the ligatures were re- 

 leased. In either animal occlusion of the adrenal circulation does not diminish 

 the pressor effect of a standard dose of pituitrin. There is probably, therefore, 

 no direct dependence of adrenal functioning upon pituitary secretion." 



The selective bactericidal action of methylene blue, J. W. Chxjbchman 

 {Jour. Expt. Med., 18 {1913), No. 2, pp. 187-189, pi. l).—"lt has been found 

 that methylene blue, like gentian violet, is without effect on the growth of 

 Bacillus typhosus and B. coli, but that, unlike gentian violet, it exhibits a selec- 

 tive action when B. subtUis and Micrococcus aureus are planted on divided 

 plates containing it." 



Precipitin diag'nosis of symptomatic anthrax, with a contribution to the 

 question of the thermostability of the precipitinogen, V. Hecht {Centbl. 

 Bakt. [etc.'], 1. AM., Orig., 61 {1912), No. 5, pp. 371-381, figs. 2).— In addition 

 to what is mentioned in the title, the results of some experiments made with 3 

 horses on the thermo-resistance of the precipitinogens for the Bacillus erysipe- 

 latis suis, are reported. It is shown that they are more heat stable than has 

 usually been supposed. 



With the aid of the Ascoli thermo-precipitin reaction it is possible to detect 

 symptomatic anthrax infections in heated and prepared meat goods. The 

 reaction, when using boiled sodium chlorid extracts of the organs, has all of 

 the characteristics of a general serodia gnostic method. It is possible to con- 

 duct the test with symptomatic anthrax serum of a high titer and extracts of 

 the organs of animals affected with blackleg. 



ISToteworthy fi.ndings relative to the growth of the swine erysipelas 

 bacillus, S. Wyschelessky {Ztschr. Infektionskrank. u. Hyg. Haustiere, 12 

 {1912), No. 1, pp. 3^-53, pi. 1). — The author finds Bacillus erysipelatis suis 

 to develop 2 different types in gelatin stab and gelatin plate cultures. 



Some investigations of Babesia bigemina, A. Veijbueg {Ztschr. Infektions- 

 krank. u. Hyg. Haustiere, 13 {1913), No. 3-4, pp. 180-186; abs. in Trop. Vet. 

 Bui., 1 {1913), No. Jf, pp. 197-199).— The author finds the parasite which 

 occurs in Holland to resemble B. {Piroplasma) divergens. The organism is a 

 small form of B. bigemina such as has been described as occurring in Germany 

 and North Africa. Attempts to cultivate Babesia by the Bass and Johns method 

 failed. 



A remarkable bacterial group which occurs both in man and animal, 

 GiLDEMEisTEB and Baeethlein {Abs. in Ztschr. Immunitdtsf. u. Expt. Ther., II, 

 Ref., 6 {1912), No. IS, p. 988).— From the stools of hiimans with diseased 

 intestines and the organs of rats and pigs affected with hog cholera a few 

 strains (Dahlem) wex'e isolated which, morphologically and culturally, resem- 

 bled the Bacillus voldagsen, with the exception that they turned litmus milk 

 blue. The Dahlem strains could be differentiated from the Voldagsen strains 

 with the complement fixation and agglutination methods. 



