880 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.43 



"(2) A strain acts in a uniform manner (qualitatively) on all strains in 

 another group under the same absorption conditions. This uniform action con- 

 stitutes the basis for group affiliation. 



"(3) Strains within the same group do not necessarily act in a uniform 

 manner on one another when absorbed from the same antiserum. This consti- 

 tutes the basis for individual differentiation. 



" In conforming to the main classification adopted by the Society of American 

 Bacteriologists, we suggest that B. abortus and B. melitensis group be given 

 generic rank in the Bacteriacese family as the genus ' Brucella.' 



"A series of agglutination tests in B. abortus and B. melitensis antiserums 

 disclosed gradation in titer limits for the different strains, and the gradations 

 were constant for the same strains in the various antiserums. It was found 

 that the sets so formed correlated with the groups resulting from the absorption 

 tests. 



" The serums of cows and hogs suffering from natural abortion disease may 

 also react to both B. abortus and B. melitensis organisms." 



A comparison of the morphologic, cultural, and biochemical character- 

 istics of B. abortus and B. melitensis, K. F. Meyee and E. B. Shaw (Jour. 

 Infect. Diseases, 21 (1920), No. 3, pp. 178-184, figs. 2).— "A comparative study 

 of 21 cultures of so-called ' Micrococcus ' melitensis obtained from various sec- 

 tions of the world and of 32 cultures of B. abortus (Bang) isolated in this 

 country and England justifies the following conclusions : 



"The causative organism of undulant fever of man and of Malta fever of 

 goats can not be distinguished morphologically or biochemically from the organ- 

 ism responsible for infectious abortion in domesticated animals. 



" So-called ' Micrococcus ' melitensis appears in young cultures as a short rod 

 and should therefore be designated as Bacterium melitensis. 



" The pigment production of the majority of actively growing B. melitensis 

 strains on glycerol peptic digest agar and on alkaline potato cylinders after five 

 days' incubation is more intense than with the strains of B. abortus. 



" Both B. melitensis and B. abortus cultures produce after 20 days' incubation 

 in glucose and lactose broth an alkaline reaction and a characteristic reduction 

 of the H-ion concentration equal to about 0.6 to 1.0 Ph." 



Contributions to the biochemistry of pathogenic anaerobes. — IX, The 

 biochemistry of Bacillus edematiens, C. G. L. Wolf {Jour. Path, and Bact., 

 23 {1920), No. 3, pp. 254-265). — In continuation of the studies on the bio- 

 chemistry of pathogenic anaerobes by Wolf and Harris (E. S. R.. 42, p. 271), a 

 series of experiments along the same lines as previous work with other anaerobic 

 microorganisms was carried out with three strains of B. edematiens. The results 

 of the present study are summarized as follows : 



" B. edematiens possesses characteristics which are found in both the pro- 

 teolytic and saccharolytic organisms previously examined. The saccharolytic 

 characters are greatly predominant. In glucose- and lactose-containing media it 

 is an efficient gas producer. Lactose is consumed in considerable quantity. It 

 also has the property of hydrolyzing this sugar. 



" Large quantities of gas are produced in cooked-meat media containing no 

 free carbohydrates. Notable quantities of amino-acids and ammonia may also 

 be found." 



On the cultivation and isolation of Bacillus tetani, R. S. Adamson (Jour. 

 Path, and Bact., 23 {1920), No. S, pp. 241-253, pi. i).— This paper, in continua- 

 tion of the general investigation of the bacteriology of wounds previously noted 

 (E. S. R., 41, p. 476), consists of a study of special methods for the isolation of 

 B. tetani. 



