1919J VETERINARY MEDICINE. 83 



Iodized chloroform in war surgery, A. Chassevant (Schweiz. Apoth. Ztg., 

 56 {1918), No. U, pp. 581-58S; abs. in Chem. Abs., IS (1919), No. 7, p. 770).— 

 A solution of iodin in chloroform in the proportion of 1 gm. of iodin to 30 of 

 chloroform has been used by the author with success as an antiseptic in the 

 treatment of furunculosis, anthrax, suppurating wounds, and varicose ulcers. 

 As a protective dressing for wounds an ointment made of equal parts of paraf- 

 fin, white wax, and spermaceti is recommended. 



Acriflavin emulsion as a wound dressing, T. E. A. Stoweu (Brit. Med. 

 Jour., No. 3035 (1919), pp. 2U, 2^5). — The formula is given of an emulsified 

 preparation of acriflavin developed by G. Humphreys, which is said to have 

 given better results than the 1 in 1,000 solution in normal saline. The propor- 

 tions to give a stable emulsion are as follows : Acriflavin 0.1, thymol 0.005, white 

 wax 4, liquid paraffin 76, and distilled water 20 parts. 



Treatment of wounds by parafl&n, E. F. Pratt (B7-it. Med. Jour., No. 3035 

 (1919), pp. 243, 244). — Several case reports are given of the successful treat- 

 ment of burns and lacerated wounds with ambrin or pax'affin. The method of 

 procedure is first to clean the wound thoroughly with sterilized water and 

 then spray or paint the melted paraffin over the affected area. A layer of 

 gauze is then placed over the paraffin and another layer of melted paraffin 

 sprayed or painted over the gauze. This is covered with a cotton pad and 

 bandaged. The dressings should be changed daily, from 3 to 4 dressings being 

 usually required. 



The author refers to the " bipp " treatment of wounds (bismuth, iodoform, 

 and paraffin), and suggests that the paraffin is the most important of the three 

 ingredients. 



Extract of autolyzed yeast as a culture medium for B. coli, F. Dienert 

 and A. Guhxerd (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 168 (1919), No. 4, pp. 256, 

 257). — ^The authors have found autolyzed yeast to be a satisfactory substitute 

 for peptone in culture media. The composition is said to be much more con- 

 stant than that of peptone and the cost much less. 



On a new accessory factor in bacterial infections. — Preliminary communi- 

 cation, W. E. Bullock and W. Cramer (Jour. Physiol., 52 (1919), No. 5, pp. 

 XLV, XLVI). — The authors state that suspensions of Bacillus welchii and of 

 Vibrion septique do not produce gas gangrene or any symptoms of illness when 

 injected into mice, rats, or guinea pigs, but that if a small quantity of a soluble 

 ionizable calcium salt is injected, together with a suspension of these bacteria, 

 a violent gas gangrene is produced which kills the animal within 20 hours. A 

 similar phenomenon is observed with B. tetani, an animal injected with tetanus 

 spores remaining perfectly well unless calcium chlorid is given. The chlorids 

 of sodium, potassium, ammonium, strontium, and magnesium are not capable of 

 releasing the pathogenic properties of B. welchii, and the action of the Ca ions 

 can be antagonized by Na or Mg ions. 



The conclusion is drawn that "calcium ions have the property of disturbing 

 the relationship between the offensive mechanism of these bacteria and the de- 

 fensive mechanism of the normal animal by which the bacteria are normally 

 kept under control. The disturbance of this relationship leads eventually to a 

 breaking down of this defensive mechanism. The term ' kataphylaxis ' is pro- 

 posed to designate this new phenomenon." 



The proteus group of organisms with special reference to agglutination 

 and fermentation reactions and to classification, I. A. Bengtson (Jour. 

 Infect. Diseases, 24 (1919), No. 5, pp. 428-481).— This paper embodies the results 

 obtained in a study of the cultural and agglutination properties of a number 

 of organisms of the proteus group isolated from various sources. The char- 



