376 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 41 



Behavior of bacteria toward arsenic, H. H. Grekn and N. H. Kestell {So. 

 African Jour. Sci., 15 (1919), No. 5, pp. 369-37Jf). — This is a preliminary report 

 of an examination of arsenic-resistant bacteria in soil, air, feces, and cattle 

 dips. 



Resistant types were found to be infrequent in soil and air but fairly fre- 

 quent in feces, about 10 per cent of tlie bacterial count of fresh stable manure 

 being moderately tolerant and 1 per cent highly tolerant to arsenic. In ar- 

 senical dipping tanks an automatic enriching of resistant fecal bacteria and 

 suppression of sensitive forms apparently take place. 



A'ariations in tolerance of different bacteria for arsenic were found to be 

 very marked. Certain groups, notabl.y the "subtilis" groiip, were very sensi- 

 tive, while others, notably the " putidum " group, were very resistant. The 

 colon-typhoid group, while sensitive as a family, contained one or two resistant 

 members. 



Of the 12 or more arsenic-resistant species examined, only two showed any 

 chemical activity toward arsenic, namely B. arsenoxydans which oxidizes 

 arsenite to arsenate and B. arsenreducens which reduces arsenate to arsenite. 

 No relationship was discovered between arsenate reduction and nitrate re- 

 duction. 



The Wright and Carrel methods of treating' wounds. Van Wallendael 

 (Ann. Med. Vet., 64 (1919), Ko. 3-4. pp. 86-93).— The Wright and Carrel meth- 

 ods of treating wounds are discusse<l with particular reference to their ap- 

 plicability in veterinary practice. The Wright method is thought to have no 

 practical application in veterinary medicine, but the Carrel method with certain 

 modifications is considered excellent for the treatment of fistulous withers, boils, 

 synovitis, and other lesions. 



It is recommended that the Carrel tubes in contact with the wound be kept in 

 place by a gauze compress soaked in Dakin's solution, and that 10 cc. of the 

 solution be introduced into the tubes every two hours by means of a simple 

 syringe. The wound and its surroundings should be washed every day with a 

 liquid soap (sodium oleate), diluted with a little hot water and then with ether. 

 The progress of the treatment should be controlled every two days by a bac- 

 teriological examination of the secretions, and the wound closed when sterile or 

 when it no longer contains Bacilhis streptococcus or B. perfrmgcns. The pres- 

 ence of staphylococci is thought not to contraindicate the closing of the wound. 



Experimental researches on antistreptococcic immunity, S. Vinaver and 

 V. Frasey (Compt. Rend. Soc. Biol. [Paris'], 82 (1919), No. 17, pp. 606-608).— 

 The authors report the succesful immunization of horses by means of a single 

 relatively large dose of a living 24-hour culture in ascitic bouillon of a human 

 strain of streptococci virulent for mice. The serum from an animal thus im- 

 munized is said to be superior to that obtained by fractional immunization over 

 a period of several months, showing after 15 days very active preventive proper- 

 ties not only against the particular strain used for immunization but also 

 against other strains of streptococci. 



The intravenous injection of as much as one liter of the living culture is said 

 to provoke no greater thermal reaction, but at the same time no better results, 

 than a nnich smaller doso. 



Complement inactivation by bacteria, H. Rttz and H. Sachs (Ztschr. Im- 

 mnnitdtsf. u. Expt. Thcr., I, Oriy., 26 (1917), No. 5, pp. 483-502) .—The results 

 are reported of a study of complement inactivation by suspensions of Bacillus 

 prodigiosus. 



It was found that suspensions of this bacillus exerte<l an anticomplementary 

 action on guinea pig serum when warm but only to a small degree in the cold 

 (0° C). The action, which required contact with the serum for some little 



