\ ETEEINAR1 MI-.M< IN I . 805 



the use of aggressins is believed qoI to be differenl from that broughl about by bac- 

 terial extracts. The author has demonstrated to his own satisfaction thai aggressine 

 are contained in bacterial extracts, and that the antiaggressins are identical with the 

 complements. An active as well as a passive immunization can, therefore, be 

 broughl about in this manner. 



The transportation of tetanus toxin to the spinal centers through the 

 nerve fibers, X. Tikkkti (Centbl. Bakt. [etc.], i. AbL, Orig., 38 I 1905), Nos. 5, pp. 

 $99 510; 6, pp. 626 644, pi. /)•— In the author's experiments it was found that in 

 guinea pigs and rabbits the ischiatic nerve may absorb the tetanus toxin and trans- 

 port it to tlif nerve centers when the toxin is applied to the cut end of the nerve. 



In the transference of the tetanus toxin the necessity of an intact axis cylinder is 

 apparent. When tetanus toxin is introduced subcutaneously into a Busceptible ani- 

 mal it is mostly absorbed by the lymphatics and passes thence into the blood. A 

 small portion of the toxin, however, is found in the nerve trunk- of the region. The 

 tetanus toxin is transported to the nerve centers not through the lymphatics of tin- 

 nerves but in the actual nerve fiber, particularly the axis cylinder. When the 

 tetanus toxin is injected into the muscle it spreads about and comes in contacl u ith 

 the nerve fibers by which it is absorbed. Tetanus toxin introduced into the gastroc- 

 nemius muscles of guinea pigs is found in the ischiatic nerve within one and one-half 

 hours. 



Minute doses of tetanus toxin may, therefore, produce a symptom of the disease. 

 provided it comes in direct contact with the nerves. If tetanus antitoxin is injected 

 into a nerve trunk and toxin injected later into the corresponding muscles, tin- anti- 

 toxin will prevent the toxin from reaching the central nervous system. 



A report on human and bovine tuberculosis, II. Kossel {Brit. Med. Jour., 

 1905, No. 2344, PP- 1445-1449). — The author presents a summarized account of his 

 investigations in the German Imperial Health Office in cooperation with other 

 investigators. 



During the extensive studies carried on under these auspices the conclusion was 

 reached that there are two distinct types of tubercle bacillus, the ho vine and human. 

 Tuberculosis in cattle is to he traced exclusively to infection with bovine tubercle 

 bacillus. Swine are susceptible to both forms and human tuberculosis arises chiefly 

 from an infection with the human bacillus. Tuberculous lesions in man may, how- 

 ever, he produced by the bovine tubercle bacillus and the disease may be transmitted 

 to human beings by food derived from tuberculous animals, especially by CO ws' milk. 



The origin of tuberculosis, methods of combating it, and feeding young 

 animals, E. vox Behring (Beitr. Expt. Ther., 1904, ZVb- . s '. /</'. 1-138). — This article 

 contains an account of the principles upon which the author's method of immunizing 

 cattle against tuberculosis is based, tin- details regarding methods of performing this 

 operation, and considerable controversial matter. 



While cattle appear to he more susceptible than any other animal to natural infec- 

 tion with tuberculosis, it has been found in the author's experiments almost impos- 

 sible to inoculate them by means of the hypodermic method. During the past 6 

 years 20 cattle have received, hypodermically, enormous quantities of tubercle cul- 

 tures, in some cases as high as \ liter, u ithout producing any infection. When these 

 animals were killed and carefully examined several months or even years after 

 inoculation no trace of tubercle bacilli was found and no evidence of infection. If 

 this is found to he generally true it will readily explain the negative results from the 

 hypodermic inoculation of cattle with tubercle bacilli of human origin. Cattle are 

 readily infected by intravenous inoculation. 



The author believes that calves and children may he immunized against tubercu- 

 losis by preventing the occurrence of live tubercle bacilli in the fond, and by feeding 

 them milk treated with formaldehyde so as to destroy the tubercle bacilli and Leave 

 uninjured the immunizing bodies found in tuberculous milk. For this purpose 



