1712 Journal of Applied Microscopy 



CURRENT BACTERIOLOGICAL LITERATURE. 



H. W. CONN, Wesleyan University. 



Separates of Papers and Books on Bacteriology should be Sent for Review to H. W. Conn, 

 Wesleyan University, Middletowa, Conn. 



The American Society of Bacteriologists held its third annual session at 

 Chicago on December 31, 1901, and January 1, 1902. The meetings were very 

 largely attended. A large number of valuable papers were read at the meetings, 

 and abstracts of a few of them, especially those relating to new suggestions as 

 to bacteriological methods, are given below : 



Novy, F. G., and Freer, P. C. On the Germi- The work reported in this paper was 

 cidal Action of the Organic Peroxides. done in attempting to discover the rea- 

 University of Michigan. son why the poisons of insoluble metals 



have a checking action upon bacteria growth, and resulted in the discovery of a 

 new germicide of rather extraordinary properties. In the course of the experi- 

 ments the germicidal action of the various peroxides was studied. The results 

 showed that some of these bodies, such as aceton peroxide and dibenzoyl per- 

 oxide, are wholly inert. 



On the other hand, solutions of diacetyl, benzol-acetyl, and of benzol-hydro- 

 gen peroxides, and of phthalmonoperacid, exert pronounced and even remarkable 

 germicidal properties. With reference to diacetyl peroxides and benzoyl-acetyl 

 peroxide, it was shown that the bodies themselves are chemically and bacterially 

 inert ; but on contact with water they undergo hydrolysis and give rise to the 

 extremely energetic acetyl-hydrogen and benzoyl-hydrogen peroxides. 



A solution of these peroxides (1 : 3000) is capable of destroying all patho- 

 genic bacteria, and even such resisting spores as those of the potato bacillus, 

 within one minute. Cholera and typhoid germs added to tap water are promptly 

 destroyed by the addition of one part of peroxide to 100,000 parts of water. 

 The authors point out the probable value of these peroxides in the prevention 

 and cure of these and allied diseases. The destruction of bacteria in the mouth 

 and saliva takes place with extraordinary rapidity and the reagents have shown 

 themselves useful in diseases of the mouth. 



A full paper upon this subject will appear \n \h& Journal of Expermiental 

 Medicine. H. w. c. 



"'!!!i*- "• . Contribution to the Physiological r^^^^^ authors pointed Out the diffi- 

 Dmerentiation of Pneumococcus and Strep- ,^ r j- ^- • i • i ^ ^i 



tococcus, and the Methods of Staining culty of distmguishmg between these 

 Capsules. College of Physicians and Sur- organisms in all cases, and have sug- 

 geons, New York. gested a new method of separating 



them. The method consists in the use of new culture media as follows : 



Two culture media are used with the following composition : 1. Distilled 

 water, 2 parts ; ox serum, 1 part ; normal sodium hydroxide, 0.1 per cent. 



2. Distilled water, 2 parts ; ox serum, 1 part ; and inulin, 1 per cent. In 

 each of these media acid is formed by pneumococci at 37° C, and a solid, yel- 

 lowish white coagulum results. The streptococci, however, do not form acid in 

 these media, and no coagulation results. 



The author also devises a new method of demonstrating capsules upon these 

 two coccus forms. The method described is as follows : 



The organisms are grown on ascitic serum agar with 1 per cent, glucose. 

 The bacteria are spread on a cover-glass by mixing with a drop of serum. They 

 are then dried in the air, fixed by heat, stained for a few seconds in a one-half 

 saturated aqueous solution of gentian violet, washed with one-fourth per cent, 

 solution of potassium carbonate, then mounted and studied in this solution. This 

 gives a good stain for capsules of pneumococcus in the blood of animals. 



