378 Journal of Applied Microscopy. 



influence did not penetrate the glass beneath, and the plate under the dish was 

 not affected. Streak cultures gave a stronger picture, and sensitive films, drop- 

 ped into the dishes in direct contact with the growths, gave a distinct image of 

 the colonies. Phosphorescent forms act much more powerfully, and their influ- 

 ence will also traverse glass. The sensitive films are affected by both liquefying 

 and non-liquefying forms, probably through the gases which are evolved and 

 which react upon the film. E. M. Brace. 



Kerd. Ueber die Kapsel des Anthrax Bacillus. The writer demonstrated the presence 

 Centralbl. f. Bakt. Abstr. I Bd. 22: No. of a capsule for anthrax bacilli from 

 ^' ''■ agar, bouillon, gelatin, serum, and potato 



cultures. Each bacillus has its own capsule, but it is more easily seen in bacilli 

 that are at least two days old. In young bacilli it is very small, larger in older 

 forms, and sometimes swollen out like a vesicle. The technique consisted in 

 pouring anilin water fuchsin, or gentian violet solution, Ziehl's carbolic fuchsin 

 or Loffier's methylen-blue, over a cover-glass preparation. This was heated 

 until it steamed, and the heating repeated five or six times, pausing a moment 

 between the heatings. The preparation was then rinsed and examined in water. 



E. M. Brace. 



Dawson, Charles F., M. D. A Hermetic Seal Two methods are given for sealing 

 for Bacteria] Cultures. Nat. Med. Re^;. bacterial cultures. In one, the plugged 

 8: 264, 1898. 1.1 



end of the tube is named and covered 



with a flamed round cover slip. Over this is stretched a piece of sheet gelatin 

 which has been soaked a moment in a 1/1000 solution of bichloride of mercury 

 and kneaded until sticky. Press the gelatin mantle against the tube with a 

 small rubber band, and after two or three minutes run a knife around the band 

 and remove any superfluous gelatin. After pressing the cap into place, cover 

 with a coating of varnish compounded as follows: absolute alcohol, 100 parts; 

 white shellac, 45 parts ; balsam copaiba, 4 parts. In the other method, the tube 

 is plugged and flamed and the cotton depressed about one-fourth of an inch, and 

 the space above filled with a fluid mixture of plaster of paris and eorrosine 

 sublimate or other aqueous solution of a germicide. When this has dried cover 

 the surface with hot paraffin. Both seals may be removed without destroying 

 the tube. E. M. Brace. 



Malarial Studies io Italy. Philadei. Med. Jour. Italian observers have been paying con- 

 "''1^9^- siderable attention to the etiology and 



therapeutics of malaria. Dr. Amico Bingnami has decided that malaria is " a 

 disease of inoculation " and has experimented on the possibility of engendering 

 malarial fever by means of the punctures of mosquitoes. Dr. Grassi, carrying the 

 experiments further, finds that the insects which are probably the purveyors of 

 malaria are Anopheles, claviger (Fabr.), Culex penicillaris (Rondani), and Culex 

 hortensis (Ficalbi.) 



In addition to this, a malarial infection has been found in bats which is due 

 to parasites resembling those of human malaria. The amebge are present in 

 great numbers. The annular forms are those chiefly seen, but some pigmented 

 forms are also present. E. M. Brace. 



