360 ABSTRACTS 



increase was followed by a noticeable decrease, and the last count 

 was on an average lower in the control samples than those treated. 

 That putrefactive changes took place was appreciated by the odor and 

 liquefied appearance of the product. 



6. No odor or putrefactive changes were observed in the carbolized 

 and trikesoHzed samples. Both preservatives served well in this 

 respect, but this alone must not be accepted as proof of the value of 

 either preservative for defibrinated blood. 



7. From the limited number of examinations made in these experi- 

 ments as to the types of bacteria which survive and then flourish in 

 the carbolized and trikresolized samples, it can be said that the types 

 were not limited to the spore-forming bacteria alone, as organisms of the 

 colon type, staphylococci and streptococci were found as long as the 

 samples were kept. 



8. Contaminated hog cholera serum defibrinated blood cannot be 

 sterilized by the addition of carbolic acid and trikresol in practical 

 amounts, and the numbers of bacteria are not kept in check by the 

 preservative. 



9. No evidence is brought forth here to show that carbolic acid or 

 trikresol would not serve well as preservatives when added to a sterile 

 product. 



10. Hog cholera serum must be prepared in a sterile manner or 

 sterilized by one means or another to enable carbolic acid or trikresol 

 to serve as a satisfactory preservative. 



11. The physical nature of hog cholera serum defibrinated blood, 

 probably has much to do with the limitations of carbolic acid and 

 trikresol as preservatives, and it is highly probable that both would 

 prove more effective if the insoluble, inert material, fibrin cellular debris, 

 etc., were eliminated from hog cholera serum. These inert materials 

 undoubtedly exert a large influence in the complications following the 

 use of the product, and for this reason alone should not be allowed to 

 remain in hog cholera serum on the market. — A. R. W. 



BACTERIOLOGY OF AIR AND DUST 



Recovery of Streptococcus viridans from New York Street Dust. W. C. 

 Thro. (New York Med. Jour., 1916, 103, 444-445.) 

 Cultures made from New York street dust, collected at the level 

 of the second floor revealed the presence of Bacillus fluorescens once; 

 a member of the colon group, probably paracolon, once; chromogenic 

 Gram positive cocci several times; and Streptococcus viridans seven 

 times. The strains of Streptococcus viridans were tested for their 

 fermentative properties and their pathogenicity for mice and rats. 



M. W. C. 



