366 ABSTRACTS 



A Method for the Rapid Preparation of Anti-Meningitis Serum. H. L. 



Amoss and Martha Wollstein. (Jour. Exp. Med., 1916, 23, 



403^17.) 



The method described by the authors consists of three successive 

 intravenous inoculations of many strains of living meningococci and 

 parameningococci repeated at stated intervals. Anaphylactic dangers 

 are obviated by preliminary desensitizing injections and the doses 

 are adjusted according to the febrile reaction. The great advantage 

 of the method is that a polyvalent serum of high titer can be produced 

 in 8 to 12 weeks instead of in the 10 months required by the subcutane- 

 ous method. This investigation offers a promising suggestion for the 

 production of other immune sera. — G. B. W. 



Variations in the Strength of Positive Wassermann Reactions in Cases 



of Untreated Syphilis. D. A. Haller. (Journ. A. M. A., 1916, 



66, 882-884.) 



From an examination of over 6000 Wassermann reactions in which 

 but one antigen was used it appears that amboceptor is the only con- 

 stituent of the hemolytic system which is a constant. All other fac- 

 tors may vary and will account for the difference in daily determinations 

 of the fixing unit of a positive serum. 



The titer of sera from cases of untreated syphilis remains the same 

 from day to day or from month to month. 



The administration of mercury may quickly change a positive to 

 a negative reaction, and upon stopping the treatment the reaction va&y 

 as quickly become positive again. — G. H. S. 



Continuous Transfusion; The Production of Immunity. An Experimen- 

 tal Study. A. Kahn. (Medical Record, 1916, 89, 553-556.) 

 Dogs were infected by opening the peritoneal cavity and inserting 

 a small quantity of dust, gauze saturated with pus, or pure pus. After 

 an interval, varying from 1 to 5 days, the donor and the infected dog 

 were prepared for transfusion and a continuous flow of blood from one 

 animal to the other was allowed to occur from ^ to 3 hours. 



In dogs that were not transfused following infection, death occurred 

 in 24 to 48 hours; in transfused dogs death was deferred from 3 to 4 

 days, or absolute recovery took place. 



Transfusion raises the vital resistance. Whether or not immunity 

 is produced is not known. — M. W. C. 



Possible Reasons for Lack of Protection after Antitijphoid Vaccination. 

 Henry J. Nichols. (The Military Surgeon, 1916, 38, 263-268.) 

 Summaiy of article as given by author is: 



1. False failures in immunization may be due in some cases to the 

 difficulties of exact clinical diagnosis. 



2. The uncertain duration of immunity following vaccination may 

 account for some true failures. At present in the Army one revaccina- 



