460 ABSTRACTS 



to the H ion concentration. The addition of a salt possessing a com- 

 mon anion diminishes the power through decrease in the H ion con- 

 centration and increase in the concentration of the undissociated acid 

 molecules. Salts which do not appreciably affect the dissociation of 

 an acid greatly increase the disinfecting properties. In acid disinfec- 

 tion acid anions are positive catalyzers and undissociated acid mole- 

 cules are negative catalyzers. — P. B. H. 



The Bactericidal Properties of the Quarternary Salts of Hexamethylene- 

 tetramine. I. The Problem of the Chemotherapy of Experimental 

 Bacterial Infections. W. A. Jacobs. Jour. Exp. Med., 1916, 23, 

 563-568. 

 Introductory to subsequent papers. A discussion of the factors to 



be considered in formulating a program for systematic studies in 



chemotherapy. 



Ibidem. II. The Relation between Constitution and Bactericidal Action 



in the Substituted BenzylhexametMjlenetetraminium Salts. W. A. 



Jacobs, M. Heidelberger and H. L. Amoss. Jour. Exp. Med., 



1916, 23, 569-576. 



By the addition of substituted benzyl halides to hexamethylene- 

 tetramine, a series of quarternary salts of this base was obtained. These 

 salts represent a new group of organic bactericides. The results ob- 

 tained in the tests with these substances upon Bacillus typhi have 

 demonstrated the existence of direct relationships between chemical 

 constitution and bactericidal action within the series. The bactericidal 

 character is directly attributable to the presence of the hexamethylene- 

 tetramine nucleus. The degree of the bactericidal action, however, 

 is determined by the position, character, and number of the groups 

 substituted in the benzene nucleus. By the introduction of the methyl, 

 chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyano, and nitro groups into the benzene 

 nucleus of the parent benzyl hexamethylenetetraminium salt, the 

 bactericidal power of this compound was notably enhanced. The sub- 

 stitution of these groups in the ortho position almost invariably resulted 

 in substances which were more active than their meta or para isomers. 

 The introduction of the methoxy group was without marked effect. 

 Several substances in which two hexamethylenetetraminium side- 

 chains occurred were found to be the most active of the substances of 

 this series when tested against Bacillus typhi. Comparative tests 

 with other bacterial types demonstrated that these compounds pos- 

 sessed a marked degree of specificity for Bacillus typhi. 



Ibidem. III. The Relation between Constitution and Bactericidal Action 



in the Quarternary Salts Obtained from Halogenacetyl Compounds. 



W. A. Jacobs, M. Heidelberger and C. G. Bull. Jour. Exp, 



Med., 1916, 23, 577-599. 



The extension of the study of the quarternary salts of hexamethylene- 

 tetramine to those obtained by the addition of this base to the most 



