ABSTRACTS 463 



different animal species, as a preliminary to determining the percent- 

 age of ammonia, sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid and other mor- 

 ganic and organic compounds and salts, necessary to cause complete 

 hemolysis under certain arbitrary conditions. For a fifteen minute 

 hemolytic system there was a marked difference in the requirements 

 for NHg, NaOH, and HCl, for some species but not for others. Va- 

 rious hemolytic time indices for the substances mentioned were worked 

 out, and by this means it was found possible to identify blood cell sus- 

 pensions of different species with considerable accuracy. The follow- 

 ing conclusions were drawn: Alkaline hemolysis may be considered 

 due to the hydroxy 1 group, while acid hemolysis is due to the H-ion. 

 "The hemolysis of the red blood cell may be used an as indicator 

 to ascertain the degree of acidity or alkalinity of certain solutions." 

 "AlkaUne hemolysis can be influenced by acids and acid hemolysis 

 by alkalies. Both can be influenced by the neutral salt content of 

 the suspension." It was shown that there was a distinct variation 

 between the normal and the pathologic blood of the same species, 

 since the time indices of the latter specimens were increased or de- 

 creased. It is suggested that this may be due to increased alkalinity 

 or decreased acidity, or to variation in the natural salt content. 



P. B. H. 



INDUSTRIAL BACTERIOLOGY 



The Removal of the Natural Impurities of Cotton Cloth hy the Action 



of Bacteria. B. S. Levene, Journ. Ind. and Eng. Chem., 1916, 



8, 298. 



Levene investigated the possibility of removing the nitrogenous and 

 fatty impurities of cotton fiber by means of bacteria in place of the 

 vigorous chemical treatment now employed. After preliminary ex- 

 perimentation the following organisms were found most suitable : 

 B. amylolyticus, B. fimi, B. bihulus, B. carotovorus, B. suhtilis. 



These bacteria are capable of hydrolyzing starch, and decomposing 

 cellulose or pectin or both. 



Coarse cotton cloth was sterilized in nutrient broth inoculated with 

 the above named bacteria and incubated at 37.5°C. Tests were 

 made after one, two, and three. months respectively. Slight changes 

 were observed after one month, more marked effects after two months, 

 and decided alterations after three months. Cloth washed and bleached 

 was perfectly white and was not yellowed by steaming. Chemical 

 tests showed complete removal of nitrogenous impurities, about 80 

 to 90 per cent of the ether soluble impurities, and from 2.5 to 40 per 

 cent of the alcohol soluble substances. The effect on the last men- 

 tioned substances varied with the different types, B. caratovorus being 

 the most effective. Two forms— B. bihulus and B. fimi— caused weak- 

 ening of cloth; the others apparently had no such effect. 



By using different combinations of organisms and different media 

 the incubation period could be reduced to 24 to 72 hours.— I. J. K. 



