ABSTRACTS 701 



Bacteria isolated from pyorrheal pockets and tonsils of a case of 

 transverse myelitis caused lesions of the meninges in 50 per cent, and 

 of the spinal cord, in 66 per cent of the inoculated. 



Streptococci isolated from cases of brachial, intercostal and post- 

 herpetic neuralgia produced lesions of the posterior roots in 83 per 

 cent. 



The pneumococcus isolated from multiple neuritis caused lesions 

 of the peripheral nerves in 79 per cent. 



Such elective localization warrants the conclusion that the lesions 

 in the infected patients were due to an infection from a focal source. 



G. H. S. 



The Natural Resistance of the Pigeon to the Pneumococcus. Preston 

 Kyes. Jour. Infect. Diseases, 1916, 18, 277-292, with one plate in 

 color. 



The author analyzes in detail the biologic factors which govern 

 natural immunity in the pigeon to the pneumococcus. It was found 

 that the organisms, whether injected intravenously or intraperitone- 

 ally, were rapidly withdrawn from the general circulation and localized 

 in the liver and spleen. Here the ultimate localization and destruction 

 was within a type of fixed phagocyte — the hemophage — having the 

 normal function of destroying red blood cells. The destruction of the 

 pneumococci by the hemophages is so rapid and complete as to con- 

 stitute the determining factor in the production of natural immunity. 

 The possible effect of temperature, of body fluids, of phagocytosis by 

 wandering phagocytes (crystalloid acidophiles)^ and of opsonic factors 

 are considered and ruled out as important factors in the final elimina- 

 tion of the pneumococci. Especial attention is directed to the func- 

 tion, in the spleen, of a double or triple layer of cells surrounding the 

 endothelial intima which borders the lumen of certain smaller blood 

 vessels. Through the agency of this zone of cells is brought about a 

 mechanical filtration (interstitial) of the organisms which are even- 

 tually destroyed by the hemophages of the pulp cords. P. B. H. 



Laboratory Aids in the Diagnosis of Poliomyelitis. J. B. Neal. New- 

 York Med. Jour., 1916, 104, 167-168. 



One of the most interesting methods of laboratory diagnosis of polio- 

 myelitis is the transmission of the disease to monkeys by inoculating 

 them with the washings from the respiratory and alimentary mucous 

 membranes. Sections of the brain from one monkey thus inoculated, 

 showed a few globoid bodies similar to those described by Flexner and 

 Noguchi. 



Another method of some diagnostic value is the so-called neutrali- 

 zation test. Serum from a suspected case in the stage of recovery is 

 mixed with a known fatal dose of an active virus. The mixture is incu- 

 bated and injected intracerebrally into monkeys. In case polio- 

 myelitis does not develop, there is indication that the virus has been 

 neutralized. However, such neutralization may also be produced 



