706 ABSTRACTS 



scribed. The affected plants are somewhat dwarfed and have upon 

 their surfaces masses of bacteria which form a yellow ooze which pro- 

 duces layers between the stem and the upper sheath and between the 

 glumes of the inflorescence. The organism does not penetrate into the 

 tissues until some time after it has covered the surface. It is later 

 found in the substomatic chambers and in the intercellular spaces 

 but has not been found occupying the cells. Normal seed are rarely 

 produced. The organism is non-motile and is described by the author 

 as '' Aplanohader Agropyri sp. nov." It is a short rod with rounded 

 ends which occurs singly or in pairs and infrequently in chains of four. 

 They are 0.4 to 0.6 x 0.6 to l.l^t in size. No endospores have been 

 observed. Capsules have been frequently demonstrated. The organ- 

 isms stain readily with the common stains. 

 The group number is 212.2223522.— F. L. S. 



Some Properties of the Virus of the Mosaic Disease of Tobacco. H. A. 



Allard. J. Agr. Res., 1916, 6, 649-674. 



Several theories have been advanced in the past to explain this dis- 

 ease as of physiological instead of infectious origin. It has been 

 claimed that the oxidases and peroxidases produced by the plant 

 cause the disease, and spread the disease to other plants if inoculated 

 with the sap from diseased plants. The wi'iter gives evidence to dis- 

 prove this theory. It is true that the virus is not removed from the 

 sap if filtered through a Berkefeld filter; but by submitting the virus 

 to various treatments the writer shows that it may be destroyed by 

 means that do not destroy enzymes, or that the enzymes, on the 

 other hand, may be destroyed by means that do not destroy the virus. 

 The writer concludes: "Since this pathogenic agent is highly infectious 

 and is capable of increasing indefinitely within susceptible plants, 

 there is every reason to believe that it is an ultramicroscopic parasite 

 of some kind." — H. J. C. 



PUBLIC HEALTH BACTERIOLOGY 



Bubbling Fountain Tests. Jane L. Berry. Collected Studies, Bureau 

 of Laboratories, New York City, 1914-1915, 8, 135. 

 Two bacteriological tests made on a bubbling fountain showed only 

 staphylococci present. When the fountain was smeared with a cul- 

 ture of B. coli, considerable flushing did not entirely remove this or- 

 ganism. The danger, if pathogens are present, is evident. The best 

 safeguard for the kind of fountain described is a continuous flow of 

 water.— T. G. H. 



Cigar Cutter Tests. Jane L. Berry. Collected Studies, Bureau of 



Laboratories, New York City, 1914-1915, 8, 137. 



Of 145 customers purchasing cigars, 74 used the cigar cutter, and 

 of these, 4 first moistened the cigar in the mouth before cutting. 

 Streptococci, staphylococci and spore-bearing rods were easily obtain- 



