ABSTRACTS 707 



able from the cigar cutter after such procedure. Cigars moistened 

 with B. pyocyaneus, when cut, contaminated the cutter, and fresh 

 cigars were in turn contaminated. Of three cigars held in the mouths 

 of different diphtheria patients, one contaminated the cutter with the 

 Klebs-Loeffler bacillus. The author recommends that cigar cutters 

 be abolished.— T. G. H. 



Studies on the Use of Brilliant Green and a Modified Endo's Medium in 

 the Isolation of Bacillus Typhosus from Feces. H. C. Robinson and 

 L. F. Rettger. Jour. Med. Res., 1916, 34, 363-376. 

 Using a preliminary enriching medium consisting of peptone water, 

 reaction + 1.0 to phenolphthalein, containing brilliant green in dilu- 

 tions of 1 : 60,000 to 1 : 300,000, and a modified Endo's medium, the 

 authors report successful results in the isolation of typhoid bacilli from 

 feces. The modification of Endo's medium consists in the use of sodium 

 bisulphite instead of the plain sulphite. — H. W. L. 



Studies on Diphtheria in Cleveland, I. Diphtheria Carriers. R. G. 



Perkins, M. J. Miller and H. O. Rush. Jour. Infect. Diseases, 



1916, 18, 607-617. 



A paper having special reference to the problem of shortening the 

 average quarantine period. The points discussed include the incidence 

 of carriers in Cleveland, morphological studies on the organisms found, 

 and the results of the application of the Schick test. — P. B. H. 



A Study of the Normal Bacterial Flora of Postage Stamps. R. A. 



Keilty and p. D. McMaster. Medical Record, 1916, 90, 153-154. 



A bacteriological study of 50 postage stamps obtained from various 

 sources showed the presence of bacteria upon 48 of the 50 stamps. 



Methods particularly adapted for the detection of tubercle bacilli 

 Bacillus tetani, members of the colon group and diphtherial forms 

 failed to demonstrate any of these organisms. The organisms isolated 

 were, with possibly two exceptions, all non-pathogenic. Micrococci 

 predominated. Other non-pathogenic organisms, molds, B. subtilis, 

 etc., were present in only small numbers. — M. W. C. 



