September 10, 1915] 



SCIENCE 



355 



sensitized organisms of both types were injected, 

 ferments for paratyphoid B appeared in 33 hours, 

 and for typhoid in 36 hours. When killed unsensi- 

 tized typhoid and killed sensitized paratyphoid B 

 were employed specific ferments for paratyphoid 

 B appeared after 16 hours, and for typhoid after 

 35 hours. When killed sensitized typhoid and 

 killed unsensitized paratyphoid B were injected 

 ferments for typhoid were demonstrable after 17 

 hours, and for paratyphoid B after 36 hours. 

 With the final combination in which both types 

 were sensitized the serums showed specific ferments 

 for both kinds of bacteria after 18 hours. 



The above experiments indicate that previous 

 treatment of the bacteria with immune serum 

 renders them more susceptible to assimilation by 

 the body and thus enables them to brings about a 

 more rapid formation of the specific ferments 

 which may be detected by the Abderhalden test. 

 Becent Studies mi Pellagra: J. F. Siler, P. E. 



Garrison and W. J. MacNeal. 



The theory that pellagra is due to the ingestion 

 of maize or maize products, either good or spoiled, 

 is wholly inadequate to explain the distribution of 

 the disease actually observed in Spartanburg 

 County, S. C. 



The conception that pellagra is a specific infec- 

 tious disease in some way transmissible from per- 

 son to person is strongly supported by our obser- 

 vations. The higher incidence of pellagra in the 

 more populous districts and its occurrence in defi- 

 nite foci are in accord with this view. Definite 

 tendency to self -limitation of the attack of pel- 

 lagra without specific treatment and without 

 change in diet is very evident in many cases, and 

 especially so in children. 



The manner of origin of pellagra in its endemic 

 foci from year to year indicates that the disease 

 spreads from old cases as centers and that it is, 

 as a rule, transmitted through relatively short dis- 

 tances, within the same house or to the house next 

 door. The disease spreads most rapidly in com- 

 munities without efiicient provisions for sewage 

 disposal and spreads hardly at all in communities 

 with sanitary sewer systems. 



We have been unable to produce a recognizable 

 attack of pellagra in any experimental animal, 

 nor have we as yet recognized the specific infec- 

 tious agent of the disease. 



The Schidk Toxin Beaction for Immunity in Diph- 

 theria: John A. Kolmee and Emily L. Mosh- 



AGE. 



Schick has proposed a simple clinical test for 

 immunity to diphtheria consisting in the intracu- 



taneous injection of l/50th the minimal lethal 

 dose of toxin for a guinea-pig. If there is less 

 than l/30th of a unit of antitoxin in each cubic 

 centimeter of the patient's serum, the injected 

 toxin acts as an irritant and produces an inflam- 

 matory reaction. If l/30th of a unit or more 

 antitoxin is present the toxin is neutralized, no 

 reaction follows and the individual is regarded as 

 being immune to diphtheria. 



The test has been advocated as a means of test- 

 ing the response of active immunization with 

 toxin-antitoxin mixtures and to detect susceptibil- 

 ity to diphtheria. 



The objects of this study were as follows: 



1. To apply the toxin skin test to a large num- 

 ber of apparently normal persons to determine 

 susceptibility to diphtheria at different ages. 



2. To determine quantitatively the antitoxin 

 content of the blood serum of persons reacting 

 positively, slightly positively, doubtfully and neg- 

 atively in order to further study the toxin test 

 under conditions where the quantity of antitoxin 

 in the blood is known. 



3. To study the degree and duration of im- 

 munity to diphtheria in normal persons following 

 an injection of diphtheria antitoxin. 



4. To study the degree and duration of im- 

 munity among persons suffering with scarlet fever 

 and receiving an injection of diphtheria antitoxin. 



5. To study immunity during and following an 

 attack of diphtheria. 



6. To study the practical value of the toxin skin 

 test in determining which persons should be im- 

 munized with antitoxin when exposed to diph- 

 theria. 



I. In all 1,265 inoculations were made. Of 

 these 447 were among persons most of whom 

 were healthy and well; a few were suffering with 

 various chronic diseases and were tested while in 

 various hospitals in Philadelphia. 



The reaction has demonstrated that children be- 

 tween the ages of one and eight years are most 

 susceptible to diphtheria. 



II. The serums of a number of persons were 

 tested for antitoxin content with the following 

 results : 



(a) The serums of persons reacting negatively 

 to the toxin test usually contained at least l/20tli 

 of a unit of antitoxin per cubic centimeter of 

 serum. 



(6) The serums of persons reacting weakly 

 positive to the toxin test usually contain from 

 l/40th to l/160th of a unit of antitoxin per cubic 

 centimeter of serum. 



