Sbptembek 10, 1915] 



SCIENCE 



357 



culture of Bacillus typhosus, if the filtrate pro- 

 duced a uniformly higher degree of febrile reac- 

 tion than did the sterile bouillon, before bacteria 

 had been grown in it. 



It was also thought possible that the presence of 

 fever-producing substances in the culture filtrate 

 could be demonstrated by treating animals for 

 some time with these filtrates and then using the 

 serum of these animals to inhibit the fever pro- 

 duction in normal animals by injecting serum and 

 filtrate at the same time. 



It was soon determined that the serum even of 

 normal animals of the same species injected into 

 healthy animals in itself caused a febrile reaction. 



It was not possible to demonstrate definitely that 

 typhoid bacillus produces soluble toxin which is 

 responsible for the febrile reaction in typhoid 

 fever. 



It seems more probable that the febrile reaction 

 is due to substances liberated from the tissue cells 

 under the influence of the organisms. 

 Sow Bacterial Vaccines Act: E. C. L. Millee, M.D. 



The protein of the dead germ bodies contained 

 in ordinary bacterial vaccines probably produces 

 specific immunity. The degree of this immunity is 

 probably slight and the question is raised whether 

 the immunity measures the entire therapeutic value 

 of the vaccine. The fact that well-washed bacteria 

 have much less tendency to cause a reaction is taken 

 as evidence that besides the dead germs there are 

 reaction-producing or pyrogenetic substances in 

 the vaccines. The fact that bacterial vaccines must 

 usually be administered in doses that produce some 

 reaction is taken as indicating that the pyrogenetic 

 substances have some part in the improvement. 

 One way in which they may aid is in making the 

 immunity effective and this may be either by focal 

 ox general reactions. It is suggested that the ex- 

 istence of these two constituents in bacterial vac- 

 cines should be more generally recognized so that 

 they may be used separately or together, as may be 

 indicated. 



A Contribution to the Pathogenesis of the Avian 

 Tubercle Bacterium: L. E. Himmelbergek and 



L. A. MOSHEK. 



The communication deals with the pathogenic 

 effects of living cultures of avian tubercle bacteria 

 on rabbits. The problem was undertaken to study 

 the type of tuberculosis, whether generalized or 

 localized, produced by intravenous injection of 

 living bacteria of the avian type. 



The work presented in the communication in- 

 volves the results obtained by intravenous injec- 

 tion of thirty animals. With but one exception all 



developed a generalized tuberculosis, usually termi- 

 nating fatally in from twenty to one hundred days. 

 In classifying the type of disease produced, the 

 nature and distribution of the lesions and the 

 course of the disease in the animal were the cri- 

 teria used. 



In view of the results obtained the authors de- 

 sire to suggest that the use of avian cultures in 

 cattle immunization is unsafe both from an eco- 

 nomic and public-health point of view. From the 

 economic standpoint great danger of infecting by 

 vaccination exists since the senior authors has 

 previously shown that calves can be infected by 

 tubercular material from avian sources. From the 

 public health point of view it is reasonable to sup- 

 pose that the avian type of organism would prove 

 equally as pathogenic for humans as the bovine 

 type. 

 Seciprocal JEelations of Virulent and Avirulent 



Cultures in Active Immunisation: Philip B. 



Hadlet. 



This paper presented data to show that among 

 seventeen non-virulent strains of the fowl cholera 

 organism only one (Culture 52) possessed an im- 

 munizing value, but that the immunizing value of 

 this one was perfect, in so far as inoculation with 

 rabbits with 0.000,000,01 c.e. produced permanent 

 active immunity against the most virulent strain 

 obtainable. When tested against other virulent 

 strains. Culture 52 protected in many cases, but 

 the point was especially emphasized that in all 

 cases in which Culture 52 alone failed to protect, 

 perfect immunity was developed through inocula- 

 tion with Culture 52, followed, after an appropriate 

 time, by inoculation with Culture 48. By the use 

 of one or the other method, rabbits may now for 

 the first time be permanently protected against 

 any virulent strain of the fowl cholera bacterium 

 yet obtained. 



These experimental results were used as the basis 

 for more general observations. 



1. On the possibility of more efBcient active im- 

 munization in many communicable diseases by dis- 

 covery of what may be termed "Immunizing 

 strains. ' ' 



2. On the varied physiological characteristics 

 which may be possessed by microorganisms mani- 

 festing identical 'morphological, cultural and bio- 

 chemical features. 



3. On the heretofore unconfirmed experiments 

 of Pasteur regarding the possibility of immuniza- 

 tion against fowl cholera by means of non-virulent 

 cultural material. 



2 Cent. f. Bdkt. JErst. Ab., Bd. 73. 



