ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
373 
but the authors are satisfied with the results of their experiments, showing 
that this difficulty has been overcome. In tho first set of experiments 
the serum was precipitated and then dissolved in water. In the second 
set the serum-albumen was precipitated with alcohol, and dissolved in 
0*04 to 0*05 per cent, potash solution. In the third set the serum- 
albumen-potash solution was heated to 60°-63° C. They conclude from 
the results of these experiments that the microbicidal property of blood- 
serum is not a vital phenomenon, bnt is merely a chemical process. 
In the course of their remarks the authors point out that on two 
occasions in the series where they were dealing with the alkalinized 
serum heated up to 60°, tho number of bacilli was obviously diminished. 
This is the strongest proof they bring against the position of Buchner, 
who attributed the bactericidal power of serum to some inherent (vital) 
property ; smce if heated to 55° this power was lost. That it is due to 
alkalinity they think is shown by the action being increased by alka- 
linity and being decreased by acidity, a position very similar to that 
taken up by Yon Fodor some years ago. Von Fodor showed that by 
augmenting the alkalinity of the blood the bactericidal power was 
increased. 
Bacterium coli commune and Peritonitis from Perforation.* 
During the winter 1890-91 there was an epidemic of typhoid in which 
perforation occurred with some frequency. The exudation from six 
cases of diffuse suppurative peritonitis resulting from perforation of the 
lower part of the ileum, was examined by the plate method by O. 
Barbacci. Direct subcutaneous and intraperitoneal injections with the 
exudation in bouillon were made on rabbits and white rats. From four 
of the six cases plate cultivations were made from the intestinal contents 
taken from the floor of the perforating ulcers. In the cultivations of 
all the six cases one organism, B. coli commune , was present. Cultiva- 
tions from the heart’s blood of two cases were sterile, and in two cases 
B. coli commune was present. In three cases the presence of Fraenkel’s 
Diplococcus was observed, and the virulence of this organism was soon 
lost when passed through two or three animals. Agar cultivations of 
Diplococcus developed poorly, and after two or three transferences failed. 
These considerations led the author to believe that the Diplococcus must 
have lost vitality and virulence in the exudation, and that therefore its 
share in the production of peritonitis was inconsiderable, a supposition 
supported by the fact that it could not be demonstrated in three cases. 
Experiments were made in order to differentiate B. coli commune from 
the typhoid bacillus and from B. pyogenes fcetidus. 
The author also mentions that he has produced diffuse peritonitis in 
rabbits and guinea-pigs by means of B. coli commune in filtered and 
sterilized diarrhoea stools ; and also that in a case of peritonitis after 
perityphlitis, B. coli commune was demonstrable in the pus removed 
during life. 
Demonstrating Typhoid Bacilli in Drinking Water.f — During an 
epidemic of typhoid fever, Herr L. Kaman had an opportunity of 
* Lo Sperimentale, 1891, p. 313. See Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. Parasitenk xii 
(1892) pp. 257-8. 
t Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. Parasitenk., xi. (1892) pp. 33-40. See Bot. Centralbl 
lii. (1892) p. 53. 
