378 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
tlie changes which have occurred in the alexins are conceivable : — there 
is a disturbance in the micellary arrangement of the unchanged chemical 
molecules ; or there is some alteration atfecting the chemical molecules 
alone, the micellary arrangement remaining unaltered ; or, finally, a 
simultaneous change occurs in both directions. The author inclines to 
the first explanation, and Prof. Emmerich, with collaborators, supports 
the second hypothesis. 
The experiments of the latter showed that the germicidal action of 
blood-plasma is a purely chemical phenomenon, while Prof. Buchner 
advocates the vital action of serum. He has repeated the experiments 
of his opponents after the manner laid down by them, and finds that 
their conclusions are erroneous, although he does not dispute some of 
their facts. The repeated experiment as recorded is divided into four 
parts : — (a) showing the result of the action of active serum ; ( b ) of in- 
active serum ; (c) of inactive serum treated with potash and dialysed ; 
(d) the latter further heated to 60°. These four serums were inoculated 
with Bacillus coli and examined after three and five hours. 
In a the count made 68 ; in b, 352,000 ; in c, 12,300 ; in d, 14,500. 
In a there was a progressive diminution in the number ; in b, a pro- 
gressive increase ; in c and d, a slight diminution up to 3 hours, after 
which a decided increase. 
From this it would appear that, while the statements of Emmerich 
and his collaborators are true as far as they go, the inference drawn by 
them was not justifiable, as it was founded on insufficient data. 
The bactericidal action of the blood-plasma at present, therefore, 
retains its position. 
Sternberg’s Bacteriology.* — By far the most important work on 
Bacteriology which has been written in the English tongue hails from 
America. It claims to be a manual ; it is rather a treatise, dealing with 
our present knowledge of bacteria. As a book it deserves great praise, 
for it is well got up, and excellently illustrated by heliotype and 
chromolithographic plates and 268 engravings. The work is divided 
into four parts, the first of which deals with classification, morphology, 
and general bacteriological technology. The second part is devoted to 
general biological characters ; while the third and fourth discuss patho- 
genic and saprophytic bacteria. It is, perhaps, in part three that the 
work is most interesting, though the information in part four is certainly 
copious and (as far as our present knowledge goes) reliable. Together, 
parts three and four take up at least two-thirds of the whole volume. 
It may be gathered from this that the work, as a book of reference, is as 
complete as it could have been made. 
As may be observed from even a casual inspection, the book contains 
a large amount of original work ; but due acknowledgment is given to 
works of other authors, and where borrowed illustrations are given, 
these have been reproduced most excellently, and are not (as is usually 
the case under similar circumstances) indifferent murky-looking resem- 
blances. 
At the end a copious bibliography is given. In our opinion, the 
* ‘Manual of Bacteriology,’ by G. M. Sternberg, M.D., D<p. Surgeon -General 
TJ.S.A., New York, 1892. 
