388 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
be an extraordinarily delicate reagent for nitrogenous compounds, forming 
albuminoids out of them. The author regards Bacillus Ornithopi , which 
produces tubercles in the roots of Ornithopus sativus and perpusillus , as a 
different species from B. radicicola , the latter not causing the production 
of tubercles in species of Ornithopus ; while the latter is without) effect 
on Vicia Faha. 
Micro-organisms of Influenza.* * * § — Herr Bein examined twenty cases 
of influenza for the purpose of ascertaining if the disease were causally 
connected with one or various micro-organisms. In the sputum, in 
pleural exudation, in the lungs, and in the dead body, diplococci, strepto- 
cocci, and staphylococci were invariably present, and the conclusion 
arrived at is that the lung mischief in influenza is due to the co- 
operation of several kinds of micro-organisms, no specific microbe being 
detected. The author regards the diplococci alluded to as being closely 
allied to, but not identical with, Fraenkel's diplococcus. Micro-organisms 
were never found in the blood of patients while alive. 
Sig. S. Sirena f found in the sputum of influenza Fraenkel’s 
diplococcus, together with numerous other micro-organisms. In a case 
of haemorrhagic pneumonia this microbe was present in the sputum as 
an almost pure cultivation. Moreover, gelatin-plate cultivations of the 
nasal secretion failed to demonstrate any other micro-organism. Special 
attention was paid to the examination of the blood. In the fresh 
condition both stained and unstained preparations failed to show micro- 
organisms or other abnormal constituents, so too cultivations on various 
media remained without exception sterile. The author concludes, there- 
fore, that the presence of certain microbes in the sputum and other 
secretions in cases of influenza is connected with the simultaneous or 
consecutive complications of this disease, and that its specific contagium 
is at present unknown. 
Influence of Ozone on the Growth of Bacteria.J — From an exami- 
nation of the influence of ozone on the growth of bacteria, Herr Wysso- 
kowicz finds that the bacteria examined by him (anthrax, [typhoid, 
pneumonia, mouse-septicaemia) have their growth decidedly interfered 
with by ozone. With chromogenic bacteria the pigment development 
was either nil, much diminished, or tardy ; a condition )which [ap- 
parently depends directly on the action of the ozone on the pigment. 
Spore-formation also was tardy and scanty. The action of ozone is the 
result of a diminution of the nutrient value of the medium, owing to the 
oxidation of the bases in the medium. The influence of oxygen* depends 
not only on the formation of acids, but also on other changes, which have 
previously occurred in the nutrient medium. 
Action of Pyoctanin on Bacteria.§ — The experiments of Herr 
Jaenicke, with Pyoctanium cseruleum , P. aureum, and methyl-violet 6 B, 
* Zeitschr. f. Klin. Medicin, xvii. (1890) No. 6. See Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. 
Parasitenk., ix. (1891) pp. 171-2. 
t La Riforma Med., vi. (1890) p. 680. See Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. Para- 
sitenk., ix. (1891) pp. 174-5. 
X Mittheil. Wiss. Brehmer’s Heilanstalt, 1890. See Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. 
Parasitenk., viii. (1890) p. 662. 
§ Fortschr. d. Med , viii. (1890) No. 12. See Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. Para- 
si tenk., viii. (1890) pp. 598-9. 
