ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
349 
of which is increased in ways as yet unknown. Two of these naturally 
strong cases are reported ; that of a sheep which died 20 days after 
having been bitten by a rabid dog, the inoculated rabbits dying on the 
8th day; and that of a dog, the rabbits inoculated dying in 7 days. 
Experiments were made with these viruses by passing them through a 
series of rabbits, by noting the effect on other animals, and by their 
resistance to desiccation, heat, corrosive sublimate, and acetic acid. 
The results from all these experiments showed the presence of viruses of 
very similar strength to that of the fixed virus. 
Phagocytosis, Chimiotaxis, and Eosinophilous Microbes.* — Dr. J. 
Bordet discusses the part played by chimiotaxis in infection and im- 
munity, and also the alterations that microbes exhibit in the interior 
of phagocytes. The phenomena of chimiotaxis were observed in vitro y 
and were the result of streptococcous infection of the peritoneal sac of 
the guinea-pig. At first many of the leucocytes were observed to con- 
tain cocci ; but after a time modifications were noticed in the staining 
reactions of those microbes which were the descendants of the first refugees. 
Later on the exudate contained a large number of microbes and of 
phagocytes. The phagocytes were now quite empty, though remarkably 
active, while the microbes were distinguished by their size, the presence 
of an areola, their increased virulence, and by repelling the leucocytes 
(negative chimiotaxis). The survival of the more virulent and the 
destruction of the less virulent microbe are explained as due, to the 
exercise of a selective power by the leucocytes. 
Assuming that the leucocytes are the source of the bactericidal sub- 
stance, it is to be expected that their cytoplasm will give evidence of 
certain changes due to the struggle between the microbe and the cell. 
Observations showed this to be the case, the change of the microbes 
into granules being observed within the cells and in the plasma. 
The inference from these observations is that the bactericidal sub- 
stance of the body-juices is of phagocytic origin, and, while it resides 
chiefly in them, may become dissolved in the ambient medium. But 
whether the phagocytic substance which renders microbes eosinophilous 
be the same as that which reduces to granules, is at present difficult to 
determine. 
Thyroantitoxin. j* — Thyroantitoxin is the name given by M. S. Fraenke 
to the physiologically essential part of the thyroid gland. By making 
hot and cold extracts of sheeps’ thyroids, and by treating with acetic 
acid, almost all the albuminoid matters were separated out. By physio- 
logical experiment it was found that the active principle resided in the 
filtrate. This principle is therefore not albuminoid, but is a substance 
soluble in alcohol, and precipitated by ether or acetone. It has the 
properties of an alkaloid, and is met with in all preparations (of 
the thyroid) which exhibit active qualities. Like the thyroid itself, 
it causes a fall of arterial pressure and an increased pulse-rate after 
injection. The results obtained by injecting thyroantitoxin into cats 
deprived of their thyroid were similar to those obtained by Gley with 
thyroid juice. 
* Ann. Inst. Pasteur, x. (1896) pp. 104-17 (1 pi.). 
f Wiener Med. Blatter, xviii. (1895). See Ann. Inst. Pasteur, x. (1896) 
pp. 127-8. 
1896 2 B 
