74: 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
gangrene, pseudo-tubercle bacilli in the sputum. He regards these as 
saprophytes belonging to the smegma bacillus group. He suggests that 
the reason why these bacilli give the specific staining reaction, is the 
presence of fatty substances in the sputum ; for it is well known that 
many bacteria, when cultivated in a fatty medium, become resistant to 
acid. In cases where it is suspected that the bacteria may be pseudo- 
tubercle bacilli, cultivations and other staining methods should be re- 
sorted to. 
Bacillus ferrugineus.* — Dr. W. Rullmann describes a chromogenic 
bacillus which was isolated from canal water. Plate cultures were 
stained a rusty brown colour. In solid media the pigment was generally 
diffused throughout the mass. In liquid media the pigment was formed 
near the surface. The reaction of the cultures was strongly alkaline. 
Like some other bacteria, its morphological characters varied somewhat 
with the media. On sugar bouillon it w r as 0 • 8 ju broad by 2 * 0-2 • 2 /z 
long, and there was no polar staining. On potato it was 0 • 5 ju broad 
by 1 J 4 ju long, and the polar staining was well marked. In Wino- 
gradsky’s solution it formed a distinct capsule. On nitrit-agar its size 
was much diminished. Cultivated at 37° on meat-agar without pepton, 
involution forms were frequent and of large size. In hanging drops 
lively movements were observed. The pigment was found to be only 
slightly soluble in water and ordinary alcohol, but very soluble in alkaline 
or acid alcohol ; the evaporated residue was then very soluble in water. 
There was little characteristic in the shape of the individual colonies, 
but the superficial ones were browner than those lying deeper. The 
bacillus possesses a peptonising action. It is not pathogenic to mice. 
Hewlett’s Bacteriology.! — Dr. R. T. Hewlett’s ‘ Manual of Bacterio- 
logy ’ is eminently suited to the wants of those interested in clinical 
medicine and hygiene, and for laboratory work. By the omission of 
superfluous details and duplicate processes of secondary value, sufficient 
space has been obtained for more urgent and important subjects, such as 
preparation of tissues, methods of culture, description and detection of 
pathogenic organisms, bacterial remedies, &c., which are discussed with 
desirable fulness. The first chapter deals shortly with the classification, 
biology, and chemistry of bacteria, and their relation to disease. The 
next three chapters are devoted to the preparation of tissues and organ- 
isms, the cultivation and isolation of organisms, and the investigation of 
microbial diseases. In chapter v. the interesting and important ques- 
tion of immunity is discussed with considerable care and clearness. In 
the next ten chapters are described the various pathogenic bacteria ; and 
following these are accounts of the Blastomycetes, Hyphomycetes, the 
Protozoa, some diseases of uncertain origin, and certain microbes affect- 
ing the skin and mucosas. The last chapters deal with the bacferiology 
of water, air, and soil ; of milk and foods ; with antiseptics and disinfec- 
tants ; and with bacterial remedies, such as the antitoxins of diphtheria, 
Streptococcus, Pneumococcus, tetanus ; with tuberculin, mallein, anti- 
cholera and anti-typhoid vaccine, and Coley’s fluid. 
* Centralbl. Bakt. u. Par., l te Abt., xxiv. (1898) pp. 465-7. 
t London, .T. and A, Churchill, 189S, vi. and 439 pp., 73 figs. 
