Search

Presents information to sift fact from fancy in the literature dealing with the glands of internal secretion. Description of the position of the glands in the human body; Function of each of these glands to introduce into the blood stream a specific substance which exerts its influence on the body in such a way as to establish an equilibrium and promote health; Details of the history of scientific investigation into the true nature of the activity of glands; Recognition of the thyroid gland as the chief agent in maintaining the equilibrium of the human organism, especially with regard to the delicate balance between the different endocrine organs; Uncertainty of the exact function of the thymus gland; Mention of monkey gland grafts, and the Steinach "operations."

Focuses on an Anti-Alcohol Congress which took place at Copenhagen, Denmark, paid especial attention to an attack upon tobacco. Report that tobacco has been assailed on physical, mental and moral grounds; Comments on the consumption of tobacco; Claims that those engaged in intellectual pursuits or other forms of mental stress are most likely to feel the need of tobacco; Information about Nicotine; Influence of tobacco on heart, mental activity and vascular system; Report that nicotine is the active principle in tobacco; Use of tobacco in the manufacture of the cigarette.

Focuses on some of the facts placed before the public by the American Society for the control of cancer. Increase in the actual number of deaths due to cancer; View cancer as a lawless growth of body cells which destroys life, if allowed to run its course; Formation of malignant tumors due to proliferation of cells; Information on methods for removing cancer easily in its early stages; Discussion on radium or X-ray treatment in curing skin cancers and internal cancers.

In a previous paper1 attention has been directed to the fact that single determinations of gastric acidity by the Rehfuss method are not sufficient on which to base conclusions, because they do not take into account individual variation. Another important question which arises in evaluating results obtained by this method is whether the aliquot fractions aspirated are truly representative of the total gastric contents at the time of withdrawal. Recently, Gorham2 has shown that "the gastric chyme is not, in the majority of instances, a homogeneous mixture after a test meal, and that the acidity of different portions may vary widely." He found on the withdrawal in rapid succession of many samples that there was a marked variation in acidity of these samples in subjects having clinical evidence of gastric disease. Such variations were not so apparent in subjects without clinical evidence of gastric disease, although Wheelon3 has reported some

A recent publication1 dealing with the production of epilepsy in the monkey by the intracortical injection of alumina cream has indicated that certain pertinent information and results are apparently not widely known. The technique for production of experimental epilepsy in the monkey by topical cortical disc application of alumina cream was first described in 1942.2 Thereafter we also reported on the successful use of intracerebral and intracortical injection techniques.* The present communication is intended to present additional data and findings regarding the production of chronic experimental epilepsy in the monkey. METHODS Four preparations of alumina have been employed: a standard laboratory alumina (aluminum oxide) cream made according to Hawk and Bergeim,† using sterile solutions and aseptic technique; a commercial product (aluminum hydroxide, gelatinous A-583, Fisher), autoclaved and emulsified with sterile water by means of a Ten Broeck grinder5; aluminum oxide,‡ autoclaved and emulsified with water to a granular

PREVIOUSLY we1 reported that the experimental production of epilepsy in the monkey was associated with electroencephalographic abnormality. It was noted that in addition to a primary focus in the region of application of the inciting agent, there was evidence of spread of electroencephalographic abnormality to the opposite side of the brain.2 PRESENT INVESTIGATION The present study is concerned with more detailed observations regarding the time relation between electroencephalographic evidence of primary and secondary foci and the onset of convulsive seizures. In addition, the effect of ablation of the "active" focus was investigated. TECHNIC. —In accordance with the method previously described,1a unilateral application of hydrous oxides of aluminum to the motor cortex of 4 monkeys resulted in epileptiform seizures in every instance on physical stimulation. As controls, 3 additional monkeys similarly prepared with noneffective materials at no time manifested convulsive seizures. Electroencephalographic records were taken before operation and

BECAUSE of the dearth of knowledge concerning metabolic changes caused by poliomyelitic infection of the central nervous system, it appeared of interest to study possible electrophysiologic alterations of the brain during the course of the disease. Electroencephalograms were therefore taken of rhesus monkeys and of guinea pigs with experimental infection with simian or murine virus. In addition, 17 persons with postpoliomyelitic paralyses were studied.1Five monkeys were given intracerebral injections of simian virus into the right frontal area: Three received the RMV strain (0.5 cc. of viral cord suspension [1: 10 or 1: 100]); and 2, the Aycock strain (0.5 cc. of a 1:50 suspension). Two additional monkeys served as controls: One was given an intracerebral injection of 0.5 cc. of a 10 per cent Aycock cord suspension inactivated by boiling for twenty minutes, and the other received 0.5 cc. of isotonic solution of sodium chloride. Ten guinea pigs

Summary Within the limitations of the experimental material under consideration the following points have been established. A standardized method for surface tension determinations on lactobacilli has been described and applied to 12 different strains of L. acidophilus and L. bulgaricus. With sodium ricinoleate 3 strains of L. acidophilus of proven therapeutic value grew in a medium depressed below 36 dynes, while 2 strains of L. bulgaricus proven by us incapable of intestinal implantation were inhibited at 43.2 dynes. The average critical point for all cultures labelled L. acidophilus was 37.9 dynes and for L. bulgaricus 43.6 dynes. With sodium oleate L. acidophilus grew to 23.8 dynes while L. bulgaricus was inhibited at 41 dynes. The surface tension of inoculated and incubated cultures in higher than that of uninoculated controls kept in the ice box.

Summary 1.Methods for the preparation of pure cultures of acidophilus milk are described together with directions for the preparation of appropriate media, plating, staining, etc.2.The administration of acidophilus milk with particular reference to palatability, dosage and persistence of benefits is discussed in detail.

In perfecting the modification of the Gram-stain previously proposed, the following points are of interest:1. Acetone is too strong a decolorizer for Gram-positive organisms and alcohol too weak for Gram-negative organisms. Consequently, it is now recommended that equal parts of acetone (100% c.p.) and ethyl alcohol (95%) be used as a decolorizing agent. The time of application should not ordinarily exceed 10 seconds.2. Aqueous basic fuchsin (0.1%) serves as a strongly contrasting counterstain. Prolonged application renders Gram-positive organisms doubtful or Gram-negative, while short application renders Gram-negative organisms doubtful or Gram-positive. Twenty (20) seconds is therefore recommended as the time of application of the counterstain.3. The method here described, with due regard for its limitations, is of value in Gram-staining pure or mixed cultures as well as for organic materials, such as Acidophilus milk, feces, etc., either for research purposes or classroom use. The method is as follows:Air-dry film and fix with least amount of heat necessary.Flood with dye for 5 minutes. Previously mix 30 drops of a 1% aqueous solution of crystal violet or methyl violet 6B with 8 drops of a 5% solution of sodium bicarbonate. Allow the mixture to remain for 5 minutes or more.Flush with iodine solution for 2 minutes. Two grams iodine dissolved in 10 cc. normal sodium hydroxide solution and 90 cc. water added.Drain without blotting but do not allow film to dry.Add a mixture of equal parts of acetone and alcohol drop by drop until the drippings are colorless. (10 seconds or less.)Air-dry slide.Counterstain for 20 seconds with 0.1% aqueous solution of basic fuchsin.Wash off excess stain by short exposure to tap water and air-dry. If slide is not clear immersion in xylol is recommended.

Summary Within the limitations of the material, 208 subjects—and the methods under consideration, it has been found that:1.Of 187 patients with mental disease 62 per cent harboredL. acidophilus. The incidence of this organism was slightly higher in the functional than in the organic syndromes.2.Of 21 non-psychotic adults, about one-half showedL. acidophilus.3.There is no correlation between constipation and absence ofL. acidophilus in fecal specimens.L. acidophilus was found in two-thirds of the constipated patients with mental disease and in the same proportion of the non-constipated patients.4.Shera's2 conclusion that constipation in the mentally diseased can be ascribed to a deficiency ofL. acidophilus is invalid.

Bacillus acidophilus has been used successfully in the treatment of constipation and diarrhea.1 However, it would be difficult to state precisely how successful a therapeutic agent it is. Neither of the intestinal conditions dealt with—constipation and diarrhea—permit exact definition; consequently, the interpretation of results must be somewhat arbitrary. For this reason, if no other, it would seem desirable that investigators in this field present their facts as objectively as possible. Obviously, there are many factors which must be considered. The necessity for keeping a careful record of the frequency and character of defecations is well recognized. The dosage of B. acidophilus preparations is always of importance, but unfortunately it is unstandardized and therefore at present has little significance. Thus 10 c.c. of B. acidophilus milk containing 20,000,000 viable organisms per cubic centimeter in the hands of one clinician is unquestionably more desirable than 1,000 c.c. containing 10,000 viable organisms per

Focuses on the prevention of diphtheria. Injection of antitoxin to combat diphtheria; Shortcoming of using antitoxin is that it gives protection for only short periods of time; Determination of whether any individual is susceptible or immune to diphtheria by Schick test; Standardization of outfits for performing Schick test, by the Health Department of New York City; Administration of the horse serum containing antitoxin in the patient with the help of sterilized syringe; Obstacle in the prevention has been great number of healthy individuals who carry diphtheria bacilli in their throats.

Presents several letters to the editor about the articles published in the previous issue of the journal. Comments on the article about the annual convention of the Associated Press written by Oswald Garrison Villard; Appreciation of the journal; Tribute to the judge Joseph Wood Krutch.

The relief from chronic constipation and diarrhea by the ingestion of milk fermented with Bacillus acidophilus is a phenomenon worthy of further study.1 The beneficial effects obtained by such therapy might be due to a multiplicity of factors. It has been held that chief among these is the ingestion of an increased volume, and more particularly the addition of considerable water to the daily diet. As against this physical or mechanical interpretation, there is a chemical explanation, based on the presence of a considerable amount of lactic acid, together with the disintegration products of the organism B. acidophilus. Finally, there is the strictly bacteriologic interpretation, which holds the living B. acidophilus organisms responsible for all benefits. The experiments here described, which are still in progress, were devised in the hope of arriving at some definite conclusion regarding this phenomenon.EXPERIMENTAL DATAPatients with a history of chronic constipation were

Experimental data were presented1on 5 dogs in which each was sensitized with horse serum in the left cerebral motor area after injury to this region. Following an interval of 2 to 4 weeks they received intravenous injections of horse serum. These injections were followed in 4 of the 5 animals by transient right-sided hemiparesis.The present communication concerns similar experiments on 35 dogs. Three, serving as controls and receiving normal saline into the brain instead of sensitizing protein, showed no subsequent focal reaction on repeated intravenous injection of the test protein. Twenty-one of the remaining 32 dogs showed evidence of local cerebral irritability after intravenous injection of the same protein with which the brain had been previously sensitized. In many of the dogs the local reaction could be repeated and was always confined to the side opposite the sensitized cerebral hemisphere.In a few animals which were kept alive over a long period of time the same reaction occurred almost as often as the intravenous injection was made, provided proper intervals between injections were allowed. One animal showed a focal convulsive seizure which became generalized and eventuated in death.For the most part horse serum and egg albumen were used as the sensitizing proteins. A few protocols are cited to bring out special points:DOG NO. 17. Small female Airedale.1- 7–32. The left side of the brain was exposed and an agar disc containing horse serum, 1 mm. thick and 1.5 cm. in diameter, was placed against the exposed area and held in place by suturing the temporal muscle over it.1-12–32. 1 cc. of horse serum was injected intravenously. In a few minutes symptoms of general anaphylaxis appeared (defecation and urination).2-26–32. 2 cc. of horse serum were injected intravenously. In 2 minutes defecation and urin∗∗∗tion occurred. In 12 minutes slight hut definite dragging of the right forepaw was observed.3- 9–32. Into a pocket formed by a small rubber ring placed over the rightcerebrum 0.1 cc. of fresh egg albumen was injected between the dura and pia mater.

The fractional method of gastric analysis makes possible a bacteriological study of the stomach which includes not only the active cycle of digestion, but the resting phase as well. So far as could be ascertained, no quantitative bacterial studies employing this method have heretofore been reported. In fact, very little data concerning the types of bacteria in the stomach at different stages of digestion have appeared in the literature beyond the work of Cotton.1In a previous paper,2the writer has shown that repeated analyses on the same individual within a short period of time—while the physical and mental condition remain practically unchanged—yield different curves. These curves from the same individual often vary as much from one another as the difference between the curves of different individuals. This holds true likewise for the average fasting contents. Therefore the conclusion was reached that single determinations by the Rehfuss method are not sufficient upon which to base valid conclusions since they do not take into consideration individual variations. In bacteriologic studies of fractional gastric analyses carried out repeatedly on psychotic patients and normal individuals, in only one half the instances was there any correlation between high acidity and low bacterial numbers or vice-versa. Upon close observation it became apparent that the amount of saliva swallowed by a patient during the two and one half hour period necessary for the complete gastric analysis by the fractional method, was of considerable significance. Only one patient, a case of profound depression, consistently showed a complete absence of bacteria on repeated analyses. Her mouth was usually exceedingly dry. The conclusion, therefore, was that the absence of saliva was the limiting factor, so far as her bacterial content was concerned.It is manifestly impossible to completely prevent the swallowing of all saliva during the course of a fractional gastric analysis.

Quantitative experiments on the relation between the growth of bacteria and the amount of water present have been limited to studies on the effect of water content of media, and are surprisingly meager in the amount and character of the work done. Such investigations are limited to those of Wolf1and Weigert,2who working with different concentrations of media found definite limits of growth for various organisms. No investigation as to the effect of water vapor tension on surface colonies on a solid medium has apparently ever been made.The method used for obtaining preliminary data as to the influence of atmospheric moisture on surface growth consisted in using either two tops or two bottoms of ordinary petri dishes which are placed edge to edge and held together with adhesive tape around the entire circumference giving practically an air-tight capsule. In the upper half, media was poured to a depth of 2 mm.; in the lower half, solutions of various dehydrating agents were placed to a depth of 5 mm.; about 2 cm., as a rule separating the two surfaces.The organisms investigated were B. coli, B. subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus,and Streptococcus hemolyticus. The medium used was glucose infusion agar, PH 7.0, and cultures were usually incubated 18 hours at 37.5°C. The dehydrating solutions used were glycerin, 50 per cent. glycerin, 50 per cent. calcium chloride (saturated) and 25 per cent. calcium chloride, giving initial relative humidities of 0, 25, 35, and 75 per cent. respectively at the start of the experiment. The rate of change of the water vapor tension with addition of water, of the glycerin solutions is, however, so much larger than that of the calcium chloride solutions, that with the conditions as above stated the drying action of the calcium chloride is usually somewhat more energetic than that of the glycerin.

The investigations of Rettger and Cheplin1 have shown that B. acidophilus actually accomplishes much that Metchnikoff expected of B. bulgaricus, which has failed to fulfil its promise. They have described the satisfactory treatment of chronic constipation and diarrhea with milk fermented by B. acidophilus reinforced with lactose.2 It is well known that patients in institutions commonly suffer from chronic constipation. The present investigation, therefore, was undertaken, at Dr. G. H. Kirby's suggestion, in order to ascertain the benefits, if any, to be derived by psychotic patients from such treatment.3 In a sense this represents one aspect of the major problem under consideration, namely, the relation of focal infection to the functional psychoses (which has been reported elsewhere4). Some of the methods employed at the New Jersey State Hospital at Trenton, N. J., for the determination and treatment of focal infections have been subjected by us to

1. The rapid intravenous administration of chlorpromazine (2-10 mg/kg) to epileptic and normal monkeys produced prompt profound behavioral changes characterized by hypokinesia, flaccidity, diminished responsiveness, reduced aggressiveness, lethargy and somnolence. 2. High amplitude slow wave activity (2-5 second) became dominant in the EEG up to several hours after intravenous injection of chlorpromazine; epileptic monkeys showed, in addition, increased high amplitude spike and sharp wave forms. 3. Epileptic monkeys under the acute influence of chlorpromazine retained their clinical convulsive responsiveness to intramuscular Met-razol (16 mg/kg or less). Clinical epileptic response to vigorous prodding was not significantly changed. 4. Normal control monkeys under the acute influence of chlorpromazine did not exhibit clinical convulsions and remained refractory to treatment with intramuscular Metrazol (32 mg/kg) and to vigorous prodding stimulation.

(1) Threshold convulsant dosages to rapid intravenous injection of semicarbazide were significantly lower in chronically epileptic monkeys than in normal unoperated controls. (2) Clinical seizures following intravenous injection of threshold convulsant doses of semicarbazide occurred after a latent period of 2 to 3 1/2 hours. With suprathreshold doses the latent period was diminished greatly. (3) Use of a test dose of 30 to 40 mg/kg of semicarbazide by rapid intravenous injection is suggested to distinguish epileptic from non-epileptic monkeys since clinical convulsions should be produced within 3 to 4 hours in epileptic monkeys and not in non-epileptic normals.

Lactose is a prime constituent of "the perfect food," milk. The normal nursling thrives on it and the healthy baby's intestinal flora is the envy of an everincreasing proportion of the adult population. Lactose is as much a food for beneficial microbes as for man.1 In the intestinal flora of the breast-fed baby, Bacillus bifidus predominates. When the baby is weaned on cow's milk, Bacillus acidophilus becomes the predominating microbial species. Lactose, as is well known, is an excellent source of energy for this microbe.It was Metchnikoff's belief that many human ills arise from harmful bacteria present in the large intestine of man and, further, that senility is causally related to this "useless" portion of the gastro-intestinal tract. Consequently, he concluded that a favorable intestinal flora was the summum bonum. This doctrine proved a stimulus to the devising of ways and means for the development in adults of

It is concluded that acute permanent unilateral complete carotid (common, internal and external) or bilateral common carotid occlusions are well tolerated by monkeys. However, bilateral acute permanent complete carotid (common, internal and external) occlusions are only occasionally well tolerated. Bilateral complete carotid occlusions are more likely to be well tolerated if right and left sides are ligated separatel with a prolonged interval (over 6 weeks) between the 2-sided occlusions to permit establishment of adequate collateral circulation.

The relief obtained from constipation and diarrhea by the use of B. acidophilus has been interpreted in several ways. In previous communications1 it has been shown that the action of B. acidophilus milk is neither strictly physical nor chemical, that is, does not depend upon volume or chemical constituents, but appears to be essentially a bacteriologic phenomenon. This conclusion was based on the fact that neither sterile skim milk nor sterilized B. acidophilus milk influenced constipation, as did B. acidophilus milk in which the viable organisms were uninjured. The foregoing experiments were open to some criticism on the ground that sterilizing B. acidophilus milk caused a change in chemical composition. This study was therefore extended along somewhat different lines.In order to feed B. acidophilus milk in which the viable organisms were eliminated, the following procedure was adopted: B. acidophilus milk prepared in the usual way was centrifuged, and the

In a series of psychotic and normal (mentally) subjects relief from chronic constipation and diarrhea was obtained by the ingestion of B. acidophilusmilk and lactose. This corroborates the work of Rettger and Cheplin.The normal subjects as well as the psychotic patients receiving treatment, gained in weight; but while the latter were improved physically, there was no improvement in their psychoses.The intestinal flora becomes transformed on treatment with B. acidophiluswhole milk and lactose, but the relative percentage of grampositive rods rarely exceeds 70 per cent.Incubating B. acidophiluswhole milk at room temperature is satisfactory for only a few days, after which the number of viable organisms decrease rather rapidly and the acidity increases to the point of unpalatability.

1. Chronic experimental epilepsy was induced in 4 of 5 monkeys (Macaca mulatto) by multiple intracerebral injections of alumina cream in the sensori-motor area of one cerebral hemisphere. 2. The early motor convulsive manifestations in the epileptic animals resembled those described in man as epilepsia partialis continua(Koshewnikow). 3. In an additional monkey treated by multiple intracerebral injections of alumina cream into both hemispheres death in status epilepticusoccurred 3 weeks after the onset of seizures. 4. EEG's showed marked spike, sharp, and slow wave activity which was most prominent over the injected hemisphere.

Steiner's1 contention that spirochetes may be found in the brain tissue of patients with multiple sclerosis has been viewed generally with considerable skepticism. Using the method described in his monograph, we have searched for spirochetes and silver cells alike, since Steiner claimed that only in the tissues of persons with a spirochetal disease are silver cells present. Rogers2 found silver cells in the brain tissue of eleven patients with disseminated sclerosis but none in the brain tissue of four patients with other diseases. Following this lead we examined tissue from the brains of eleven patients with multiple sclerosis (and one other with a borderline case), of two patients with dementia paralytica and of fifty-one patients with various disease conditions.Blocks of tissue were cut from the white matter contiguous to the right and the left lateral ventricle and whenever possible from the fourth ventricle. Three stained, mounted specimens

Monkeys have rarely been used in anaphylactic experimentation because they were found to be refractory. Zinsser1concluded that “anaphylaxis is very difficult to obtain in the lower monkeys, probably cannot be obtained by a single preparatory injection, but that occasionally definite mild anaphylactic reactions can be obtained in these animals.” In continuing our studies on local cerebral anaphylaxis2we proceeded in the Macacus rhesusas in the dog, namely, with intravenous injections following repeated or continuous antigen contact in the brain. Four out of 7 monkeys (Nos. 3, 5, 8, and 9) responded with slight contralateral loss of tone in the hind leg following intravenous injections of the appropriate antigen.One animal (14) however, which had been previously sensitized with egg-white intramuscularly and intravenously and subsequently injected directly into the left motor area of the brain with the same antigen responded 2 days later with striking convulsive twitchings of the right arm and right side of the face. The right motor area of the brain had received horse serum as a control but it failed to cause any reaction.Another series of monkeys were given repeated intravenous injections of antigen. In these fatal anaphylaxis occurred.Table 1 shows that 11 of the 12 monkeys died of acute anaphylactic shock.

1. A series of 30 constipated subjects were under observation before, during, and after treatment with B. acidophilus.A comparison of these periods shows that the number of normal defecations has been significantly increased during treatment. The usual daily dose was 1,000 c.c. containing 200,000,000 viable B. acidophilusper c.c.2. The beneficial influence of B. acidophilususually persists for a considerable period of time after treatment has been stopped. Patients have been observed for from one week to about one year after treatment and almost without exception all have had more normal defecations after, than before, treatment.3. The use of lactose during and after ingestion of B. acidophilusdoes much to enhance the beneficial effects.4. A transformation of the intestinal flora from a proteolytic to an aciduric type as shown by microscopic and plate counts may generally be induced. Such transformation is usually accompanied by almost daily defecations regardless of the severity of the constipation.5. Two cases of diarrhea have been successfully treated by the ingestion of B. acidophilus.

Since the beneficial effects of B. acidophilusappear to depend upon a transformation of the intestinal flora, it follows that a mass inoculation is desirable. This means a maximum number of viable organisms per c.c. of pabulum. The usual recommendation on commercial preparations of fermented milk is that such milk be kept in a cool place preferably in the ice-box. Consequently, the influence of low temperature on the number of viable B. acidophilusin milk seemed worth investigating.The number of viable B. acidophilusin milk held in the icebox at about 97° C. was determined daily. The viable organisms were killed as follows: after 1 day—about 50 per cent.; after 2 days—about 75 per cent.; after 3 days about 90 per cent., etc. The obvious importance of having a large number of viable organisms is manifested in the necessity for increasing dosage in severe cases. In fact, it is likely that in cases reported as failures, a sufficient increase in the number of viable organisms administered might have resulted in success. The practice of ice-boxing B. acidophilushas little to recommend it beyond preserving the palatability of the culture and it is therefore more desirable to keep B. acidophilusat room temperature.A study was made of the influence of time and pressure in autoclaving milk, prior to inoculation with B. acidophilur, with respect to the growth of the organism. Milk was sterilized at 15 and 20 pounds pressure in the autoclave for different periods of time and inoculated with B. acidophilus. Subcultures were made from each set of flasks for 3 days on milk identically sterilized, thus obtaining acclimatization. On the basis of these comparative tests it was found that milk to be used for inoculation with B. acidophilus should be sterilized in the autoclave at 20 pounds pressure for 20 minutes, or at 15 pounds pressure for 20 to 30 minutes.

Having obtained relief from chronic constipation and diarrhea by treatment with milk fermented with B. Acidophilus, further studies are in progress to determine whether the essential nature of this phenomenon is physical, chemical or bacteriological.Subject to the limitations of the material under consideration the following points have been established:1. B. Acidophilustherapy is not a physical phenomenon since patients receiving sterile milk were not relieved of constipation.2. B. Acidophilustherapy apparently is not a strictly chemical phenomenon, since patients receiving B. Acidophilusmilk which had been pasteurized to kill all living forms, were not relieved of constipation.3. B. Acidophilustherapy appears to be essentially a bacteriological phenomenon, since patients were relieved of constipation by the ingestion of milk fermented by B. Acidophilus.4. Relief from chronic constipation has persisted for six months after the ingestion of B. Acidophilushas been discontinued.5. Viable B. Acidophilusorganisms in appreciable number have been recovered from the feces of patients six months after the ingestion of B. Acidophilusmilk.

The following method of Gram staining is based upon the satisfactory results obtained by the use of modifications devised by Burke and Atkins:1. Air dry a thinly spread film and fix with least amount of heat necessary to kill the organisms and fix them to the slide.2. Flood slide with dye solution. This is prepared by previously mixing in a beaker about 30 drops of a 1 per cent. aqueoussolution of methyl violet 6B (Coleman and Bell) with 8 drops of a 5 per cent. solution of sodium bicarbonate. Allow the mixture to remain on slide 5 minutes or more.3. Flush off the excess stain with the iodine solution and cover with fresh iodine solution for 2 minutes or longer. The iodine solution consists of 2 gm. iodine dissolved in 10 c.c. normal sodium hydroxide solution, to which is then added 90 c.c. of water.4. Drain off the excess iodine solution, without blotting (no water being used) but the film is not permitted to become dry.5. Add acetone (100 per cent.) drop by drop until no color is seen in the drippings from the slide, which is slightly tilted. This usually requires less than 10 seconds, and should be reduced to a minimum.6. Air dry the slide.7. Counter stain for 10-30 seconds with 0.1 per cent. aqueous solution of basic fuchsin.8. Wash off excess stain by short exposure to tap water and air dry. If slid'e is not dear, bmniersion in xylol is recommended.This method has yielded particularly good results in staining milk slides for Bacillus Acidophilusand in staining Eecal specimens. By this mcthod gonococci and diphtheria bacilli are particularly well differentiated and more easily identified than by the older methods.

A cooperative experiment was undertaken concerned with the direct cultivation of B. tuberculosisby the Loewenstein method from the blood of psychotic male patients at the Psychiatric Institute and Hospital.Seven cc. of blood were introduced aseptically into a tube containing 3 cc. of a 10% solution of sodium citrate, sealed and sent by parcel post to Vienna. Bloods from male physicians and male attendants were sent as controls. Triplicate specimens of blood were taken from each subject at the same time. All tubes were numbered serially in New York. Professor Loewenstein did not know that the specimens were in triplicate. Neither did he know the diagnoses of any patients, nor that control subjects were included.A careful physical examination of allpatients and subjects by Dr. M. M. Harris, Research Associate in Internal Medicine, failed to reveal any clinical signs of active tuberculosis. This was further confirmed by radiographic examination. Dr. L. E. Hinsie, Research Associate in Psychiatry, not only vouched for the psychiatric diagnoses but took all of the blood samples. We are privileged to acknowledge our indebtedness to them.Professor Loewenstein reported all of his findings before being informed of the diagnoses, etc. The results briefly summarized are as follows:Upon visiting Professor Loewenstein in his laboratory this summer after the findings were recorded, we found 13 cultures reported as macroscopically positive which had not yet been discarded. These were brought back to New York and guinea pigs were inoculated. (One culture was dried out.) All of the guinea pigs came down with tuberculosis within 5 weeks after inoculation. All showed strongly positive tuberculin tests, local lesions at the site of injection, gross evidence of tuberculosis in the inguinal glands, spleen and liver, and stained smears revealed typical acid-fast bacilli. Cultures from these organs yielded macroscopic growth in all cases. Histological examinations proved positive.

The treatment of general paralysis by inoculation with malaria has been employed for the past five years at the Psychiatric Institute.1More than 300 patients with general paralysis have been inoculated intravenously with a single strain of malaria which has been therapeutically effective. The present results are concerned with:1. A detailed microscopic study of the life-cycle of this parasite made by blood smears taken hourly from 4 patients inoculated with malaria about 3 years ago.2. The significant finding was the total absence of gametocytes (the sexual forms of the malarial parasite). This agrees with contentions of Gerstmann.2The asexual cycle of this strain of malaria is identical with the asexual cycle of “natural” malaria. From a biological point of view it is interesting to note that our malarial strain has apparently become “sterile”, which means that it has lost its capacity for sexual propagation. The absence of gametocytes would make it impossible to infect mosquitos, thus limiting the life-cycle to man alone. Incidentally, we have failed in our efforts to cultivate this strain of malaria in artificial media.3. A strain of malaria free from gametocytes is of considerable practical value in the treatment of general paralysis in that:(a) It eliminates the possibility of the transmission of malaria to other members of the community.(b) It precludes the occurrence of malarial relapse following adequate quinine administration.