Willard J. Stone

A NOTE ON THE PREPARATION OF BACTERIAL VACCINES

The work of Vaughan, his associates and others interested in protein poisons has established the relationship of these substances to local and general anaphylactic reactions. Some of the reactions following the injection of bacterial vaccines are undoubtedly due to extraneous medium proteins which have not been removed from the bacterial suspensions in the prevalent process of manufacture. Since in the preparation of bacterial vaccines we are concerned only with the immunizing properties of the cellular proteins, it should be our aim to reduce, so far as possible, the amount of extraneous proteins in the method employed. Most of the commonly employed mediums used for the growth of bacteria contain protein substances. When the bacterial growth is washed or scraped from the surface of an agarslant, or separated by centrifugation from a bouillon culture, the soluble excretory products of the bacteria, as well as soluble medium products are present in considerable

THE TECHNIC OF EXAMINATION FOR THE PALE SPIROCHETE BY DARK-FIELD ILLUMINATION

The Spirochœta pallida in syphilis, despite the fact that it can not be cultivated on artificial media and hence does not fulfill all the requirements of the four rules of Koch as regards its etiologic connection with the disease, has become during the past two or three years an organism of relatively great importance in biologic and bacteriologic literature. The organism has been found so constantly by most observers in all stages of syphilis, from the primary to the tertiary lesion, that practically all authorities are convinced of its definite etiologic relationship. Its recognition by the ordinary methods in vogue has been a more or less difficult and time-consuming procedure. In so prevalent and protean a disease as syphilis any means of improved examination leading to early diagnosis should be welcomed by those whose duties frequently make it necessary for them to decide as to the specific or non-specific nature

ROENTGEN RAY TREATMENT OF LEUKEMIA.REPORT OF CASE (MYELOGENOUS TYPE) WITH APPARENT IMPROVEMENT; DEATH; AUTOPSY.

In August, 1903, Senn1reported the apparent cure of a case of myelogenous leukemia under the influence of the Rontgen ray. This form of treatment was instituted after failure to better the patients condition by the drugs usually tried in this disease and when the case appeared hopeless. The blood findings in Senns case are not reported as fully as might be desired, but there can be little doubt that the patients condition was markedly bettered under the influence of the treatment. This was evidenced by the diminution in volume of the spleen, together with a decrease proportionately of myelocytes in the peripheral blood and a return of the polymorphonuclear elements to nearly the normal proportion. Senn2has also reported a case of lymphatic leukemia benefited underx-ray treatment. This case, together with an undoubted case of pseudoleukemia, judging from the clinical and blood findings, was reported under the title,