ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS. 75

ON THE CONSTANT OCCURRENCE OF PATHOGENIC MICRO - ORGANISMS, AND SPECIALLY OF THE ROTHLAUF (SWINE ERYSIPELAS) BACILLUS IN THE TONSILS OF SWINE.

UNDER Olt's supervision Bauermeister examined the tonsils of more than 140

pigs with the object of detecting in them the presence of micro-organisms. He precedes the very full description of his investigations by remarks on the anatomical and histological structure of the soft palate and the tonsils. On carefully examining the gland secretions, Bauermeister found numerous sapro­phytic bacteria, but in addition several pathogenic forms, amongst them the bacilli of Rothlauf (swine erysipelas). In order to isolate the latter and to test their virulence, Bauermeister used the secretions from the tonsils to inoculate mice, rabbits, and pigeons. Attempts to cultivate the Rothlauf bacillus direct from the tonsils failed, as the other bacteria always" swamped" the growth.

In addition to the bacillus of Rothlauf, Bauermeister frequently found ovoid bacteria corresponding morphologically and culturally with the bacilli of swine plague as described by Lceffier, Schlitz, and Preisz. Their occurrence in the nasal mucus and in the mouth and the pharynx of healthy swine had already been recognised by Bang, Jensen, Kitt, and others. It is therefore scarcely remarkable that they should also be found in the pockets of the tonsils of the swine.

In addition to the above, the wide gland-ducts were very frequently found to contain pus bacteria, streptococci, and staphlycocci, as well as the bacterium coli communis, the bacillus of cedema, sarcin~, and other saprophytes.

After indicating the part played by the above-mentioned pathogenic micro­organisms in primary diseases of the tonsils, and the complications rendered pos­sible by the presence of the other saprophytic bacteria, Bauermeister closes his work with the following resume, representing the most important results of his in­vestlgationsregarding the Rothlaufbacillus. Bacteriological examination of the tonsillar secretion in 140 swine shows that this material always contains bacteria, particularly the Rothlauf bacillus. Certain tonsils which contained great numbers of the Rothlauf bacilli also exhibited a local disease apparently caused by this particular bacillus. It therefore seems possible that from such local centres the Rothlauf bacilli may pass into the lymph and blood circulation, and produce general disease and death. An apimal so infected can, in turn, infect the entire herd. This supplies an explanation for the sudden outbreak of Rothlauf in otherwise healthy stocks where no other method of infection appears possible.--(Archi~' fiir ZlJissen. und prakt. Thierheil., and Deutsche Thier. Wochen., No. 24, 1902.)

THE TREATMENT OF TETANUS BY INJECTIONS OF BRAIN EMULSION.

vV ASSERMANN has shown that brain emulsion acts on tetanus toxin by fixmg it, and that this action is limited to the cells. It'occurs, however, only after removal of the cells from the body. Fiebiger first worked" ith rabbit brains, but afterwards chiefly used the brains of lambs. The brain of a recently slaughtered Iamb is f\lbbed down with physiological salt solution in a glass vessel, using a glass pestle, and observing anti~eptic precautions. Fiebiger gives about one half litre of the emulsion. This is injected under the skin or panniculus.