BRITISH CHEMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL ABSTRACTS

BRITISH CHEMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL ABSTRACTS
A., III.—Physiology and Biochemistry (including Anatomy)
OCTOBER, 1941.
cavernous tissue of th e inferior tu rb in ate can be divided into
3 m ain areas or pathw ays which are called A , B, and C.
Area A comprises th e anterior f of th e inferior tu rb in ate and
Omohyoid muscle in American Whites and Negroes. C. L.
Langsam (Amer. J . phys. Anthrop., 1941, 28, 249— 259).—■ th e atrium area m easuring a b o u t 2 cm. in length. Area B
occupies th e middle J of th e inferior tu rb in ate and area C,
The muscle was studied in a series of 73 American W hite and
th e posterior f of th e turbinate. Thus, clinically a posterior
85 American Negro cadavers. The muscle was present and
had an interm ediate tendon in 90%. A com plete and con­ tu rb in ate tip application will have a m arked effect on th e
cavernous tissue in area A , b u t area B m ay be little or not
stricted interm ediate tendon occurred in 46%. In 11% th e
a t all affected. The reverse, however, is n o t true. E xternal
tendinous intersection was incom plete and n o t constricted.
stim uli such as th e inspiratory air current do n o t necessarily
The scapular attach m en t was to th e superior border aw ay
affect all th e pathw ays of th e inferior tu rb in ate system
from th e transverse scapular ligam ent in 40% , adjacent to
equally or synchronously. A m arked shrinking effect is
the ligam ent in 38%, p a rtly to th e ligam ent and p a rtly to the
produced on area A b y contraction of area C. I t m ay be
superior border in 19%, and entirely to th e ligam ent in 3%.
Details of th e nerve supply of th e muscle are given. No signi­ considered in th e n atu re of a reserve power w hich can be
exerted on area A . H ypertrophy of th e posterior tip there­
ficant racial, sex, or side differences were observed.
fore m ay indicate overstrain of cavernous tissue in area A
W. F. H.
w hich is probably a more direct and p o ten t cause of this hyper­
Parietal coverings and related structures in indirect inguinal
tro p h y th a n th e irritation resulting from nasal discharge over
hernia in male. F. L. Ashley and B. J. Anson (Quart. Bull.
th e surface of th e posterior tip.
C. J. C. B.
Northwest. Univ. M ed. School, 1941, 15, 114— 121).—The
contribution from th e external oblique consists of th e con­
Crossopterygian hyomandibular and brain case. A. S.
joined fasciae which invest th e external oblique aponeurosis.
Rom er (J. M orph., 1941, 69, 141— 160).—A description of the
Fused into a single layer betw een superior and inferior
hyom andibular in th e fossil Megaichthys nitidus w hich is
column of th e aponeurosis, it forms th e external sperm atic
characterised b y th e possession of (1) an opercular process,
fascia; th is layer is readily dissected from th e deep layer of
(2) a canal for th e facial nerve, and (3) a double articulation
superficial scrotal fascia and from th e scrotal prolongation of w ith th e brain case. I t is suggested th a t in elasmobranchs
the internal oblique. The crem asteric layer from th e internal
th e v entral articulation has persisted, in actinopterygians,
oblique arises from a local area of th e musculo-aponeurotic
th e dorsal. The foot piece of th e stapes in tetrapods pre­
s tra tu m ; scattered muscle fascicles are seen in its su b stan ce; sum ably represents th e v en tral portion. On th e basis of
it is predom inantly fascial. The internal sperm atic fascia is
skull structure it is indicated th a t th e Crossopterygii and th e
situated betw een th e transversus m usculature superiorly and
A ctinopterygii are more closely related to each other th a n
th e iliopsoas fascia inferiorly; tissue descends on th e cord
either are to th e Elasm obranchii and th e nam e Choanichthyes
from th e mid portion of th is fascial stru c tu re ; th e layer repre­ is suggested for them , th e tw o form ing a n atu ral group of
sents a fusion of th e th in outer lam ina of investing fascia and
relatives of th e prim itive tetrapods.
J. D. B.
the thicker inner transversalis fascia. The peritoneal sac
Morphogenesis
of
gonopodium
in
Gambusia
affinis.
C. L.
passes through th e wall directly. I t is in con tact m edially
T urner (J. Morph., 1941, 69, 161— 185).—A detailed descrip­
and caudally w ith a displaced inferior epigastric a rte iy which
tio n of th e gonopodium in th e male of th is poeciliid fish w ith
is situated behind th e rectus m u scle; there is no trian g u lar
an account of its origin b y a m etam orphosis of th e anal fins.
space of Hesselbach. In com pany w ith th e inferior epigastric
T he m etam orphosis appears to be under th e p artial control
vessels on the floor of th e abdom inal ostium are th e iliac
of sex hormones.
J. D. B.
a rtery and vein, an anom alous o b tu ra to r artery , th e ductus
Structure and evolution of holostean fishes. D. H. R ayner
deferens, the internal sperm atic vessels, and iliac lym ph
(Biol. Rev., 1941, 16, 218— 237).—A review.
J. D. B.
glands.
A. S.
Form and function in sloth. W . S. B ritto n (Quart. Rev.
External jugular vein in American Whites and Negroes. S.
Biol., 1941, 16, 190—207).— A review.
J. D. B.
Brown (Amer. J . phys. Anthrop., 1941, 28, 213— 226).—The
Factors involved in bone absorption. I. Effect of sub­
posterior auricular vein was th e m ost common vein of origin
cutaneous transplantation of bones of grey-lethal house mouse
(68% of cases); th e posterior facial vein in 46%. D etails of
into normal hosts and of normal bones into grey-lethal hosts.
the course of th e vein and of th e incidence of its term ination
N. A. B arnicot (Amer. J . A nat., 1941, 68, 497— 531).— Bones
in the subclavian or internal jugular vein are given. T otal
from grey-lethal anim als were tran sp lan ted into norm al litter
absence of th e vein w as rare. No const, differences were
m ates and allowed to rem ain for 7— 14 days. Control and
observed in males and females. V ariations in origin and
reverse tran sp lan ts were also perform ed and examined over
term ination were more frequent in Negroes th a n in W hites.
th e same period.
G rey-lethal bones in to norm al hosts
W . F. H.
sometimes acquire a stru ctu re approxim ating to th a t of nor­
Coeliaco-mesenteric trunk with unique distribution and
mal. G rey-lethal bones in to grey-lethal ho sts retain th eir
anastomoses. R. S. Munger (Anat. Rec., 1941, 80, 55— 59).—
structure. N orm al bones in to grey-lethal hosts occasionally
The tru n k was of th e “ com plete " v ariety. The splenic,
a tta in a stru ctu re sim ilar to grey-lethal. M ost tran sp lan ts
hepatic, and left gastric arteries arose from a common stem
after 7— 8 days show th a t cartilage continues to differentiate
(coeliac artery) and th e la tte r and th e superior mesenteric
and th a t cortical bone advances. All cells of th e marrow
artery branched from a common stem , th e coeliaco-mesenteric
cavity degenerate except for a few reticular cells. W hen th e
trunk. In addition a common stem for th e inferior phrenic
tra
n sp la n t becomes vascularised necrotic cells are removed
arteries and a supernum erary arte ry arose from th e trunk.
b y macrophages, proliferation of reticular cells occurs, and
The distribution and anastom oses of these branches w ith
osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and hiemopoietic m arrow reappear.
special reference to pancreas and duodenum are described.
The processes described are believed to be due to th e action
W. F. H.
of h o st tissue fluids on th e cells of th e tran sp lan t. F ailure of
Clinical study of inferior turbinate cavernous tissu e ; its
bone absorption in grey-lethal anim als is considered to be
divisions and their significance. H . H . B urnham (Canad.
due to th e lack of some factor extrinsic to th e bones and
Med. Assoc. J ., 1941, 44, 477— 481).— A natom ically th e
718
717 l (a., hi.)
I.-G EN ER A L ANATOM Y AND M ORPHOLOGY.
719
A., III.—ii, DESCRIPTIVE AND EXPERIMENTAL EMBRYOLOGY.
possibly carried in the blood stream . Bone defects in th e
grey-lethal mouse are probably n o t due to a genetically
determ ined incapacity to differentiate bone-destroying cells.
W . F. H.
Widespread subcutaneous calcifications in connective tissue
of leg. G . Moberg (Aeta. Radiol., Stockh., 1939, 20, 150— 169).
— 5 cases are described showing extensive calcification in th e
cutis and subcutis of th e leg. T he skin showed degenerative
changes such as atrophy, oedema, throm bophlebitis, and
ulceration.
W. F. F.
Rare malformation of the vascular system as cause of attacks
of asphyxia. W . Koch (Arch. Kinderheilk., 1939, 116, 63—
65).-—-Post-m ortem of a child suffering from a tta c k s of
asphyxia revealed a second rudim entary aortic arch betw een
th e oesophagus and th e trachea, w hich opened in to th e ao rta.
T his compressed th e trachea during swallowing.
M. K .
Teras anadidymus. M. G. P o tte r (N . Y . Sta. J . M ed., 1941,
41, 492).— A utopsy of a tw o-headed fem ale baby weighing
14 lb. revealed in addition tw o spinal columns, tw o pairs of
lungs, tw o h earts enclosed w ithin one pericardium , tw o
oesophagi, tw o stom achs, tw o livers an d gall bladders, tw o
spleens, and tw o duodénum s w hich fused to g eth er in to one
intestinal tra c t ; pancreas and pelvic organs were also single.
One set of organs was m uch b e tte r developed th a n th e other.
E . M. J.
Recklinghausen’s disease in identical twins. E . L. I.oftis
(Arch. Dermal. Syphilol., 1940, 42, 657).— A case report.
C. J . C. B.
Imperforate hymen causing hydrocolpos, hydroureter, and
hydronephrosis. C. K ereszturi (Amer. J . D is. Child., 1940,
59, 1290— 1297).— A case is reported in w hich an im perforate
hym en caused hydrocolpos in early infancy, an d th is in turn,
through pressure on the urinary tra c t, led to bilateral hy d ro ­
u reter and hydronephrosis.
C. J . C. B.
Congenital external and internal anomalies in foal. T . T.
D avid and J . A. Solis (Philippine J . Sci., 1941, 74. 231— 243).
— A 3-day-old female foal is described in w hich there were
absence of th e fore limbs, external herm aphroditism , persist­
ence of cloaca, im perforate anus, and m ultiple vertebral
anomalies. The abnorm alities are a ttrib u te d to fau lty
im plantation of th e ovum.
J . D. B.
II.—DESCRIPTIVE AND EXPERIMENTAL EM BRYOLOGY.
HEREDITY.
Foetal swallowing, gastro-intestinal activity, and defæcation
in amnio. R. F . Becker, W . F . W indle, E . E . B arth, and
M. D. Schulz (Surg. Gynec. Obst., 1940, 70, 603— 614).—The
guinea-pig fcetus begins to swallow am niotic fluid ab o u t th e
42nd day of gestation. T he rap id ity w ith w hich th o ro tra st
injected into th e am niotic sac reaches th e stom ach and
passes along th e intestinal tr a c t increases w ith th e age of th e
foetus. A t ab o u t th e 6 th d a y defæcation norm ally begins
to occur. The cycle of swallowing, defæcation, and reswallow­
ing of th e Th-im pregnated m econium m ay be repeated several
tim es before birth.
F . F. R.
Development of venous sinus of human heart. V. N.
Shedenov (Compt. rend. Acad. Sci. U .R .S .S ., 1940, 29, 514—
518).— The process of developm ent of th e venous sinus area
of th e h um an h e a rt is sp. to h um an species.
M. K.
Germ cells of rabbit from sex differentiation to maturity.
K. L. D uke (J. M orph., 1941, 69, 51— SI).— The descriptions
are based on th e study of th e ovaries of 17-, 22-, and 27-day
embryos and on a closely graded series of po st-n atal specimens
extending to 138 days a fter b irth . The observations indicate
continuous, or a t least periodic, activ ity of th e germ inal
epithelium in producing new ova up to th e tim e of sexual
m atu rity in th e rab b it. I t is suggested th a t th e th e o ry of
follicular stab ility should be abandoned in favour of a con­
cep t of th e follicle as a tem porary stru ctu re and th e ova are
to be regarded as, w ith the exception of th e blood cells, the
shortest-lived cells in the body.
J. D. B.
Changes in content of iodine compounds and in histological
structure of the thyroid gland of the pig during fœtal life.
R. M. R ankin (Anat. Rec., 1941, 80, 123— 135).— I in th e
water-sol. (inorg.) form w as detected in th e thyro id gland a t
a foetal age of 46— 50 days and th yroxine an d di-iodotyrosine
a t 52 days. A t th e beginning of function only a m inute
HEREDITY.
720
am o u n t of org. I w as detected. W hen org. I compounds
become prom inent, acini and colloid appeared. Correlation
of chemical and histological findings showed th a t th e onset
of function of th e th y ro id is preceded b y a g reat increase in
th e v ascularity of th e gland.
W. F. H.
Normal and abnormal detachment of body and gut from the
blastoderm in the chick embryo. P. Gruenwald ( /. Morph.,
1941, 69, 83— 125).— A stu d y of th e developm ent of th e head
and tail folds in norm al and abnorm al chick em bryos of the
2nd an d 3rd days of incubation. I t is concluded th a t detach­
m ent of th e head from th e blastoderm is brought a b o u t by
an influence of th e growing b rain ra th e r th a n b y independent
head fold form ation. Presence of a detached foregut is a
necessary prerequisite for head detachm ent. The foregut
depends very little on th e condition of surrounding structures
and develops norm ally when there is no m echanical obstruc­
tion. D etachm ent of th e posterior end of th e body seems to
depend on grow th of th e tru n k -ta il node in a sim ilar w ay as
head d etachm ent is dependent on b rain developm ent. The
allantois appears as an outpocketing of th e endoderm into
th e m esoderm of th e blastoderm before th e hin d g u t h as begun
to develop. A t th is stage it is a diverticulum of th e yolk sac,
sim ilar to th e condition in early hum an em bryos. Such
anom alies of developm ent as p latyneuria, om phalocephaly,
and ourentery are interpreted in term s of these observations.
J . D B.
Influence of somites on differentiation and direction of nerves
in chick embryo cultures. J. Szepsenwol (Rev. Soc. argent.
Biol., 1940, 16, 608— 615).— F ragm ents of spinal cord from
1— 2-day-old chick em bryos were cultured in vitro a fte r the
som ites h ad been rem oved from one side. T h e developm ent
w as asym m etrical, th e side w ith som ites having more neur­
ones th a n th e other. T his asym m etry w as more pronounced
in 24— 40-hr. em bryos th a n in 48-lir. ones. In th e mesen­
cephalic vesicle it w as only slightly app aren t. Only on the
side w ith som ites were m otor an d sensory nerves seen.
Somites have an inductive action on differentiation an d an
a ttrac tiv e action on th e nerves.
J . T. L.
First neurofibrillar differentiation in chick embryo studied
in vitro. J. Szepsenwol (Rev. Soc. argent. Biol., 1940, 16,
571— 580).—The head anlage of 15— 20-hr. chick embryo
develops norm ally in vitro. The neural p late form s groove
and tu b e and, later, th e th ree cerebral vesicles an d th e optic
vesicle. An invagination of th e ectoderm form s th e auditory
vesicles. T he neural crest gives rise to th ree pairs of cranial
ganglia. A fter 2— 3 days th e rhom bencephalic vesicle and
th e ganglia are differentiated. In th e m esencephalon and
prosencephalon cells w ith a neurofibrillar n e t ap p ear only
a fte r 4r—5 days. The capacity for autodifferentiation is
present in th e rhom bencephalon and ganglia a t a v ery early
sta g e ; th e an terio r an d middle vesicles only acquire it between
30 an d 40 hr. of incubation.
J . T . L.
Course of radicular and fascicular nerve fibres in chick em­
bryo cultures. J. Szepsenwol (Rev. Soc. argent. Biol., 1941,
16, 589— 597).— E x p lan ts of spinal cord and som ites from
24-—48-hr.-old chick em bryos developed norm ally in vitro',
peripheral nerves an d longitudinal fibre tra c ts were form ed;
when th e som ites were n o t explanted no differentiation oc­
curred. E x p lan ts from 40— 48-hr.-old em bryos showed a
disorderly developm ent of nerve fibres. The posterior cerebral
vesicle from 24— 48-hr. em bryos behaved in cultures like
th e spinal c o rd ; th e middle vesicle showed slight differenti­
atio n and th e an terio r vesicle did n o t form fibre trac ts. These
facts indicate th e existence of an influence of th e som ites on
nerve an d tr a c t developm ent.
J. T. L.
Temperature coefficients of enzymes during development of
chick embryo. E . V. K olobkova (Biochimia, 1939, 4, 295—
302).— D uring developm ent of th e em bryo, th e a c tiv ity of the
enzymes increases, especially during th e la st period, w hilst
th e tem p, coeffs. of all th e enzymes decrease especially
betw een th e 6 th an d 15th day, a fte r w hich th ere is only a
slight decrease.
J. N. A.
Vitamin-C in chick embryo. S. Suzuki (J. Orient. Med.,
1939, 30, 282— 284).— Eggs were incubated for 2— 10 days.
T o tal vitam ic co n ten t of th e organs increases w ith the
days of in c u b a tio n ; th e ra te of -C increase is m ost pronounced
in th e liver, b u t to ta l -C is highest in brain, p articu larly in
th e early stage of incubation.
M. K.
721
A., III.— ii i , PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY,
iv, CYTOLOGY, HISTOLOGY, ETC.
722
presen t in all specimens increases in size an d becomes a
Carbohydrate metabolism of chick embryo. A. J. D alton
striking feature of th e fissuration. The inferior frontal
and R . F . H anzal (Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol. M ed., 1940, 45, 278—
convolution is m ore developed on th e left side an d th e m id281).—T hyroxine, or adrenal cortical e x tract, decreases liverfro n tal on th e right. The g reater developm ent of th e la tte r
glycogen in 8-day chick em bryos. A drenaline has no effect;
on th e rig h t association area m ay have an im p o rtan t physio­
anterior p itu itary ex tract increases liver- an d muscle-glycogen
and blood-sugar; insulin increases liver-glycogen and de­ logical bearing. Some degree of correlation betw een brain
w t. an d fissuration w as noted. Comparison w ith th e brains
creases blood-sugar. Injection of glucose does n o t prev en t
of W hites (German) is m ade b u t from th e fissuration of th e
th e disappearance of glycogen from livers of 12-day em bryos.
fro n tal lobes alone th ere is no sp. character to distinguish th e
V. J. W .
tw o races.
W. F. H .
Modifications in development of Sand Dollar by sodium
thiocyanate. O. R ulon (Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol. M ed .,.1940, 45,
Sulcal pattern of the Chinese brain. T. K. Chi an d C. Chang
23— 25).— U nfertilised eggs placed in 20 c.c. of a 0-54M-NaCNS
(Amer. J . phys. Anthrop., 1941, 28, 167— 211).— In m ore th a n
solution + 100 c.c. of Ca-free sea-w ater for 12 hr.
half of th e 100 ad u lt hem ispheres stu d ied th e u p p er end of
develop in ab o u t 35% in to form s show ing ectoderm only.
th e central sulcus sta rte d on th e m edial surface. The lower
W ith higher concns. or exposure periods th is % is decreased.
end joined th e Sylvian fissure in only 9 cases. The R olandic
Fertilised eggs treated in th is w ay showed a decrease of ecto­
angle varied from a m ax. of 75° to a min. of 55°. The high
derm . I t is suggested th a t th e changes in th e unfertilised
% of th e presence of th e lunate sulcus and its more frequent
eggs resu lt from recovery following differential inhibition.
occurrence on th e le ft side are-confirm ed. The relationship
V. J. W .
of th e lu n ate sulcus w ith th e transverse p arietal sulcus is of
Cytology and early development of egg of Drosophila. M.
th e ateloid type. In th e operculated ty p e of lu n ate sulcus
R abinow itz (J. M orph., 1941, 69, I— 49).— A m ethod for
th e b an d of G ennari does n o t reach th e m argin of th e lip of
obtaining eggs of D. melanogaster of known ages is described.
th e sulcus. A hook-forni calcarine fissure is of frequent
W ith th e use of th is m ethod tim e tables for th e early develop­
occurrence. The an terio r calcarine fissure is n o t continued
m ent, extending from th e second m atu ratio n division to th e
in to th e hippocam pal fissure. The occurrence of th e tra n s­
th ird blastom ere karyokinesis, have been constructed for
verse basilar sulcus is infrequent and therefore can n o t be
eggs incubated a t 24°, 29°, and 30° c. A tim e ta b le fo r th e
regarded as a racial ch aracteristic of th e Chinese brain.
developm ent of th e egg a t 25° from blastoderm form ation to
W. F. H.
th e stage a t w hich th e amnio-proctod;cl invagination is deep
has also been draw n up. T he average ra te of m itosis of th e
cleavage nuclei and of th e blastom ere nuclei h as been estim ­
IV .-C Y T O L O G Y , H ISTO LOGY, AND TISSUE
ated. T he ra te is greater a t 29° an d 30° th a n i t is in eggs
CULTURE.
incubated a t 24°. T he average tim e for one m itosis a t all _
th ree tem p, w as 9-1 m in. T h e d u ratio n of th e different
Cytology of human uterine glands in gravid and non-gravid
stages of m itosis of th e cleavage an d blastom ere nuclei was
phases, o . E . A ykroyd an d J . B. G aten b y (Quart. J . M icr.
also determ ined.
J. D . B.
Sci., 1941, 82, 541— 562).— A description of th e cytology of
th e endom etrium based on th e stu d y of m aterial from 38 nonEffect of X-rays on germ cells of Chorthippus longicornis.
gravid an d 3 early gravid uteri. T he m aterial was obtained
M. Creighton an d B. H. E vans J . M orph., 1941, 69, 187— 205).
p a rtly b y cu rettag e and p a rtly from cases of hysterectom y.
— B y th e use of relatively high dosage (3000 r. a t a n in ten sity
A oyam a's fluid w as used as th e ro u tin e fixative. Cell types,
of approx. 90 r. per min.) inhibition of m itosis resulted in th e
Golgi ap p aratu s, glycogen, fat, an d m ucin co n ten t were all
testis of th is orthopteran. T h e in hibition w as com parable
studied. A fter m enstruation th e basalis region of th e glands
w ith th a t found by other w orkers in o th e r anim al m aterial.
alone persists. The colum nar cells discharge m ost of th e ir
Because of the conditions concom itant w ith meiosis and tra n s­
g ran u lar contents and th e Golgi ap p a ra tu s loosens o u t and
form ation of th e sperm atids, however, th e in h ib ito ry effect of
breaks up. T he post-m enstrual cells are cubical, w ith a Golgi
th e X -rays m anifests itself in a peculiar w ay a n d results in
ap p a ra tu s consisting of a few granules arranged in a line.
th e form ation of g ian t sperm atids. T he inhibition is effective
In th e proliferative phase th e Golgi a p p aratu s grows in to a
in p reventing cells from entering prophase and, as a result
of th e inhibition of division, p rim ary and.secondary sperm ato­ characteristic n e t and th e cells become colum nar. In th e
cytes begin to differentiate directly into sperm atozoa, form ­ pregravid phase th e cells become cubical, th e Golgi ap p a ra tu s
spreads, and a m arked aggregation of fa t and glycogen appears
ing th e g iant sperm atids. Because of this transform ation it
is concluded th a t th e capacity to differentiate into sp erm ato ­ a t th e in n er pole of each cell. If pregnancy supervenes th e
cells secrete num erous ovoid (protein) granules a t th e ir o u ter
zoa is independent of th e m atu ratio n divisions.
J. D . B.
poles. The presence of th ese granules in an y specim en of
W olf-dog genetics. N. A. Iljin ( / . Genet., 1941, 42, 359—
curettege reveals th a t it has been recovered from a case of
in te rru p te d pregnancy. E xceptions to th is m ig h t be th o se
414).— Dog and wolf can be readily crossed an d th e hybrids
are fully fertile. H a ir and eye colour, ear form, and various
w hich are know n to hold for th e Z ondek-A schheim te st. The
skull characters show typical Mendelian segregation. E v id ­
u terine glands contain only one ty p e of secretory cell w hich
ence was also obtained for segregation in certain physiological
m a y be ciliated or non-ciliated. 'I he u terine glands show a
peculiarities such as season of ru t an d nervous disposition.
greater degree of cell a c tiv ity th a n a n y o th er organ in th e
m am m alian body.
J. D. B.
E nvironm ental influences affect some craniological characters,
th e form of th e ta il, and th e general ex tern al appearance.
Microscopical studies on cells ol Gasserian ganglion of man.
The b a rk of th e dog, a purely m odificatory ch aracter, is
K. Y am ashita (J. Orient. M ed., 1939, 30, 117— 119). M. K.
readily acquired b y th e wolf. The d u ratio n of pregnancy,
the blind period in th e young, th e order of appearance of m ilk
Aberrant mucosa in oesophagus in infants and children.
teeth, and th e m oulting phenom ena are id entical in both.
L. E . R ecto r an d M. L. Connerley (Arch. Path., 1941, 31,
This close sim ilarity in genetical co n stitu tio n suggests th e
285— 294).— Of 1000 in fan ts and children, 118 were found a t
possibility of th e origin of th e different races of Canis
auto p sy to have some ty p e of ab erran t m ucosa in th e oeso­
fam iliaris from a single wild species, viz., C. lupus. W . F. H .
ph ag u s; 78 h ad e ith er gastric mucosa w ith p a rie ta l cells or
gastric m ucosa w ith o u t p arie tal cells or both. In 42 super­
ficial ciliated epithelium w as d e m o n stra te d ; m ost of these
III.—PHYSICAL A NTH R O PO LO G Y.
were prem atu re infants, all of w hom died on o r before th e
3rd d ay of life. Inflam m ation, w ith and w ith o u t ulceration,
Fissural pattern in brain of Negroes and Whites. The
w as frequently presen t in th e a b e rra n t gastric mucosa. (4
frontal lobes. C. J . Connolly (Amer. J . phys. A nthrop., 1941,
photom icrographs.)
C. J . C. B.
28, 133— 165).— T he sulcus subfrontalis (Kappers) is derived
from th e external orbital during expansion of th e cortex.
Mitotic activity in pituitary of white rat following castration.
G. R . P om erat (Amer. J . A nat:, 1941, 69, 89— 121).— Follow­
The sequence in th e appearance of th e sulci around th e orb ital
ing th e ad m in istratio n of colchicine in doses of 1 mg. p e r kg.
operculum is correlated w ith th e developm ent of th e frontal
of body-w t. num erous m itoses were observed in th e pars
lobe. The rig h t S ylvian fissure exhibits m ost com m only a
an terio r of th e p itu ita ry of control an d c a stra te m ale rats.
single an terio r ram us while on th e le ft side tw o an terio r ram i
In th e pars interm edia and p ars nervosa m ito tic figures are
are more frequent. The la tte r condition in th e sm aller brains
less frequent. T he chrom ophobe cells are th e m ost sensitive
is often accom panied b y exposure of th e insula. W ith th e
to colchicine, th e ^acidophils and basophils being less affected.
expansion of th e cortex th e m id fro n tal sulcus w hich was
723
A., III.—v, BLOOD AND LYMPH.
In castrated anim als th e m itotic a c tiv ity in th e basophil
cells of th e p ars anterior increases w ith th e in terv al between
castration and autopsy. As a result of castration th e no. of
dividing acidophils does n o t a lter appreciably while th e ra te
of m itosis am ong chrom ophobes is reduced. The increased
no. of basophils appearing a fte r castratio n is due to mitosis
of basophils alone.
W . F. H .
Sex hormones and basophilic granulation oi liver cells in
rat. V. K orenchevsky ( /. Path. B a d ., 1941, 52, 341— 347).
— The basophil granules (Berg’s stalagm oids) are very strik ­
ing in th e liver cells of th e ra t. T hey are decreased in no.
and often in size in gonadectom ised rats, an d show a retu rn
to norm al when the ra ts are injected w ith sex hormones.
These changes corresponded w ith th e changes in w t. and
size of th e liver.
C. J . C. B.
Growth oi adepidermal xnelanophore network of Discoglossus pictis. H . Elias (J. M orph., 1941, 69, 127— 140).—
T he form ation of th is netw ork in living tadpoles is governed
b y tractio n and adhesion forces, acting b o th betw een th e
elem ents of th e netw ork and betw een th e netw ork and th e
epiderm is. The epiderm is, although it does n o t a c tiv ate th e
developm ent of th e netw ork, regulates it. The melanophores
grow actively in length as long as th e y term in ate freely.
F rom th e m om ent of co n tac t w ith a cell of some kind th e
grow th in length ceases and grow th in thickness begins.
J. D. B.
Young reticulated argentophilic form of epithelioid tubercle.
D. Sym m ers (Arch. Path., 1941, 31, 304— 316).— A special
ty p e of epithelioid tubercle is described, w hich is circumscribed
an d centrally reticulated b y argentophilic fibers. In its
interstices are relatively scan ty nos. of u n attach ed epithelioid
cells. (9 photom icrographs.)
C. J . C. B.
Postrhagadic scars. E. A. Strakosch and L. M. Nelson
(Arch. Dermal. Syphilol., 1941, 43, 664— 671).—The lesions,
although th ey app ear scarlike, are in reality a tro p h y of the
elastic tissue and n o t tru e s c a rs; th e y belong in th e group of
secondary atrophic conditions of th e skin.
C. J . C. B.
Antigenic properties of living tissue cells. B. Sigurdsson
(Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. Med.., 1940, 45, 237— 242).— R ab b its
im m unised w ith minced chick em bryo develop an antiserum
w hich inhibits grow th of chick h ea rt cultures. T his a n ti­
body can be absorbed by m inced em bryo a fte r prolonged
w ashing w ith saline or keeping for 10—-15 days, or by
haemolysed red cells. The absorptive pow er of minced em ­
bryo is lost in 30 m in. a t 56° o r in 5 days a t 39°. V. J . W.
[Histological] method for investigation oi peroxidase in
tissues. R. E . Mancini an d R. C elani-Barry (Rev. Soc. argent.
Biol., 1940, 16, 616— 626).— Small pieces of tissues, 2— 3 mm.
thick, im m ediately a fte r extraction were treated successively
w ith N H , m olybdate, oxygenated benzidine, and B ouin’s
fluid. T hey were m ounted in paraffin and a fte r section were
coloured w ith h em atoxylin. The granules were fixed and
could be easily visualised. The m ethod is sp. and can be
applied to an y tissue.
J . T. L.
Silver impregnation technique for cerebral cortex histology.
E . L andau (Schweiz, nied. Wschr., 1940, 70, 1273— 1276).—
The A g-im pregnation technique, modified by th e author,
gives satisfactory staining especially of th e cortical neuronbrils.
A. S.
Observations with differential stains on human islets of
Langerhans. G. Gomori (Anier. J . Path., 1941, 17, 395—
405).—The cellular com position of th e pancreatic islets in
norm al hum an m aterial showed a wide v ariation. T he j3 : a
ratio varied from 3 : 1 to 8 : 1. D cells con stitu ted 2— 8% of
all islet cells. B oth a and D cells are found in relationship
to th e acini as well as in th e epithelium of ducts. No tra n s­
itions betw een acini and islets, or betw een th e cell ty p es /3 and
a, were observed. All interm ediate stages betw een a and D
cells could be dem onstrated. (16 photom icrographs.)
C. J. C. B.
Mordant for preparing formaldehyde-fixed neuraxis tissue
for phosphotungstic acid hsematoxylin staining. J. P. Mullen
and J . C. M cCarter (Amer. J . Path., 1941, 17, 2S9— 291).—
T he m ordant w as Cr chloride.
C. J . C. B.
V .-B L O O D AND LYMPH.
Simplification of blood examination. \V. F . H arvey
(Edinb. Med.
1941, [iy], 48, 505— 519).— A plea for, and
724
description of, simple m ethods of haematological exam ination
of finger-prick blood.
H . S.
Blood cells of normal guinea-pigs. E . S. K ing and M.
Lucas (J. Lab. clin. M ed., 1941, 26, 1364— 1365).— Blood
exam inations were m ade daily in 9 h ealth y guinea-pigs on a
full d iet for 18— 21 days. W ide variatio n in th e w hite
blood cell count w as noted from d ay to d ay w ith m oderate
to m arked v ariation in th e different ty p es of w hite blood
cells. T he red blood cell co u n t rem ained fixed w ithin a
narrow range. N orm al averages found w e re : red blood
cells 5-1 million, w hite cells 17,400, neutrophils 31% , lym pho­
cytes 63%, m onocytes 2% , eosinophils 3-5%, and basophils
0-2% .
'
C. J . C. B.
Red blood cell count by photomicrography. E. L ida and I.
Goldberg (Rev. Soc. argent. Biol., 1940, 16, 523— 527).—The
b o tto m of th e counting cham ber w as focussed an d a photo­
m icrograph tak en . The significance of th e im ages obtained
is discussed. The advantages of th e m ethod are pointed out.
J. T. L.
Effect of light on vertebrate red blood cells. W . Meyerstein
(J. Physiol., 1941, 99, 5 i0 — 514).— Haemolysis is produced by
light (visible region). T his sensitivity is sm all w ith the
nucleated cells of hens a n d frogs. Cells of th e guinea-pig,
rab b it, ra t, dog, ox, and horse have a high sensitivity to hght
w hile those of m an, c at, an d m onkey have g reater resistance
to haemolysis b y light. T he red cells of th e pig occupy an
interm ed iate position. T he a lteratio n is in th e red cell, not
in th e plasm a, an d is n o t concerned w ith osm otic resistance.
J. A. C.
Transfer of potassium across human blood cell membrane.
T. S. Danowski (J. Biol. Chem., 1941, 139, 693— 705).— At
7°, K ' passes from th e cells into th e serum for a t least 48 hr.,
w hilst a t 37° it enters th e cells fo r 5 hr., a fte r w hich the
tran sfer i s reversed an d cell. vol. increases. T his reversal
m arks th e p o in t a t w hich glucose in th e cells is exhausted
an d breakdow n of phosphoric esters begins. W hen glycolysis
is inhibited b y F ', th e initial e n try o f K ' in to th e cells does
n o t ta k e place.
P . G. M.
Haemoglobin concentration in blood of adults in Buenos
Aires. L. A. Meccheri (Rev. Soc. argent. Biol., 1940, 16,
537— 543).— Haemoglobin concns. determ ined b y th e ferrom etric m ethod were : men (227) 15-41 ±0-38 g .; women (132)
13-82^0-14 g. Age h ad no influence in men up to 45 years;
late r there is a slight decrease. In women a n increase from
13-6±0-06 g. a t 16— 25 y ears to 14-28±0-08 g. a t 36— 45
y ears w as observed. T here w as no correlation w ith bodyw t. in m en an d an increase w ith body-w t. in women. Income
h ad no influence except w hen it fell below a crit. level a t
w hich a decrease occurred.
J. T . L.
Haemoglobin level of cows and sheep. W . M. A llcroft (J.
Agric. Sci., 1941, 31, 320— 325).— Blood-haemoglobin in
h ealth y cows an d sheep varies betw een 8 an d 17% (mean
11-5%), 9-5— 13-5 being considered norm al. Vais, are low
in chronic ketosis in cows (down to 6% ), and in " pining " of
sheep (down to 3-2%), b u ta r e n o t specifically affected b y milk
fever or grass te ta n y in cows or by pregnancy toxaem ia-in
ewes.
R.L . E.
Physiological nature of hybrid vigour in animals [blood
count and haemoglobin], H . F. K uschner (Compt. rend.
Acad. Sci. U .R .S .S ., 1941, 3 0 ,175— 177).— H ybrid cow s-yaks,
d rom edaries-bactrian camels, m ules, and h y b rid rab b its have
higher ery th ro cy te counts and ha:moglobin concns. th an
eith er p aren t.
J . L. D.
Hsem-globm linkage of haemoglobin. HI. Analysis of
carbon monoxide product. Pancreatic digestion of several
forms of haemoglobin. W . F. Ross and R. B. T urner (J. Biol.
Chem., 1941, 139, 603— 610; cf. A., 1939, II I, 229).— The
acid-precipitable p ro d u ct of pancreatic hydrolysis of COhaemoglobin has a variable F e/N ratio and is n o t a low-mole­
cular peptide. CO-haemoglobin is m ore slowly digested by
p an creatin th a n o th er forms of haemoglobin, b u t does
n o t in h ib it th e action of th e enzyme. T he order of digestion
b y pan creatin is globin > methaemoglobin > oxyhaemoglobin
> reduced haemoglobin > CO-haemoglobin. T he stru c tu re of
CO-haemoglobin is briefly discussed.
R. L. E.
Phosphorus exchange in phytate, lipins, and nucleoproteins
in erythrocytes of geese. S. R apoport, E. Leva, an d G. M.
G uest (J. Biol. Chem., 1941, 139, ,633— 639).— U nder aerobic
725
A., III.—V, BLOOD AND LYMPH.
conditions there is a slow turn o v er of p h y tic acid-, lignin-,
and nucleoprotein-P in goose erythrocytes. The exchange is
reversibly inhibited by anaerobic conditions.
R. L. E.
Methaemalbumin. I. Clinical aspects, n . Its synthesis,
chemical behaviour, and experimental production in man and
monkeys. N . H . Fairley (Quart. J . Med., 1941, 10, 95— 138).
—The brow n pigm ent in th e serum of blackw ater fever is
m ethem album in. M ethem oglobin and sulphhem oglobin are
alw ays intracorpuscular, and th e y can be separated spectro­
scopically, fo r th e a-band of m eth em alb u m in is dispersed by
the addition of 10% (N H ,)2S, th e a-band of m ethem oglobin
is dispersed b y conc. (NH4)2S, and th e a-band.of sulphhem oglobin is unaffected. I t is suggested th a t if hyperbilirubin­
e m ia is associated w ith m eth em alb u m in em ia, lysis of cor­
puscles is occurring in th e circulating blood; if hyperbili­
ru b in em ia is present alone, blood destruction is occurring in
th e reticulo-endothelial system . M ethem album in is stable
in acid and alkaline media, and it sedim ents in th e u ltra ­
centrifuge a t th e ra te of serum -album in. I t can be dem on­
stra ted a fte r th e addition of alkaline Fe111 h e m a tin to th e
serum of prim ates, b u t n o t of oth er mammals. I n vitro the
h e m a tin unites w ith th e crystalbum in fraction to form a
substance spectroscopically identical w ith n atu ral m eth em album in. On reduction w ith N a2S20,, liem album in is formed,
and th is com bines w ith CO, b u t it does n o t combine loosely
w ith 0 2. I t is suggested t h a t . m ethem oglobin is n o t an
interm ediate stage in th e extracorpuscular breakdow n of
haemoglobin, b u t t h a t reduced F e 11 hacmatin is split off from
th e globin, and is im m ediately oxidised to Fe111 h e m a tin ,
which com bines w ith serum -album in to form m ethem album in.
R. K .
Phenylhydrazine and Price-Jones curves in polycythsemia
rubra vera. A. D. M. Greenfield and E. I. Jones (J. Physiol.,
1941, 99, 2— 3 p ). — A decrease in haemoglobin from 136 to
56% was obtained a fter adm inistration of a to ta l of 2 g. of
th e drug (hydrochloride) to a case of p olycythem ia. There
was also some haemolysis and clinical jaundice. Microcytosis
precedes destruction of red cells, a m acrocytosis occurring
when active destruction ceases and intense regeneration is
occurring.
J. A. C.
Treatment of polycythsemia vera with liver and choline
hydrochloride. O. O. M eyer and E. W . Thewlis (J. Lab. clin.
Med., 1941, 26, 1137— 1140).-—The ad m inistration of raw
calf's liver or choline hydrochloride is useless in th e treatm en t
of p o ly cy th em ia vera.
C. J. C. B.
Hsemolytic effect oi gramicidin. D . H eilm an and W. E.
H errell (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 182— 184).— In
blo o d-agar preps, containing 5 m g.-% of th e alcohol-sol.
w ater-insol. fraction (H otchkiss and D ubos, A., 1941, III,
228) com plete hem olysis occurred a fter 36 hr. a t 37°. Sus­
pensions of sheep cells were hem olysed in 1 hr. b y 1 m g.-% .
A ctivity is m arked in presence of plasm a o r tissue extract,
and is n o t affected b y com plem ent.
V. J. W .
Clinical experience with transfusion oi stored blood. O.
Schurch and H . W illenegger (Schweiz, tned. Wschr., 1941, 71,
105— 109).— 160 transfusions w ith stored blood were carried
out. Blood older, th a n 3 weeks should n o t be used. The
agglutinin titre should be determ ined if blood O/a, /3 is used;
th e transfusion should be slow and restricted if O/a, ¡3 blood
w ith high agglutinin titre is given to p atien ts of oth er groups.
Increased body tem p, was observed in 5— 10% of th e cases;
th is com plication can be prevented if th e blood is n o t older
th a n 1— 2 weeks. H em olysed blood should n o t be used.
A. S.
Stored blood. VH3. Effect of transfusion on capillary
resistance. H . Scarborough (Edinb. Med. J ., 1941, [iv], 48,
555—560; cf. A., 1941, II I, 643).— A m arked and im m ediate
increase in capillary resistance occurs a fte r transfusion of
fresh or stored blood, plasm a, or plasm a saline b u t n o t a fte r
5% glucose saline.
H . S.
Preparation and preservation of human plasma. M. M.
Strum ia, J . J. McGraw, and J. Reichel (A m e r.J . clin. Path.,
1941, 11, 175— 194).—The technique used in th e B ryn Mawr
H ospital for collection of blood is detailed. The plasm a is
separated b y centrifugation.
C. J . C. B.
Dried plasma transfusion. S. B. H arper, A. E. O sterberg,
J. T. Priestley, and T. H . Seldon (J. Amer. Med. Assoc., 1941,
116, 1760— 1762).—Dried plasm a was prepared b y spray
distillation a t 15 mm. H g pressure and a t 45°.. The addition
726
of d ry glucose greatly increases th e ra te of dissolution in
w ater. N a sulphathiazole is an effective preservative of
plasm a solutions. Studies of serum -protein and hem oconcn.
in m an show th a t redissolved dried plasm a is as effective as
fresh plasm a.
C. A. K.
Hsematocrit tube filling pipette. A. C, Stirling (J. Lab.
clin. Med., 1941, 26, 1348).— A modified lum bar puncture
needle is used.
C. J. C. B.
Prothrombin concentration in blood of various species.
A. J . Quick (Amer. J . P h ysio l, 1941, 132, 239—244).—
Q uant, determ inations of prothrom bin were made by Q uick’s
m ethod (A., 1938, I I I , 709). P rothrom bin concn. varies
greatly in different species. If th e p rothrom bin level of
norm al ra b b it plasm a is se t a t 100, th e concns. found in other
species are : dog 100; c a t 60; lion 60; horse 40; m an 20;
cow 16. The reason w hy th e 2-stage Sm ith m ethod (A.,
1938, III, 203) fails to show th is variatio n is discussed.
M. W . G.
Factors influencing plasma-prothrombin in newborn infant.
A. E. Maumenee, L. M. H eilm an, an d L. B. Shettles (Johns
H opkins IIosp. B ull., 1941, 68, 158— 168).—Prothrom bin
levels lower th a n norm al are found in infants w ith retinal
h em orrhage and a decrease in th e incidence or a complete
elimination of th is condition can be produced by th e adm inis­
tratio n of vitam in -/^ to m others during, or prior to, labour
respectively.
T. F. D.
Identity of prothrombin. W . F . Orr, ju n ., an d D. H . Moore
(Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 357— 360).—P rothrom bin
from oxalate hum an plasm a is p p td . a t 1-7— 2 -Im -P O /"
buffer, corresponding w ith globulin solubility. On electro­
phoresis it m igrates w ith album in.
V. J . W .
Treatment of hypoprothrombinsemia (hsemorrhagic disease) of
newborn infant. R. B. Lawson (J. Pediat., 1941, 18, 224—
234).— Vitamin-TT replaces intram uscular blood injections in
th e prophylaxis and tre atm e n t of hypoth ro m b in em ia of th e
newborn infant. I mg. of 2-m ethyl-l : 4-naphthaquinone
given intram uscularly to th e new born in fan t prevents th e
developm ent of h y p o p ro th ro m b in em ia; 2— 4 mg. given to
m others 6— 12 hr. before delivery prevents serious rises in th e
m icro-prothrom bin tim es of th e newborn infants.
C. J . C. B.
Antepartum use of vitamin-AT. G. P . Bohlender, W . M.
Rosenbaum , and E. C. Sage (J. Amer. Med. Assoc., 1941, 116,
1763— 1766).— 4-Amino-2-m ethyl-1-naphthol hydrochloride
given intravenously to m others before delivery prevented th e
prothrom bin deficiency seen in new born infants in th e 1st
week of life. Its use in th is w ay as a prophylactic against
h em orrhagic disease of th e newborn is suggested.
C. A. K.
Effect on newborn of vitamin-iT administered to mothers in
labour. J . W. Mull, A. H . Bill, and H. Skowronska (J. Lab.
clin. Med., 1941, 26, 1305— 1309).—The prothrom bin clotting
tim e of babies whose m others were given 2-m ethyl-l : 4naphthaquinone b y m outh during labour was faster th a n th a t
of a sim ilar u n treated series, and close to th e norm al ad u lt
val. 1 mg. of vitam in-/? in com oil during th e 1st stage
of labour, 4— 10 hr. before delivery, proved effective. 3
mg. in 24 hr. a t 8-hourly intervals, given d irect to the
b ab y b y m outh, controlled bleeding and reduced prolonged
p rothrom bin clotting tim es to norm al.
C. J . C. B.
Prothrombin estimation using Russell viper venom. R. C.
Page and H . K . Russell (J. Lab. clin. Med., 1941, 26, 1366—
1370).— A modified Q uick's m ethod, using Russell viper
venom instead of tissue e x tract, com pared satisfactorily w ith
th e regularly used Q uick’s m ethod fo r determ ination of
p rothrom bin coagulation tim e.
C. J. C. B.
Simplified determination of blood-prothrombin levels in new­
born. C. P . H uber and J . C. S h rad er (J. Lab. clin. Med.,
1941, 26, 1379— 1382).— A modification of th e Smith bedside
te s t (Ziffren el al., A., 1939, I I I , 1027) is used.
C. J. C. B.
Anticoagulant of anaphylactic shock (dog). L. B. Jaques
and E. T . W aters (J. Physiol., 1941, 99, 454-—466).—This is
found to be heparin w hich is liberated from th e liver and
w'as isolated in cryst. condition and in good yield from th e
blood of dogs in anaphylactic shock. T he heparin obtained
from different dog tissues (liver, m u scles,'an d from blood
during shock) is th e sam e b u t is different from heparin
isolated from ox tissues. I ts an ticoagulant potency is 2-5
727
A., III.—v, BLOOD AND LYMPH.
728
tim es th a t of ox heparin. No heparin is liberated in to th e
m ixture of sam ples of serum from blood containing both A
and B factors results in reciprocal suppression of th e anti-/?
blood of sensitised hepatectom ised dogs in anaphylactic
shock. T he am ount of heparin w hich can be extracted from
and a n ti-A agglutinins to an e x ten t g reater th a n can be
th e liver of dogs in anaphylactic shock is much less th a n th a t
accounted for b y dilution. The reduction in titre is due to
extracted from norm al dog liver.
J . A. C.
th e presence of receptor substances of sim ilar group specificity
to th e red cell agglutinogens. T o avoid reactions from intro­
Fat-soluble substance and coagulation o! blood. R. G.
duced agglutinins in th e transfusion of serum th e authors
Macfarlane, J. W. T revan, and A. M. P. A ttw ood ( /. Physiol.,
recom mend th e inclusion of m any individual sam ples from
1941, 99, 7— 8p).—I n addition to th e known factors in th e
groups A B , A , and B in each b atch of serum .
F. S.
coagulation of blood, a fu rth er fa t sol. factor is essential.
Changes in the sedimentation rate and non-filament-filament
J . A. C.
ratio following clinical improvement in patients with low-grade
Kinetics of thrombin inactivation as influenced by physical
chronic illness. M. H . Stiles (J. Lab. clin. M ed., 1941, 26,
conditions, trypsin, and serum. A. J. Glazko an d J . H .
621— 623; cf. A., 1939, I I I , 648).— Clinical im provem ent in
Ferguson (J. Gen. Physiol., 1940, 24, 169— 188).—Technique
p a tie n ts w ith low-grade chronic illness is accom panied by
for studying progressive inactivation of th ro m b in is described.
T he inactivation follows th e kinetics of a first-order reac­ proportional im provem ent in th e sedim entation ra te and
non-filam ent-filam ent ra tio (of th e polym orphs).
tion. Its rate const, increases w ith tem p, and p a (5-0 - > 10-0)
C. J. C. B.
and w ith th e presence of cryst. try p sin or serum . T hrom bin
Potassium and carbohydrate metabolism of leucocytes. R.
preps, are m ost stable a t j>n 4— 5 ; th e in activ atin g agent is
P u lv e ra n d F . Verzdr (Helv. Chim. Acta, 1941, 24, 272—277).—
m ost stable a t pn 5— 6. These facts are consistent w ith th e
L eucocytes of horse blood consume glucose and in th e first
view th a t a large p a rt of th e progressive inactiv atio n is due
phase a fte r its addition there is a parallel e n try of K into the
to th e action of a serum -tryptase, usually presen t in throm bin
cell. In th e n e x t phase th is retu rn s to th e solution and,
preps. D enaturation of throm bin-protein p robably plays a
sim ultaneously, th e cells form lactic acid. Since measurable
m inor p a rt also.
D. M. N.
changes of concn. of N a in th e solution are n o t observed,
Chemistry of blood coagulation. XIH. Phosphatide con­
th ere is no general change in perm eability. E rythrocytes do
stituents of thromboplastie protein from lungs. S. S. Cohen
n o t absorb glucose or K . Y east and leucocytes hehave
and E. Chargaff (J. B iol. Chem., 1941, 139, 741— 752).—The
sim ilarly ; in th e synthesis of glycogen th ere is union w ith K
phosphatides were extracted b y alcohol-ether (1 : 1) and
H . W.
fractionated by successive tre a tm e n t w ith ether, CHC13, w hich is liberated during its fission.
Leucocytosis induced by injection of kaolin into cistema and
acetone, light petroleum , an d alcohol. " L ecithin ” (alcohol ventricles of brain. G. Rosenow (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. Med.,
sol.) and “ kephalin ” (alcohol-insol.) fractions an d sphingo­
1941, 46, 5— 9).— Injection of 0'25— 1 c.c. of 25% suspension
m yelin were separated. T he lecithin and kephalin fractions
of
kaolin in to th e lateral ventricle of th e ra b b it caused in 2
have considerable and approx. equal clotting a c tiv itie s; th e
hr. a 4-fold increase in neutrophil leucocytes in blood.
satu rated fa tty acids consist m ainly of palm itic and stearic
V. J. W.
acids, w hilst th e u n satu rate d acids, w hich were fractionated
(A) Hourly leucocyte variations of normal rabbits. (B)
as B r additive products, consist m ainly of acids w ith only one
Neutrophilic leucocytosis following intravenous injection ol
double linking. E thanolam ine accounts for 9 and 3% of th e
supernatant fluid from a sterile exudate (rabbit). G. H.
am ino-N of th e lecithin and kephalin fractions, respectively,
R eifenstein, J. H . Ferguson, and H . G. W eiskotten (Amer.
w hilst choline accounts for S7 and 5% of th e non-am ino-N.
J . Path., 1941, 17, 219—231, 233— 250).— Individual examin­
22— 23% of the glyccrophosphoric acid of both lecithin and
ations show considerable v a riatio n ; average counts exhibit
kephalin fractions occurs as th e 0-form. The sphingom yelin
tendencies for th e to ta l leucocyte co u n t to v a ry little, and
in the etlier-insol. and light petroleum -alcohol-sol. fraction of
for th e % and abs. no. of lym phocytes and neutrophils to
th e phosphatides w as purified b y m eans of th e reineckate,
decrease and increase slightly, respectively, during th e day.
w hich was decomposed w ith A g N 0 3; it h as an I val. of 16-4.
An a p p aren t afternoon increase in th e no. of neutrophils is a
P. G. M.
m ore frequent finding th a n an a p p aren t afternoon increase
Action of vitamin-P [in haemorrhagic states]. V. Yacek
in th e to ta l leucocyte count. Some substance or substances
(Schweiz, med. Wschr., 1941, 71, 155— 159).— In trav en o u s
p resen t in th e su p ern atan t fluid fiactions of centrifuged
injection of 20 mg. of citrin lowers capillar)' perm eability
saline-induced ra b b it peritoneal exudates of 5J—-12 hr. dur­
and shortens blood coagulation tim e b y 20— 30% . I t has
ation can produce neutrophilic leucocytosis when injected
no effect on throm bocyte count o r on "bleeding tim e. The
intravenously in to o th er rab b its.
C. J. C. B.
tendency to petechial and larger haemorrhages in throm bopenic conditions is dim inished. S atisfactory results were
Blood chemistry in leukaemias. E . W . Pernokis and M. R.
obtained in the treatm en t of ulcerative colitis.
A. S.
F reeland (J. Lab. clin. M ed., 1941, 26, 1310— 1313).—
T o tal lipins were alw ays g reatly elevated irrespective of
Thrombocytopen. F . O tenasek and F . C. Lee (J. Lab. clin.
ty p e of lukiemia o r height of w hite count. Blood-Ca, -inorg.
Med., 1941, 26, 1266— 1273).— A throm bocytopen prep, from
-P, and -non-protein-N an d 4 of 5-am ino-acid vals. were
th e spleen of a p a tie n t w ith idiopathic throm bocytopenic
n o rm a l; fa tty acids were much above norm al. The differ­
p u rp u ra reduced th e blood platelet co u n t in rab b its. In
ence betw een th e to ta l lipins and th e sum of th e cholesterol,
some cases a m arked throm bocytosis followed, and m any
fa tty acids, and phospholipin fractions w as g reater in all
m egakaryocytes were found in th e spleen. E x tra c ts of 4
cases th a n th e norm ally expected vals. for norm al fats.
control spleens h ad no effect on blood platelets. The potency
L ipin-P was elevated in only a th ird of th e cases and did not
of an aq. solution of throm bocytopen dim inishes w ith tim e.
b ear a const, relationship to th e height of th e w hite count
C. J. C. B.
a n d th e no. of “ b la st ” cells present.
C. J. C. B.
[Blood-]fat and agglutinin titre. H . C. S tew art (J. Physiol.,
1941, 99, Ip).— E ach significant rise in blood-fat, a fter a fatEffect of colchicine on chronic myeloid leukaemia. J- T.
containing meal, coincides w ith a fall in agglutinin titre and
P aul, W. O. Brown, and L. R. Lim arzi (Amer. J . clin. Path.,
th e la tte r rises again as th e blood-fat level declines. The
1941, 11, 210— 218).— No beneficial effect was obtained.
m echanism appears to be adsorption of agglutinin a t th e oil /
C. J. C. B.
w ater interface. (Cf. A., 1939, I I I , 357, 554.)
J . A. C.
Determination of protein in blood of nutritional oedema
patients. A. G. van Veen (Genessk. Tijds. N ed.-Indie, 1940,
Weak agglutinogens and blood group determination. J.
80, 1747— 1761).— From a crit. exam ination of various
M orawiecki (Schweiz, med. Wschr., 1941, 71, 110— 111).— A
m ethods for th e determ ination of to ta l protein, album in, and
case w ith very weak A agglutinogen is described. T he danger
globulin in sera preserved in ice for 2 days an d in oxalate
of th e use of blood A 3, A t , or A s for universal donor purposes
plasm a, it is concluded th a t R o b ertso n ’s refractometric
is stressed. Agglutinogens and agglutinins should be tested
m ethod is m ost satisfactory. P lo tn e r’s m ethod is satisfactory
in every bood donor.
A. S.
for album in b u t gives high vals. for th e others. The HowePreparation o! anti-Af, anti-A', a n tw i, and anti-B testing
R o b inson-K jeldahl m ethod gives excellent results b u t is
fluids. I. J. Silverm an (J. Lab. clin. M ed., 1941, 26, 1338—- tedious. A prom ising m ethod is being w orked ou t based on
1344).— Only a m oderate % of ra b b its used produced satis­
th e difference in cystine c o n ten t of album in and globulin.
factory anti-sera.
C. J. C. B.
D eterm inations on ap p aren tly norm al subjects from regions
Iso-agglutinin titre of pooled serum or plasma. R . Jakobowicz
where n u tritio n al oedema occurs show decreased blood-albumin
a nd L. M. Bryce (Med. J . Austral., 1941, I, 318— 323).— The
and -globulin. (Edem a p atien ts show v e ry low vals. The
729
A., III.—v, BLOOD AND LYMPH.
globulin content is fairly const, in all cases. A lbumin obtained
in the Plotn er m ethod is very pure and th is m ethod is p a r­
ticularly valuable w ith blood sam ples from oedema patients.
S. C.
Electrophoresis oi euglobulins and pseudoglobulins in antidiphtheric serum. F . Modern, O. R epetto, and G. Ruff (Rev.
Soc. argent. Biol., 1941, 16, 544— 553).—In th e acid zone
euglobulin travelled to th e cathode a t 9 X 10~5 cm. a t 1 v. cm.
a t fin 5, and a t 20 X 1 0 '5 a t fin 3. In th e alkaline zone th e
velocity w as considerably less, 0 1 to 0-6 X 10~5 from fin 7
to fin IT. Pseudoglobulins travelled a t 11 X 10-5 a t fin 5
and 27 x 10-5 a t fin 3; on th e alkaline side th e vals. w e re :
10 X 10-‘ a t fin 7 and 22 X 10*4 a t fin 8-5.
J. T. L.
Photometric determination of serum-proteins. Applic­
ation oi the Greenberg-Mirolubova method. A. Giovamb attista and R. Nico (Rev. Fac. Cienc. Quint., La Plata, 1940,
15, 7— 11; cf. A., 1938, III, 454).—The colour-absorption
curve given by serum -proteins w ith th e Folin-Ciocalteu
reagent (A., 1927, 892) follows B eer’s law. The Pulfrich
photom etric m ethod can be applied to th e determ ination b y
this reagent of to ta l proteins an d album ins in serum. A ppro­
priate factors are recorded.
F . R. G.
Plasma volume and plasma-protein concentration after
severe haemorrhage. D. B. Calvin (J. Lab. clin. Med.., 1941,
26, 1144— 114S).—Following subacutc haemorrhage in dogs
there is a com pensatory m ovem ent of fluid from th e tissues
to the plasm a, th e degree depending on th e previous w ater
balance of the body. Proteins, especially album in, enter th e
vascular system along w ith fluid.
C. J. C. B.
Method for determining specific gravity of blood and body
fluids. F . Foldes (J. Lab. clin. Med., 1941, 26, 1370— 1373).—
A simplified H am m erschlag m ethod is used; one drop of
the liquid to be exam ined is added to a m ixture of CHClj
and benzene in a previously calibrated vessel. If th e drop
of liquid sinks to th e bo tto m CHC13 is a d d e d ; if it floats on
the surface, benzene is added, w ith continuous stirring, until
the drop floats a t th e centre of th e m ixture. T he sp. gr. can
then be directly read off from th e graduations on th e neck of
the vessel.
C. J. C. B.
Measurement of extracellular fluid volume with thiocyanate
and body fluid analyses in 33 normal individuals. J. D.
S tew art'an d G. M. R ourke (J. Lab. clin. Med., 1941, 26,
1383— 1387).— The following averages were obtained : plasm a
vol. 44-8 c.c. p er k g .; blood vol. 81.3 c.c. p er k g .; e x tra­
cellular fluid vol. 1S8 c.c. per k g .; plasm a-protein concn.
7-49 g .-% ; to ta l plasm a-protein 216 g .; serum -N a 138-8 mg.
per 1.; serum-Cl' 18-2 mg. p er 1.; to ta l 0 2 capacity 999 c.c.
C. J. C. B.
Effect of various factors on chloride content of blood. L. N.
Hofman (Ukrain. Biochem. J ., 1940, 15, 419— 436).— In dogs,
the Cl' co n ten t of th e blood is subject to rhythm ic fluctuations
the m agnitude of w hich is 20— 50 mg. p er 100 g. in 6—-9
min. W ater, introduced into th e stom ach or directly in to
the blood, dim inishes th e Cl' co n ten t b u t does no t abolish th e
fluctuations. In dogs deprived of th e oesophagus and having
a gastric fistula, sham -feeding for a period of 1-5— 3-0 hr.
abruptly decreases th e content, th e am plitude of th e fluctu­
ations being slightly increased a t th e sam e tim e. Intravenous
injection of 10% aq. NaCl increases th e content b u t does n o t
change th e period of fluctuation. An im m ediate slight change
followed first by approach to norm al and then, after 1 hr.,
by a second and greater change always occurs when th e Cl'
content is altered. Sim ultaneously w ith all decreases in th e
content, there is an increase in th e am plitude of th e fluc­
tuations, w hich reflects th e strain on th e regulatory system
caused by changes in th e content.
W. McC.
Allergy in relation to purpura. J. W . Thom as and J. R.
Forsythe (J. Lab. clin. Med., 1941, 26, 1105— 1110).—Of 10
patients w ith purpura, 8 had an allergic fam ily histo ry and
all showed allergic reactions to one or more proteins.
C. J. C. B.
Nature of plasm a-iodine. S. Silver (Proc. Soc. Exfi. Biol.
Med., 1941, 46, 213— 215).— Plasm a-I is divided between
albumin and globulin in proportion to th e am ounts of these
proteins w hich are present.
V. J. W .
Effects of carbon monoxide and methylene-blue on oxygen
consumption of shark blood. M. M. Brooks (Proc. Soc. Exp.
Biol. Med., 1941, 46, 219— 220).—Vol. of gas consumed by
shark red cells in a W arburg ap p aratu s was reduced by 39-2%
730
b y filling it w ith CO; it w as increased b y 51% b y 0-004%
methylene-blue. In CO and m ethylene-blue to g eth er it w as
only reduced b y 13-9%.
V. J. W .
Cysteine-cysteine study. Asphyxia caused by (HI) blood
poisons, (IV) arresting aortic circulation. R . M urata (Japan.
J . Med. Sci., 1940, III, 7, 11— 37, 59—68).— I I I . The
am ount of cysteine-cystine in th e blood increased w ith th e
advance of asphyxia, by CO, or by methsemoglobin form ation
a fte rK 3Fe(CN)6 or phenylhydroxylam ine adm inistration. This
is interpreted as a com pensating mechanism for im proving
im paired tissue respiration.
IV.
In asphyxia caused b y arresting aortic circulation th e
respiratory centre is p araly sed ; alkali reserve is dim inished,
[H] and cystine-cysteine are increased.
T. F. D.
Ascorbic acid-like reducing substance in buffy layer of
centrifuged oxalated blood. A. M. B utler and M. Cushman
(J. Biol. Cheni., 1941, 139, 219— 226).—The substance
responsible for th e reducing action of H I 0 3 ex tracts of the
buffy layer of norm al and leukiemic bloods fulfils all th e
criteria for ascorbic acid. I t is present in ex tracts of platelets
and w hite blood cells and is a constituent of a difficultly
diffusible complex. The am ount of th e reducing substance
in th e buffy layer of non-leukaemic hum an and guinea-pig
blood depends on th e presence of ascorbic acid in th e diet,
and it furnishes an index of physiologically significant ascorbic
acid deficiency.
J. N. A.
Determination of blood-pyruvate in vitam in-5, deficiency.
P. K. Li and IC. K ato (J. Lab. clin. Med., 1941, 26, 1314— 1321).
— In rats b y th e end of th e 1st m onth of th iam in depletion
blood-pyruvate (Lu’s m ethod, A., 1939, II I, 540) increased
to 3-49 m g.-% over th e norm al basal level (0-96 mg.-%).
D uring th e 2nd m onth th e increase w as to 5-62 mg.-%
and rose m arkedly shortly before death. B lood-pyruvate
level corresponds roughly w ith th e severity of clinical m ani­
festations. On injection of th iam in hydrochloride into poly­
neuritic anim als (2nd m onth of deficiency) a pro m p t fall in
blood-pyruvate occurred. If th is drop does n o t occur, death
w ithin 24 hr. m ay be expected.
C. J. C. B.
Hyperphosphatemia of Paget’s disease. H . L. Williams
and E. M. W atson (J. Lab. clin. Med., 1941, 26, 1333— 1337).—
T he hyperphosphatasaem ia of p atien ts w ith P ag et's disease
of bone is due to an increase of phosphatase concn. in th e
serum and n o t to th e presence of an activ a to r of th e enzyme
in th e blood.
C. J. C. B.
Comparison of histamine content of blood and bone marrow.
C. F. Code and J. L. Jensen (/liner. J . Physiol., 1941, 131,
768— 775).— In guinea-pigs, rabbits, cats, dogs, and one
cow th e histam ine co n ten t of th e bone marrow (femur)
exceeded th a t of blood. The histam ine in marrow w as
associated w ith th e red (cellular) portion of th e tissue. Pure
yellow m arrow was free from histam ine. The blood cells
containing histam ine m ay carry it w ith them as th ey leave
th e marrow . The use of alcohol in th e extraction of h ist­
am ine from blood is discussed.
M. W. G.
Acid-base balance and water concentration of blood during
toxsemia of late pregnancy. F. W. O berst and E. D. Plass
(J. Lab. clin. M ed., 1941, 26, 664— 674).—The acid-base
balance in th e blood w as studied in 31 women suffering
from various form s of th e toxaemia of late pregnancy (9
hypertensive, 15 cases of toxaemia w ith o u t convulsions, and
7 of toxaemia w ith convulsions). T here is a slight alkali
deficit, w ith o u t significant change in th e fin, except in eclam p­
sia, where a convulsive seizure is followed b y a m arked
reduction in H C 0 3' and fin.
C. J. C. B.
Determination of blood-magnesium. F . W . L am b (Ind.
Eng. Chem. [Anal.], 1941, 13, 185— 187).— A spectrochem ical
m ethod, which requires only 1 ml. of sample, is described.
The sam ples are diluted w ith aq. K alum , w hich acts as a
spectroscopic buffer and an in tern al stan d ard , and are then
atom ised in to a sp ark betw een graphite electrodes of a shape
designed to give uniform ity of exposure. M easurements
of relative intensities give results accurate to < 3 % . T est
d a ta and determ inations of Mg in norm al blood are recorded.
L. S. T.
Lowering of blood-uric acid [by uricase]. E . H . Oppenheim er (Johns H opkins Hosp. B ull., 1941, 69, 190— 195).—
U ricase from p ig ’s liver when injected intravenously or
intram uscularly in to gouty hens causes a sharp lowering of
th e plasm a-uric acid level.
T. F. D.
731
A., III.—vi, VASCULAR SYSTEM.
Sugar content in normal arterial and venous blood. E . S.
A lexentzeva ( U krain. Biochem. J ., 1940, 15, 125-—135).— The
sugar con ten t of arterial blood of dogs is n o t const., b u t
undergoes a continuous periodic fluctuation, th e period
being 8-6— 9-4 min.
T here is also a rh y th m ic fluctuation
of th e sugar level in venous blood (period 10— 12 m in.), and
th e fluctuation is generally opposite to th a t of arterial blood.
Blood from a vein in a resting lim b also shows a const,
rh ythm ic fluctuation in th e sugar level.
J . N. A.
Relation between change in sugar level and blood-chlorides.
M. P. Sam otoi (Kovalenko) (Ukrain. Biochem. J ., 1940, 15,
137— 150).—T he sugar co n ten t of dog's blood is decreased
an d Cl' increased a fte r subcutaneous or intravenous adm in­
istratio n of insulin or phloridzin. Injection of glucose
decreases blood-Cl' an d increases -sugar, w hilst NaCl greatly
decreases -sugar. Blood-Cl' usually varies inversely as
sugar.
J. N . A.
Effect of sodium selenite on blood-sugar and liver-glycogen
of rats and rabbits. C. I. W right (U .S. Publ. Health Rcpts.,
1941, 56, 345— 351).— Intrav en o u s doses of N a 2S e0 3 g reater
th a n 5-0 mg. per kg. increase th e blood-sugar of ra ts ; 10 0
mg. per kg. decrease liver-glycogen. Subcutaneous doses
of N a2S e0 3 greater th a n 3-0 mg. p er kg. cause a m arked rise
in th e blood-sugar of well-fed rab b its. T he sam e doses
som etim es cause a slight rise in th e blood-sugar of th e fasted
rab b it, followed occasionally b y an a b ru p t fall preceding
th e death of th e anim al. F asted ra ts have a low er glucose
tolerance w hen injected w ith N asS e 0 3 and th e ra te of de­
position of liver-glycogen from th e injected glucose is slowed
fo r 2 or more hr.
C. G. W.
Influence of fever on vago-insulin and sympatheticoadrenal systems [action on blood-sugar], J. F eldm an and
E . G ellhom (Endocrinol., 1941, 29, 141— 143).—In jectio n of
ty phoid vaccine causes a rise of tem p, and blood-sugar in
norm al and vagotom ised ra ts, b u t a fall of tem p, and bloodsugar in adrcno-dem edullated ra ts. If b o th operations have
been done th e vaccine causes a fair of tem p, b u t no change
in blood-sugar.
V. J. W.
Cholesterolytic index. C. A. Sagastum e and C. In d a (Rev.
Fac. Cienc. Quim., L a Plata, 1940, 15, 19— 23).—The chole­
sterolytic index is recorded for hum an and ra b b it sera after
ageing for 24, 48, and 72 hr. T he in terp re tatio n of th e d a ta
is com plicated by th e no. of facto rs th a t determ ine th e
cholesterol co n ten t of serum .
F . R. G.
ESect of cholesteryl esters, calcium, and liver extracts on
coagulation index. C. In d a (Rev. Fac. Cienc. Quim., L a Plata,
1940, 15, 143— 153).— L iver e x tracts an d cholesteryl esters
do n o t affect th e blood coagulation index of norm al rabbits.
Ca gluconate in large doses accelerates th e coagulation and
induces hypercalcam ia, w hich persists for 21 days. Reliable
d a ta were difficult to obtain owing to variations in th e controls.
F. R . G.
Serum-lipins in sclerema [scleroderma] neonatorum. L.
L uzzatti and A. E. H ansen (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. M ed., 1941,
46, 325— 329).— E arly in th e illness, a t age of 3-5 m onths,
blood-lipins were 3 tim es th e norm al and had an I val. of 42.
On recovery blood-lipins becam e norm al, and tissue-fats had
an I val. of 57.
V. J . W .
Distribution and characterisation of ox plasma-fatty acids.
F. E. Kelsey and H . E . Longenecker (J. Biol. Chem., 1941,
139, 727— 740).— The acetone-sol. lipins of ox p lasm a con­
ta in linoleic 42, palm itic 21, oleic acid 18%, and sm aller
am ounts of stearic, arachidic, palm itoleic, linolenic, and
arachidonic acids. S aturated acids are alm ost com pletely
absent from th e cholesteryl ester fraction, which contains
a t least 85% of u nsaturate d acids, 62% of w hich occur as
linoleic a c id ; th is fraction is n o t a ttack ed by purified p a n ­
creatic lipase.
P . G. M.
Keplialins, choline-containing phospholipins, and total
phospholipins in normal human plasma. C. A rtom (J. Biol.
Chem., 1941, 139, 65— 70).— F o u r m ethods of ex tractin g and
purifying th e substances are com pared. T he average con­
te n ts of 100 c.c. of plasm a of fasting young men are : to ta l
phospholipins 152 + 16, choline-containing phospholipins
122±14, kephalins 3 0 ^ 9 -5 mg. T he vals., especially those
for kephalins, increase a fte r ingestion of milk or cream b u t
th ere is no preferential increase in th e co n ten t of cholinecontaining phospholipins.
W . McC.
732
Effect of drugs on blood-lipins. F. E. Kelsey (J. Pharm.
E xp . Ther., 1941, 72, 23).—T o tal lipin, phospholipin, total
a n d ester cholesterol, and n eu tral fa t were determ ined in
heparinised plasm a of fastin g dogs. In jectio n of mecholyl
produced a rise of 35% of th e phospholipins a fte r 30 min.,
w ith a retu rn to original level a fte r 1 hr. No changes were
found in th e o th er lipin fractions. A nterior an d posterior
p itu ita ry ex tracts produced no changes.
H . H. K.
Phosphatase determination in serum. C. Fazio and B. A.
Mdcola (Rev. Soc. argent. Biol., 1940,16, 737— 746).— A control
is m ade b y determ ining th e P O / " in serum to w hich glycero­
ph o sp h ate su b strate h as been added, b u t hydrolysis is pre­
vented b y th e im m ediate addition of trichloroacetic acid.
T he figure obtained is su b tracte d from th a t given after the
action of th e serum -phosphatase.
J. T. L.
VI.-VASC ULAR SYSTEM.
Nucleotide composition of cardiac muscle. L. M. Makarev itsch-G alperina (Ukrain. Biochem. J ., 1940, 15, 93 — 103).—
T he n atu re of th e phosphorylated nucleotide and presence of
o th er purine-containing com pounds in dog cardiac muscle
are determ ined. The p hosphorylated nucleotide always
contains less P th a n is presen t in adenosinetriphosphoric
acid. T he ratio N H 2-N : readily hydrolysed P is never
1 : 2 b u t varies from 1 : 1-4 to 1 : 1-9. Of th e to ta l N of the
p urine-containing com pounds in cardiac muscle 12% cor­
responds w ith free purine, 5 3% w ith purines of phosphorylated
nucleotides, an d 3 5 % w ith purines of non-phosphorylated
nucleotides.
J . N. A.
Electrocardiographic changes following the intravenous
administration of magnesium sulphate. J . R . Miller and T. R.
V an Dellen (J. Lab. clin. Med., 1941, 26, 1116— 1120).— In the
digitalised dog, MgSO., alters th e co n to u r of th e T-waves
an d produces a fu rth e r delay in auriculoventricular con­
duction tim e in excess of th a t of digitalis or Mg alone. In
ra ts it produces a tra n sie n t shortening of conduction time.
M gS04 m ay produce ectopic beats.
C. J . C. B.
Analysis of normal electrocardiograms. R . J. Vakil (Proc.
In d ia n Acad. Sci., 1941, 13, B, 269 — 287).— 50 norm al e.c.g.
of In d ian schoolgirls ranging in age from 5 to 15 years were
studied.
H . H . K.
Characteristic electrocardiograms in left ventricular strain
with and without axis deviation. L. G. K aplan and L. N.
K atz (A m e r.J . vied. Sci., 1941, 201, 676— 693).— 15% of 178
cases of left v entricular strain showed no axis d e v ia tio n ; 62-5%
h a d S - T - T deviation in lead 1. This la tte r ty p e is called
th e concordant ty p e of left ven tricu lar strain and formed
19% of all th e cases w ith ch aracteristic S - T - T changes in
lead 1. I t was n o t possible to correlate h e a rt size and e.c.g.
in le ft ven tricu lar strain . A ccom panying rig h t ventricular
strain , eith er as a late resu lt of left v entricular strain or of
a n associated independent cause, changes in th e heart's
position are th e probable chief causes for lack of axis deviation
in th e concordant ty p e of left ventricular strain. The S - T - T
deviation in left ven tricu lar strain is a ttrib u ta b le to a dis­
tu rb a n c e in th e re tre a t of activ ity in th e ventricles, in part
due to th e h y p ertro p h y itself and in p a rt secondary to
coronary insufficiency.
C. J. C. B.
Influence of coronary sclerosis, chronic congestive heart
failure, and myocardial fibrosis on cardiac hypertrophy. M. E.
M aun (J. Lab. clin. M ed., 1941, 26, 1239— 1248).— There was
no correlation betw een th e degree of coronary sclerosis and
th e h e a rt w t. in 411 cases. H earts w ith no h e a rt failure
weighed approx. th e sam e as those w ith chronic congestive
h e a rt failure. T here is no evidence th a t m yocardial fibrosis
m ay produce cardiac hy p ertro p h y .
C. J. C. B.
Size of extracellular fluid compartment before and after
massive infusions. A. M. Lands, R. A. C utting, and P. S.
L arson (Amer. J . Physiol., 1940, 130, 421— 432).— Thiocy an ate (140 mg. p e r kg. body-w t.) w as intravenously injected
in to anaesthetised cats together w ith NaCl solution to give
a to ta l infused vol. of 400 — 550 ml. per kg. initial body-wt.
w ith a retain ed vol. of 375 ml. p er kg. initial w t. of glucose
to give a to ta l infused vol. of 300 — 475 ml. per kg. initial
w t. and a retained vol. of 275 ml. per kg. in itial w t. NaCl
an d CNS' are distrib u ted thro u g h a vol. of fluid (approx.
equal to th e to ta l w ater co n ten t of th e skin) greater than
733
A., III.—vi, VASCULAR SYSTEM.
th at contained in th e extracellular com partm ent. These
substances are norm ally lim ited to th e extracellular spaces
oi skeletal muscle. Cl' is confined to th e extracellular com ­
partm ent of th e liver. T here is some intracellular Cl' in th e
stomach, sm all and large intestine, spleen, and pancreas.
Infused 5% glucose or 1% NaCl is retained m ostly in th e
extracellular com partm ent. Infusion of 5% glucose m ay
greatly increase th e perm eability of th e cells of certain
tissues and organs to CNS'.
M. W. G.
Peripheral resistance and response to intravenous injection
of fluid. R. J . S. McDowall ( / . Physiol., 1941, 99, Bp).— If th e
arterial and venous pressures of chloralosed cats are reduced
by liajmorrhage, th e injection of fluid (10 c.c. in 1 min.)
results in a rapid recovery of th e arterial pressure b u t th e
recovery of th e venous pressure is very slow. If th e pres­
sures are reduced by interference w ith th e vaso-constrictor
centre or its afferent pathw ays, th e injection of fluid results
in a rapid rise in th e venous pressure, th e arterial recovery
being very slow and often negligible.
J. A. C.
An a.c. induction flow meter for measurement of blood flow
in intact blood vessels. A. Kolin {Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.,
1941, 46, 235—239).—T he flow m eter previously described
(ibid., 1930, 35, 53) is modified b y th e use of an electro­
magnet fed by a.c., and a special com pensator for th e e.m.f.
which th is causes in th e leads. The e.m.f. induced in th e
moving blood is proportional to velocity of flow, and is led
off to an oscillograph b y electrodes outside th e vessel.
V. J. W.
Effect of sympathectomy on blood supply of bone. C. J.
Zinn and J . Q. Griffith, jun. (Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.,
1941, 46, 311— 312).— In d ia in k was injected intravenously
into norm al and lum bar sym pathectom ised rats. Bono
vessels in th e la tte r contained fewer C particles th an in
controls, indicating a rcduced blood supply due to th e in ­
creased supply to th e so ft tissues (cf. A., 1939, III, 19).
V. J. W.
Prevention of “ post-operative illness ” of Leriche by infra­
red irradiation during operation and early movement. H.
Paschoud (Dtsch. Z. Chir., 1938— 39, 251, 298—310):— A re­
view (cf. J . internal. Chirurg., 1937, 2, 210).
E. M. J.
Reduction of the blood pressure of hypertensive dogs by
administration of renal extract. J . R. W illiams, jun., A.
Grollman, and J. R. H arrison (Atner. J . Physiol., 1940, 130,
496— 502).— A dm inistration of conc. ex tracts of norm al
renal tissue parenterally or orally causes a decline (sometimes
to normal vals.) in blood pressure of dogs hypertensive
from renal ischaemia. Severe untow ard sym ptom s accompanicd th e reduction in m an y cases. The phenom ena
described in th e dog, nam ely th a t w ith a mild hypertension
the blood pressure falls to a norm al level w ith o u t untow ard
symptoms, b u t severe sym ptom s or even death are associated
with th e fall in pressure w hen th e hypertension is severe,
have also been found in th e ra t.
M. W. G.
Nature of capillary permeability factor present in tissue
extracts. M. Rocha e Silva and C. A. D ragstedt (Proc. Soc.
Exp. Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 303— 300).— R eaction to try p an blue te st in rab b its given by a no. of guinea-pig tissue ex tracts
is closely correlated w ith th eir histam ine content.
V. J. W .
Arterial reactions of sm all laboratory anim als due to various
drugs. M. E. Isolabella (Rev. Fac. Cienc. Quim., La Plata,
1940, 15, 109— 180).
F. R. G.
Acute necrotising arteritis, aoritis, and auriculitis following
uranium nitrate injury in dogs w ith altered plasma-proteins.
R. L. H olm an (Atner. J . Path., 1941, 17, 359— 374).—Of 10
dogs subjected to plasm apheresis or plasm a injections and
then given 5 mg. p er kg. of th e n itra te subcutaneously, 8
showed necrotising arteritis when th e y died 8—-17 days
later. One of th e 8 dogs survived and showed healed lesions
in the pulm onary arte ry 11 m onths later. Control dogs
failed to show any arterial lesions. The lesions principally
affected th e elastic arteries, th e com m onest sites being th e
aorta, th e sinuses of V alsalva, th e pulm onary arteries, and
the endocardium of th e left auricle. The acute necrotising
artertis is usually m ost m arked in th e in tim a b u t n o t in ­
frequently involving all 3 coats. Polym orphonuclear
neutrophils predom inate in th e cellular response; Ca de­
position in th e necrotic areas is freq u en t; throm boses m ay
734
occur. No organisms could be detected in blood or lesions.
(12 photom icrographs.)
C. J . C. B.
Dissecting aneurysm of aorta. F. W. N iehaus a n d W . D.
W right (J. Lab. clin. Med., 1941, 26, 124S— 1255).— A case
of dissecting aneurysm of th e a o rta is described, showing
peculiar longitudinal grooves of th e isthm us.
C. J. C.' B.
Mode of action of magnesium sulphate in reducing hyper­
tension of acute glomerulonephritis. M. I. R ubin and M.
R apoport (Atner. J . med. Sci., 1941, 201, 5, 734— 745).— In
acute glom erulonephritis + hypertension M gS04 (0-2 c.c. of
a 50% solution p er kg. body-w t. 4-hourly intram uscularly)
lowers th e blood pressure w ithout producing dehydration
as shown b y absence of free diuresis or of change in w t.
T he intravenous adm inistration of hypertonic sucrose (100
c.c. of 50% solution) produces diuresis and generalised and
cerebral dehydration, w ithout lowering th e blood pressure.
Occasionally it elevates th e blood pressure. T he dangers of
th is secondary rise in blood pressure in th e acu te nephritis
are pointed out. MgSOj in th e doses employed m ay be
ineffectual in p atien ts w ith large urin ary vols.
C. J . C. B.
Effect of hypertensin on sugar and potassium in plasma.
V. G. Foglia and J . L. Moglia (Rev. Soc. argent. Biol., 1940, 16,
529— 530).— H ypertensin injected intravenously in to dogs
increased plasm a-K rapidly and considerably; blood-sugar
increased less m arkedly and more slowly. Inactiv ated
hypertensin did n o t produce these effects. Adrenalectomised
dogs showed th e increase in K b u t no t in glycasmia. H epatectom y and F. 933 injected before hypertensin suppressed
th e K increase.
J. T. L.
Determination of renin. L. F. Leloir, J . M. Muñoz,
E. Braun-M enéndez, and J. C, Fasciolo (Rev. Soc. argent. Biol.,
1940, 16, 035—042).—Two m ethods are described. (1)
H ypertensinogen is measured before and a fte r incubation
a t 37° for 5—-15 hr. w ith th e renin to be estim ated. The
difference between these figures is proportional to th e q u a n tity
of renin. (2) H ypertensin formed b y renin a fte r 2— 4 hr.
incubation is determ ined; hypertensinase w as previously
destroyed b y acidification a t p a 3-7— 3-9. These methods
p erm it estim ation of q u antities of renin 1/50— 1/200 of those
th a t can be determ ined b y th e increase in blood pressure
produced a fte r intravenous injection in dogs. The u n it
adopted is th e q u an tity of renin w hich incubated for 2 hr.
a t 37° and p a 7-5 in th e presence of an excess of h y p er­
tensinogen produces 0-5 u n it of hypertensin.
J . T. L.
Hypertensinase:
estimation and distribution. J. C.
Fasciolo, L. F. Leloir, M. J. Muñoz, and E. Braun-M enéndez
(Rev. Soc. argent. Biol., 1940, 16, 043— 050).—-The increase in
blood pressure produced b y intravenous injection in to th e
dog of hypertensin is proportional to th e dose of hypertensin
given and can be expressed as : a = S*JU , where a is th e
increase in blood pressure, S th e increase produced by 1
u n it of hypertensin, and U th e no. of units injected. W hen
incubated w ith hypertensinase hypertensin loses its activity.
To estim ate hypertensinase, hypertensin in O-om-PO/" buffer
a t p a 7-4 and 0-2 c.c. of a 0-1% solution of m erthiolate were
incubated a t 37° for 4 hr. w ith variable q uantities of th e ex­
tra c t to be m easured. A fter boiling for 5— 10 min. the
solution w as injected in to atropinised dogs sensitised w ith
ephedrine. The am o u n t of hypertensin destroyed increased
w ith th e du ratio n of incubation and th e am ount of h y p er­
tensinase present. The u n it w as defined as th e am ount of
hypertensinase th a t destroys 0-5 u n it of hypertensin in 4 h r.
in a solution th a t has 1 u n it of hypertensin in 10 c.c. Toluene,
thym ol, CHClj, KCN, N aF (0-02 m.), iodoacetate (0-0125 M.),
pyrogallol, N aSH , and anaerobiosis did n o t modify
th e activ ity of hypertensinase. I t w as in activated a t pa
3-6— 3-9 a t 25° a fte r 20 m in .; i t w as p p td . b y (NH4)!SO<
a t 0-3— 0-6 satu ratio n b u t n o t by dialysis. T he largest
concns. of hypertensinase were found in intestinal mucosa
(1200— 1600 units per g. fresh tissue), kidney (800 units
p er g.), pancreas (240 units), spleen (100— 200 units),
haemolysed red cells (80— 120 units), liver (80 units), adrenal
(40— 50 units). Blood plasm a and non-hasmolysed red
cells contained only 1 unit.
J . T. L.
Oral and intramuscular ineffectiveness of “ hypotensive ”
extracts. W . Van W inkle, ju n . (Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol. Med.,
1941, 46, 220—222).— The ex tracts known as “ p ad u tin " or
“ kallikrein,” an d e x trac t no. 568, produced no blood pressure
changes when given in large doses b y m outh or intram uscularly
735
A., III.—vu, RESPIRATION AND BLOOD GASES,
to pigeons, rabbits, cats, or dogs. T hey underw ent no
absorption or decrease in isolated in testin al loops.
V. J. W .
Changes ol arterial blood pressure and renal hcemodynamics
by injection of angiotonin in human beings. A. C. Corcoran,
K. G. K ohlstaedt, and I. H . Page (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. Med.,
1941, 46, 244— 24S).— Injections of 0'5— 1 c.c. of angiotonin
(A., 1940, II I, 192) in m an cause rise of blood pressure,
increase of renal filtration fraction (inulin/diodrast clearance),
and decreased renal blood flow, calc, from haem atocrit ratio
a n d ap p aren t plasm a-diodrast clearance. These conditions
resem ble those present in hypertension.
V. J. W .
Pressor substance in blood [from ischsemic kidney] of dog.
M. Friedm an, A. Selzer, and J. F. Sampson (Amer. J . Physiol.,
1941, 131, 799— 808).— A pressor substance can be detected
in th e blood leaving th e p a rtly ischaemic kidney w ithin 15m in.
The pressor activ ity per c.c. w as as slight as th a t found a fter
much longer periods of p a rtia l ischxm ia. The agent differs
from renin in th a t its action is im m ediate, and of m oderate
duration. Dogs m ade tachyp h y lactic to ischaemic kidney
blood still react to renin. The agent is inactiv ated b y
h eating th e plasm a containing it. I t is ineffective when
injected into a dog via th e renal arte ry supplying a norm al
kidney. I t cannot be rem oved from plasm a by prolonged
dialysis and was ineffective when given to cocainised dogs.
T he pressor activ ity of ischaemic kidney blood m ay be due to
several substances and is n o t identical w ith renin or angiotonin.
M. W. G.
Hypertension in diphtheria. I. R osenbaum (J.P cdiat., 1940,
17, 210— 217).— 2 cases of postdiphtheritic paralysis accom ­
panied by hypertension are reported. The blood pressure
increased as th e paralysis progressed and gradually decreased
as the paralysis cleared up. I t is suggested th a t late h y p er­
tension coming on a t the tim e of paralysis is of nervous
origin.
C. J. C. B.
VII.—RESPIRATION AND BLOOD GASES.
Simple absorption bulb for use with an ordinary syringe in
determining oxygen of air in oxygen tent. F. E . Holmes (J.
Lab. clin. M ed., 1941,
26, 1376— 1378).—The ap p a ra tu s
consists of a 10-c.c.syringe, an absorption bulb of 60 c.c.
capacity, and a m anom eter w ith an expansion bulb. To
prepare the bulb fo r use, lig h t Cu tu rn in g s are stuffed in to
it through th e neck, and th e solution m ade by satu ratin g
w ith N H 4C1 a m ixture of 1 p a rt of conc. aq. N H 3 and 2 p a rts
of w ater is poured on to th e tu rn in g s until it reaches the
level of th e bottom of th e stopper. T he stopper is th en
inserted, and a sm all piece of glass rod is used to plug the
hole.
C. J. C. B.
Anoxic effects of high oxygen pressure on smooth muscle.
J. W . Bean and D. F . B ohr (A m e r .J . Physiol., 1940,130, 445—
453).— E xposure of isolated longitudinal duodenal muscle
(rabbit) to 0 2 a t 75 lb. pressure resulted in progressive de­
crease in tonus, decrease and irregularity in am plitude
of th e spontaneous rhythm ic contractions, an d a decreased
frequency of th is rh y th m to a p o in t of periodic cessation
interspersed b y spasm odic unsustained increases in tonus.
D ecompression a t atm . pressure reversed these effects.
E xposure of ra b b it pyloric sp h in cter to high 0 2 pressure
resulted in a decrease of tonus, reversed b y decompression.
A tropinisation of duodenal sm ooth muscle did n o t alter th e
action of high 0 2 pressure on th is tissue. As th e effects of
high 0 2 pressure on isolated sm ooth muscle are so sim ilar
to th o se of NaCN a common causal factor m ay be concerned.
M. W . G.
Oxygen poisoning in micro-organisms and its relation to
toxicity o£ oxygen at high pressure on mammalian tissue.
J . W . Bean {/. Cell. Comp. Physiol., 1941, 17, 277— 284).—
Pneumococcus, type I, failed to grow in O, a t a pressure of
90 cm. Hg, an d w as killed a t a pressure of 365 cm. Air a t
these pressures was n o t to x ic to th e organisms. C ausation
is discussed.
V. J . W .
Use of helium for determination of pulmonary capacity.
G. R. Meneely and N. L. K altreider (Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol.
M ed., 1941, 46, 266— 269).—The subject b reathes for 7 min.,
in a closed circuit, an atm . containing a b o u t 12% of H e.
Concn. of H e before and a fte r is determ ined from th e th erm al
conductivity. B y th u s using H e for H t th e risks of explosion
an d A sH j poisoning are avoided.
V. J. W .
vm , MUSCLE.
736
Artificial respiration and inhalation. Y. H enderson and
J. M. T urner (J. Amer. Med. Assoc., 1941, 116, 1508— 1515).—
W hen n a tu ra l b reath in g has stopped it is restored more
effectively b y m anual artificial respiration th a n by mechanical
respiration. The pulm onary v entilation w ith a n y manual
m ethod depends on th e to n e of th e respiratory muscles and
no technique can produce over-ventilation. Schafer's method
is as good as a n y o th er and is th e easiest to apply. Its
efficiency is enhanced by inhalation of 7— 8% CO» in Os.
C. A. K.
Paroxysmal flutter of diaphragm simulating coronary
occlusion. M. J. Goodman (J. Amer. Med. Assoc., 1941, 116,
1635— 1638).— A m an w ith flu tter of th e diaphragm a t a rate
of 300 per min. showed sym ptom s of coronary occlusion.
B oth pain and flutter were relieved b y spraying th e intact
skin of th e neck over th e phrenic nerve of th e involved side
w ith eth y l chloride.
C. A. K.
Physiology and pathology of bronchial asthmatic crisis. A.
E pstein (Schweiz, med. Wschr., 1941, 71, 125— 129, 149—
152).— A discussion of th e theories concerning th e causation
of bronchial asthm a.
A. S.
Bronchiectasis following atelectasis in tuberculosis of in­
fancy. J. G. H ughes an d W . L. Simpson (J. Pedial., 1940,
17, 197—209).— 2 cases are reported, one of w hich had also
compression of th e superior vena cav a by tuberculous
m ediastinal glands.
C. J. C. B.
Species differentiation in respiration of birds following
carbon dioxide administration, and location of inhibitory
receptors in upper respiratory tract. W . A. H iestand and
W. C. R andall (J. Cell. Comp. Physiol., 1941, 17, 333— 340).—
In th e muscovy duck, in h alatio n of 10% C 0 2 causes apncea
in th e unanaesthetised or anaesthetised bird, b u t, if th e naso­
p h ary n x has been sprayed w ith 2% cocaine, respiration is
increased. In th e m allard duck CO, causes stim ulation of
respiration in th e unanaesthetised bird, b u t apnoea in anaes­
th esia w ith volatile anaesthetics b u t n o t w ith barbiturates.
Apnoea in th e m uscovy duck can also be produced b y passing
C 0 2 upw ards thro u g h th e nasopharynx from a trachcal
cannula. A no. of o th er species of birds w as also examined
w ith sim ilar v arying results.
V. J . W.
VIII.—MUSCLE.
Apparatus to record movement of extremities. R. V.
Grim mer an d O. R. L angw orthy (J. Lab. clin. Med., 1941,
26, 1322— 1347).— A m ethod of graphically recording
v o lu n tary m ovem ents an d trem o r in p a tie n ts w ith th e Parkin­
sonian syndrom e is described. The ap p aratu s is inexpensive
and gives reliable records. I t has been utilised to te s t the
effect of drugs on th e rigidity and trem o r w hich these
p atien ts exhibit.
C. J. C. B.
Manually operated ergometer. G. R. Meneely and N. L.
K altreider (J. Lab. clin. M ed., 1941, 26, 13 5 7 — 1361).—The
m otor-generator b raking principle w as used. T he method of
calibrating th is ap p aratu s is briefly reviewed. Comparison
w ith th e bicycle ergom eter showed th a t th e mechanical
efficiency of th e arm s is less th a n th a t of th e legs, and that
exercise w ith th e arm s augm ents v entilation more than
exercise w ith th e legs.
C. J. C. B.
Locomotion of Indian house-gecko, H emidactylus flaviviridis, Kiippel. B. C. M ahendra (Proc. In d ia n Acad. Sci.,
1941, 13, B, 288— 306).— The m ovem ent of geckos on the
underside of horizontal surfaces is due to th e sharp points of
th e claws tak in g a hold on th e m inute irregularities of the
surface, while th e action of th e subdigital lamella; is analogous
to it. T he cuticular processes on th e la tte r get inserted by
adpression in to th e microscopic depressions of th e locomotor
surface an d th u s m aintain a hold on it b y interlocking.
T hey function on th e principle of th e lever of th e first type.
H . H. K.
Interfibre spaces and fibre water in frog muscle. P- JBoyle, E. J . Conway, F . K ane, an d H . L. O’R eilly (J. Physiol.,
1941, 99, 401— 414).—The interfibre spaces of excised and
im m ersed sarto rii as given b y inulin an d Mg experim ents are
9-6 an d 8-2 ml. p er 100 g. respectively and m ay be taken as
9— 10 ml. p er 100 g. w hen th ere is no w t. change on immer­
sion. T he spaces as m easured from th e diffusion of N a and
Cl' in to isotonic glucose are 13 and 12-0, an d th e figure from
D onnan calculations applied to Cl' is 12-7. The circulatory
737
A., III.—vin, MUSCLE.
space in excised sartorii has a m ean val. of 2-3 ml. p er 100 g.,
which m ay explain th e above differences in m easurem ent of
spaces. W ith th e fibre m em brane, perm eable to K ‘ and Cl',
the theoretical Cl' w ithin the fibre is only 1-1% of the external
val. The interspace fluid has a m ean val. of 0-10—0-13 1.
per kg. muscle and th e free w ater for dissolution w ithin th e
fibres is 0-64— 0-70 1. per kg., th e to ta l free w ater being 0-80
or 0-77.
J. A. C.
Post-tetanic potentiation and suppression in muscle. L.
Grumbach and D. T. W ilbur (A m er. J . Physiol., 1940, 130,
433— 444).— P ost-tetanic potentiations were studied in isol­
ated frog sciatic-gastrocnem ius preps. P otentiation was n o t
obtained in com pletely curarised preps, b y direct stim ulation,
but was obtained in th e p a rtly curarised prep. Normal
fatigue to indirect stim ulation gave sim ilar results. P o te n ti­
ation was obtained a fte r depressing doses of K b u t K never
enhances th e p o tentiating effect of tetan i. The muscle actionpotential accom panying th e poten tiated tw itch was greater
than th a t accom panying th e tw itch preceding th e condition­
ing tetanus. T he nerve action-potential after th e tetan u s
was usually decreased. Suppression of muscle response after
a prolonged te tan u s w as due to a decreased no. of nerve
fibres responding to th e te s t shock. T his suppression could
be overcome by raising th e stren g th of th e te s t shock. P oten­
tiation is ,th e sam e in th e p a rtly fatigued frog, p a rtly
curarised m am m al, and norm al fowl m uscle; it is attrib u ted
to the facilitating effect of blocked nerve impulses and th e
enhanced local excitatory sta te persisting a t th e m otor endplates a fter tetan isatio n .
M. W . G.
Heat production of slow and fast contractions oi crustacean
muscle with double motor innervation. G. Keighley and
C. A. G. W iersm a (J. Cell. Comp. Physiol., 1941, 17, 305—
314).—H e a t productions of tw o types of contraction in th e
crayfish ( / . Physiol., 1936, 88, 78) were compared. In both
types, efficiency is greater for a series th a n for single con­
tractions, b u t fo r equal am ounts of w ork a fa st contraction
liberates a b o u t tw ice the h eat of a slow one.
V. J. W.
Potassium liberated in muscle by acetylcholine in adrenalectomised toads. V. H . Cicardo and J . L. Moglia (Rev. Soc.
argent. Biol., 1940, 16, 554— 558).— Btifo arenantm was
adrenalectomised and th e hind leg perfused w ith K-free
Ringer’s solution. A ddition of 10 /zg. of acetylcholine to the
perfusion fluid produced a co ntraction of th e gastrocnem ius
slightly less m arked and followed b y a more prolonged relax­
ation phase in th e asthenic anim als th a n in norm al controls.
K was liberated by th e adrenalectom ised to ad as in th e controls.
Denervation of th e leg w as followed b y hypersensitiveness to
acetylcholine and greater liberation of K , equally in adrenal­
ectomised an d control anim als.
J . T. L.
Muscular contractions, curarine, and acid gastric secretion
(cat). W . Feldberg and B. Holmes (J. Physiol., 1941, 99,
3—4p).— In spinal cats there is a secretion of free HC1 in to
the stom ach following m uscular contractions or th e injection
of 20 mg. of curarine in to th e central stum p of th e inferior
mesenteric artery , th e large intestine having been removed.
In m uscular contraction histam ine is released in to th e plasm a
from skeletal muscles (cf. A nrep et al., A., 1939, II I, 900).
J. A. C.
Effect of osmotic pressure on sensitisation of toad sartorius
muscle to cold stimulation. Y. C. Ting and I. Chao (Chinese
J . Physiol., 1941, 16, 73— 77).—T he muscles were soaked in
Ringer’s solution of different osmotic pressures a t 20°,
transferred for 1J m in. to sensitising solutions of th e same
osmotic pressure containing P 0 4'" buffer a t p a 7-2, NaNOj,
and varying am ounts of sucrose, and then to th e sam e solution
at 0° for stim ulation. Max. contraction occurred when
muscles were sensitised by solutions of osm otic pressure of
4-6—6-8 atm .
N. H.
Neuromuscular junction. XXI Responses of cat muscles
to acetylcholine during Wedensky inhibition and post-tetanic
facilitation. T . H . Li and Y. C. Ting. XXII. Neuro­
muscular transmission in rats on choline-deficient diets. T. H.
Li- XXIH, Eserine potentiation and post-tetanic facilit­
ation in mammalian muscles. T. P. Feng and T. H . Li
(Chinese J . Physiol., 1941, 16, 1— 7, 9— 12, 37— 54; cf. A.,
1940, II I, 108).— X X I. U nder chloralosane, th e sciatic and
gastrocnemius muscles were stim ulated b y condenser dis­
charges to th e sciatic nerve. Injection of acetylcholine a t
close range, during W edensky inhibition, gave a norm al
738
response prevented by eserine and followed b y intensified
inhibition, and depressed eserine-potentiated and post-tetanically facilitated tw itches.
X X II. R ats k ep t on a choline-deficient diet fo r 1— 5
m onths showed norm al spontaneous a ctiv ity and response of
th e soleus muscle to single or repeated shocks to its nerve.
The acetylcholine co n ten t of nerve tru n k s w as n o t decreased.
X X III. In cats under chloralosane, th e soleus muscle was
stim ulated through its nerve and action potentials were led off
from th e corresponding v entral root. A fter injection of, or
irrigation of th e muscle w ith, eserine, th e spontaneous tw itches
and th e after-discharge to a single shock were accom panied
by corresponding impulses in th e v en tral ro o t; these also
occurred w ith post-tetanic facilitation and were alw ays
abolished b y section of th e nerve n ear th e muscle.
N. H .
Physiological and toxicological effects of some fish muscle
extracts. D. I. M acht and E. C. Spencer (Proc. Soc. E xp .
Biol. Med., 1941, 46, 228— 233).— Saline ex tracts of muscles
of 65 species of fish were prepared. 10 of them were poisonous
to lupin seedlings and 55 were not. T oxicity w as destroyed
by boiling.
V. J. W .
Seasonal variations in sodium, potassium, calcium, and
magnesium content in animal muscles. F. A. K rutschakova
(Ukrain. Biochem. J ., 1940, 16, 505— 514).—The muscles of
hibernal female grass snakes contain more Na, Mg, and Fe
and less K th a n do those of estival females. The muscles of
estival male hedgehogs contain more N a, K , Ca, and Fe th a n
do those of hibernal males, w hilst in female hedgehogs th e
reverse condition holds. The muscles of male sparrow s in
w inter contain less Na, K, Ca, Mg, and Fe th a n do those of
females, w hilst in b o th sexes th e pectoral muscle contains less
Na, Ca, and Mg and more I< th a n does th e biceps muscle.
T his relationship is found in b o th sexes independently of the
season.
J . N .A .
Effect of functional variations of muscles on their sodium,
potassium, calcium, and magnesium content. F . A. K rutscha­
kova (Ukrain. Biochem. J ., 1940, 16, 515— 526).— The
am ounts of N a, K, Ca, and Mg in tw o muscles of an organism,
one of w hich w orks more th a n th e other, are determ ined.
In frogs and tortoises th e stronger working muscles perform ­
ing rhythm ical contractions contain more N a, K, and Mg
and less Ca th a n do those w hich perform less work. In
sparrows and domestic pigeons, rhythm ical contractions are
carried o u t by th e pectoral muscle, w hich contains more K
and Mg, and less Ca and N a th a n does th e biceps muscle.
In non-flying birds, such as hens, th e biceps muscle shows
more rhythm ical contractions and contains more N a, K, Mg,
and Ca th a n does th e pectoral muscle. Muscles probably
contain th e more K th e greater is th e am ount of work they
perform , independently of w hether th e contractions are
rh y th m ic or tetan ic. The biceps muscle of birds contains
considerably greater am ounts of Ca th a n does th e pectoral
muscle. Muscles of males and females of th e same species
differ in th e am ounts of N a, K , Ca, an d Mg which th ey
contain.
J. N. A.
Creatine content of rat muscle. S. M. H o rv ath ( / . Cell.
Comp. Physiol., 1941, 17, 315—320).—Muscle was extracted
w ith trichloroacetic acid and creatine determ ined colorim etrically after conversion in to creatinine. In 4 ad u lt rats,
average creatine con ten t of skeletal muscles, other th a n th e
diaphragm , w as 473— 495 m g.-% . The diaphragm contains
a b o u t § as much as th e oth er muscles, which v a ry among
them selves up to ab o u t 100 mg.-% .
V. J. W.
Chemical composition of flesh of Argentine-bred domestic
fowls. E. C. B racuto (Rev. Fac. Cienc. Quim., L a Plata,
1940, 15, 239—245).—The flesh, which consists essentially of
edible protein, of young fowls contains m ore w ater and less
fa t th a n th a t of adults. A nalytical d a ta (water, ash, fat,
and protein) of various breeds of fowl are tab u lated .
F. R. G.
Effect of rhythmic and tetanic contractions on lactic acid
and glycogen content and blood supply of pectoral muscles of
pigeons. L. I. Palladina and L. A. D ubovtzeva (Ukrain.
Biochem. J ., 1940, 16, 379— 395).— R hythm ic contractions
increase muscle- and blood-lactic acid (20— 50%) b u t do n o t
change th e glycogen content. A fter prolonged tetan u s (30
min.), a decrease in muscle- (30— 40%) and an increase in
blood-lactic acid (100— 150%), to g eth er w ith a 10— 20%
decrease in muscle- and blood-glycogen, occurs. H . G. R.
739
A., III.—ix, NERVOUS SYSTEM.
Effect of exercise on adenosine triphosphate content of
muscle. N. E. Gluschakova (U krain. Biochem. J ., 1940, 15,
249— 271).—The adenosine triphosphate co n ten t of leg muscle
(rabbit) is not changed by m oderate exercise b u t is greatly
decreased by fatiguing exercise, which leads to accum ulation
of inorg. P . T he decrease is slight if m oderate exercise p re ­
cedes fatiguing exercise, since m oderate exercise creates con­
ditions favourable to resynthesis which, together w ith glyco­
lysis and O , consum ption, is increased. A t th e sam e tim e,
th e creatine phosphate con ten t increases. Adenosine tr i­
phosphate is one of th e energy-producing com pounds of
■muscle. Inorg. P ;0 7" " does n o t occur in resting, exercised,
o r fatigued ra b b it muscle.
W . McC.
Changes in the phosphorus fraction and creatine of rabbit
muscles in ontogenesis. G. J . B agdasarjantz (Ukrain. B io­
chem. J ., 1940, 16, 65— 79).— The phosphocreatine and inorg.
P co n ten t of th e skeletal muscles of growing rab b its increase
regularly w ith age. T he creatine co n ten t also increases w ith
age especially in th e 1st m onth. Phosphocreatine is th e only
form of acid-labile P present.
E . M. W.
Crystalline myogen. T. B aranovski (B iochim ia, 1940, 5,
174— 179).—T he prep, of cry st. m yogen from muscle is
described (cf. A., 1941, II I, 426). Myogen from ra b b it and
calf crystallises in the hexagonal, an d th a t from frog and
m an in the tetragonal, system . Cryst. m yogen could n o t be
o btained from pigeon or carp muscle.
F. O. H.
Effect of guinine on metabolism in two patients with muscular
wasting and creatinuria. A. T. M ilhorat and V. Toscani
( / . Pharm. E xp. Ther., 1941, 72, 29).—D uring drug
ad m inistration th e u rin ary o u tp u t of to ta l N w as increased,
th e fæcal N was unchanged, an d th e N reten tio n was d e­
creased. In th e control period following th e drug adm inis­
tra tio n th e u rinary o u tp u t of N w as reduced, and th e N
retention w as increased. No effect on th e u rin ary creatinine,
creatine, and vitam in-C w as observed.
H . H . K.
Iontophoretic application of vitam in-5, [in muscle atrophy].
P . Steiner (Schweiz, med. Wschr., 1941, 71, 112— 116).—
S atisfactory results in th e tre a tm e n t of post-polyom yelitic
m uscular atro p h y were obtained w ith aneurin subcutaneously
injected over th e affected m uscles; electrodes were applied
to th e skin over and below' th e muscle to o btain a flow of
cu rren t transverse to th e direction of th e muscle fibres. A
cu rren t of 2— 4 ma. was used.
A. S.
Oxygen consumption in atrophied muscle. S. Hivohasi
(Japan. J . M ed. Sci., 1940, I I I , 7, 78—95).— A trophied thigh
muscles of th e dog consum e m ore 0 2 th a n h ealth y muscles,
w hether the a tro p h y is caused b y degenerative change or by
disuse.
T. F. D.
Vitam in-£ in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. P. G. D enker
and L. Scheinm an (J. Amer. M ed. Assoc., 1941,116,
1893—
1895).— 15 p atien ts w ith am yotrophic lateral sclerosis were
given 100 mg. of a-tocopherol daily w ith no evidence of an y
th erapeutic benefit. T here were no toxic signs. T he ad d i­
tion of 100 mg. of vitam in -i?6 daily did n o t im prove th e
response.
C. A. K.
Vitamins-/? and -B , in muscular dystrophy and amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis. J. W. Ferrebee, W. O. K lingm an, and
A. M. F ran tz (J. Amer. M ed. Assoc., 1941, 116, 1S95— 1896).—
Vitamin-jC, by m outh and b y injection, and -B „ b y injection,
produced no benefit in 20 cases of m uscular d y stro p h y o r in
6 case of am yotrophic lateral sclerosis.
C. A. K .
IX .-N ER V O U S SYSTEM.
Action of alternating currents on spike potential magnitude,
conduction velocity, and polarisation of nerve. A. Rosenblueth, J. Reboñé, and A. M. Grass (Amer. J . Physiol., 1940,
130, 527— 538).— Using .anaesthetised cats, th e nerves studied
were m ainly the peroneal, occasionally th e popliteal or th e
saphenous. A.c. decrease th e am plitude of th e spike p o ten ­
tia l a t and in th e neighbourhood of th e a.c. poles ; conduction
velocity of nerve is slowed ; th e dem arcation p o ten tial is
either decreased or less com m only increased. These changes
a n d those of electrical excitability m ay occur independently.
M. W . G.
.Y-Ray diffraction studies of nerve lipins. R. S. Bear, K. J.
Palm er, and F. O. Schm itt .( / . Cell. Comp. Physiol., 1941, 17,
355— 367).— D ata are tabulated for lecithin, kephalin, sphingo-
740
myelin, kerasin, phrenosin, an d cholesterol, alone or mixed,
and d ry and in 33% aq. emulsions.
V. J. W.
X-Ray diffraction studies of lipin emulsions. K . J. Palmer
and F . O. Schm itt (J. Cell. Comp. Physiol., 1941, 17, 385—
394).— P u re and m ixed nerve lipins were rubbed up with
w ater an d diffraction p a tte rn s obtained for th e resultant
emulsions. Such mixed lipins ta k e up large am ounts of
w ater, and th e capacity to do so is associated w ith th e amount
of kephalin present. W ate r cap acity is reduced b y electro­
lytes, more b y C a" th a n by K* or N a \
V. J. W.
Recovery of responsiveness in motor and sensory fibres
during relative refractory period. E . T. von Brücke, M. Early,
and A. Forbes (J. Neurophysiol., 1941, 4, 80—91).—In bull­
frogs recovery of responsiveness in th e sensory fibres includ­
ing th e spinal ganglion w as alw ays m uch slower th a n in the
m otor fibres. In dorsal roots w ith o u t ganglia th e recovery
w as a t th e sam e ra te as in v en tra l roots. In cats recovery
w as slower in general an d no influence of th e spinal ganglion
could be observed. In b o th anim als conduction velocity
recovered a t th e sam e ra te in sensory fibres including the
spinal ganglion and in m otor fibres. A cetylcholine h ad no
observable effect. I t is suggested th a t th e subnorm al period
is a late co ntinuation of th e relative refractory period.
S. C r .
Cortical responses from electrical stimulation of brain stem.
R. S. Morison, E . W. Dempsey, and B. R. Morison (Amer. J.
Physiol., 1941, 131, 732— 743).— T he brain stem (cats) was
stim ulated w ith single shocks through discrete electrodes,
while recording a c tiv ity in 2— 5 regions of th e cerebral cortex.
5 ty p es of responses were observed. (1) Response, latency
8— 10 m-sec., localised in th e side ipsilateral to stim ulation,
produced b y stim ulation of medial lem niscus, ventrolateral
nuclei of thalam us, thalam ic radiations, and in tern al capsule.
(2) A rapid response, resem bling response (1) followed by
b u rsts of spikes (sim ilar to th e spontaneous b u rsts of activity
seen in th e electrocorticogram from anaesthetised animals),
produced b y stim ulation of an terio r nucleus of thalamus,
thalam ic radiations, and in tern al capsule. (3) A generalised
response of m edium laten cy (30— 80 m-sec.), produced in all
regions of b o th cortices b y stim ulation of ro stral pole of
am ygdaloid complex, dorsal p a rt of subthalam us, in the
region of nucleus sub p ara fascicularis. (4) A generalised
response of long latency (100— 250 m-sec.), identical with
response (3), produced b y stim ulation of th e fornix, corpus
callosum, radiations to cingular and suprasylvian gyri.
(5) Inhibition of spontaneous cortical activ ity m ay be pro­
duced b y stim ulation of cau d ate nucleus, in tern al capsule,
and cortical radiations.
M. W . G.
Activity in neurons of bulbospinal correlation system.
D. P . C. Lloyd (J. Neurophysiol., 1941, 4, 115— 134).—A
stu d y is m ade of th e descending spinal projections of bulbar
and spinal nuclei in cats. The tw o m ain fibre groups are
represented b y th e reticulospinal and long propriospinal
tra c ts, and b y th e sh o rt propriospinal tra c ts. Activity
traverses th e length of th e neuraxis in th e long fibres and
enters th e sh o rt propriospinal nuclei, ap p aren tly a t all levels,
to trav el a sh o rt distance as relayed im pulses along th e short
propriospinal fibres. T he propriospinal nuclei are subject to
m any influences an d a c t as correlation centres. T he im port­
ance of tim ing as a facto r in sy n ap tic transm ission in the
spinal cord is discussed.
S. Cr.
Connexions of medial geniculate body in cat. H . W . Ades
(Arch. Neurol. Psychiat., Chicago, 1941, 45, 138-—144).— From
degenerations caused b y electrolytic lesions in th e medial
geniculate recu rren t fibres are show n to pass to th e inferior
colliculus an d from it to th e trapezoid b o d y b y w ay of the
lateral lem niscus, th u s providing for reverse innervation
betw een subcortical acoustic nuclei. Diffuse fibres pass from
th e medial border of th e m edial geniculate body to other
p a rts of th e th alam u s and m idbrain. T here is no connexion
betw een th e twro medial geniculate bodies th ro u g h Gudden's
comm issure. These bodies are n o t im p o rta n t reflex centres,
lacking strong connexions w ith m otor m echanism s and de­
generating a fte r tem poral lobectom y. T h e individuality of
p a tte rn in different cats is em phasised.
W . M. H.
Relative sweetness of sugars as affected by concentration.
A. C. D ahlberg and E . S. Penczek (New York [Geneva] Agric.
E xp . Sta., B ull. 258, 1941, 10 pp.).— T he relative sweetness
of jS-lactose an d m altose (33— 60), glucose (62— 100), high-
741
A., III.—ix, NERVOUS SYSTEM.
conversion corn syrup (40— 80), and ordinary corn syrup
(28— 54%) in high concn. is nearly double th a t in low concn.
as com pared w ith sucrose. F ructose is som ew hat sweeter
than sucrose a t all concns. and, w ith th is exception, relative
sweetness is expressed by a parabolic equation. The supple­
m entary effect of glucose an d corn syrups is sufficient to give
the same sw eetness as sucrose in 25— 40% concn.
P. G. M.
Alcoholic polyneuritis. M. R. Brown (J. Amer. Med. Assoc.,
1941, 116, 1615— 1618).— 118 patien ts w ith uncomplicated
alcoholic polyneuritis were given a routine hospital diet and
118 other cases were given intensive vitam in therapy. The
average tim e spent in hospital u n til th e patien ts were dis­
charged as well or im proved w as th e sam e in th e 2 groups.
C. A. K.
Vitamin-/! deficiency and skeletal changes affecting nervous
system [young dog]. E. M ellanby (J. Physiol., 1941, 99,
467—486).— In th e absence of vitam in-/!, th e osteoblastic
and osteoclastic activ ity of th e growing dog is increased,
resulting in th e proliferation of cancellous a t th e expense of
compact bone and causing m any bones (e.g., skull, vertebrx)
to become thickened and enlarged. These overgrowths
[illust.] cause degenerative changes in th e brain and in
cranial and peripheral nerves (cf. A., 1939, I I I , 135, 918).
The pressure of th e c.s.f. in th e cisterna m agna m ay be
double th a t of anim als receiving sim ilar diets containing -A ;
this confirms Moore an d Sykes. T here is compression and
reduction in size of th e 4th ventricle, cisterna magna, and
other cisterna; a t th e base of th e brain, and also a condition
of internal hydrocephalus w ith expansion of th e lateral and
3rd ventricles.
J . A. C.
Distribution of acetylcholine in nervous system. F . C.
Macintosh J . Physiol., 1941, 99, 436—442).— In th e peri­
pheral nervous system of th e cat, th e distribution of acetyl­
choline is th e sam e as th a t of cholinergic fibres. In th e spinal
cord of th e dog it occurs in th e grey m a tte r and in those p a rts
of th e w hite m a tte r containing efferent axons, b u t n o t in
those p a rts of th e w hite m a tte r containing only afferent
axons. In th e brain of th e cat, th e distribution does n o t
run parallel to th a t of th e cell bodies or sy n ap ses; th e cerebral
cortex and some nuclei and tra c ts are relatively rich in acetyl­
choline, other nuclei an d tra c ts relatively poor.
J. A. C.
Tolurosis of central nervous system. C. H . Binford (Amer.
J. clin. Path., 1941, 11, 242— 251).— Review of recent liter­
ature and rep o rt of a case.
C. J. C. B.
Phagocytic activity of oligodendioglia and amphicytes in the
brain, spinal cord, and semilunar ganglion of mouse during
inanition. W . Andrew (Amer. J . Path., 1941,17, 411— 434).—
The oligodendroglia increase in nos. and carry on phago­
cytic activ ity in th e cerebrum , medulla oblongata, and spinal
cord of th e mouse, in starv atio n of sh o rt or long duration.
In the sem ilunar ganglion th e phagocytic role is played by
the am phicytes (cells resem bling oligodendroglia). In p ro ­
longed starv atio n there are definite changes in th e nuclei of
some of th e nerve cells, consisting in increased basophilic
properties, probably correlated w ith th e increase in actual
chromatin content. (4 photom icrographs.)
C. J. C. B.
Nervous system of proglottid of Tentacularia macropora.
M. K. Subram aniam (Current Sci., 1941, 9, 500-—501).— Nerve
fibrils in the proglottides w ere im pregnated by Bielschowsky's
technique. T he nervous system consists of m any nerve cords
of equal thickness. A transverse section of a m aturing p ro­
glottid shows 60 nerve cords lying outside th e circular row of
vitelline glands; fibres leaving these proceed tow ards th e
cuticle and th e organs in th e m edulla. Some fibres going to
the cuticle innervate th e subcuticular longitudinal muscles,
while others end in th e cuticle itself. Individual fibrils of
bundles leaving th e nerve cord separate a fter passing between
the vitelline glands and form a complex netw ork w hich is
thicker on th e sides of th e tw o large lateral excretory vessels
than in th e o th er regions. Innervation of th e various organs
is not by branches from th e nerves b u t by fibrils from th is
plexus. The form ation of th e plexus m akes it impossible to
trace the nerve fibrils from th e nerve cords to th e tissue or
organ innervated. L ongitudinal sections show th a t th e plexus
is well m arked only in th e an terio r half of th e proglottid
where testicular vesicles are presen t in th e medulla. In th e
posterior half of th e segm ent, th e m edulla has th e appearance
of a meshwork due to the presence of innum erable in te r­
crossing fibrils. T he ovary is innervated b y bundles of fibrils
742
proceeding directly from th e nerve cords. N ear th e outer
m argin of th e organ th e fibrils separate and proceed to th e
various regions of th e gland. The nerve cords are n o t com ­
p act and possess no sheaths. There are no ganglionic en­
largem ents and th e ganglionic cells th a t occur are m ostly
bipolar. (1 photom icrograph.)
H . H .-K .
Effect of local freezing on electrical activity of the cerebral
cortex. L. F. Nims, C. Marshall, and A. Nielsen (Yale J .
Biol. Med., 1941, 13, 477— 484).—The freezing of a sm all
area of th e cerebral cortex tended to produce convulsions in
th e dog, m uch less so in th e c a t and monkey. A t first there
was a com plete obliteration or severe depression of electrical
activity, th en recovery followed by abnorm al p attern s. Highvoltage, high-frequency discharges were seen in th e dog while
slower wave forms were common in th e cat.
F . S.
Chemical changes in cerebral cortex following local thermo­
coagulation and local freezing. C. Marshall, L. F. Nims, and
W . E. Stone (Yale J . Biol. M ed., 1941, 13, 485— 488).— In
cats, th e changes (which are much g reater in therm ocoagul­
ation) are increased concns. of lactic acid and inorg. P O ,'" and
decreased concns. of phosphocreatine and hexose phosphate
in th e injured area. The altered electrical sta te after freezing
(cf. preceding abstract) m ay therefore be due to cells func­
tioning in an abnorm al chemical environm ent.
F . S.
Representation of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous
systems in forebrain of cat. H . B. Carlson, E. Gellhorn, and
C. W. Darrow (Arch. Neurol. Psychiat., Chicago., 1941, 45,
105— 116) .—P arasym pathetic and sym pathetic responses occur
in various com binations on stim ulation of various p a rts of
th e forebrain in cats w ith faradic current. The reactions of
th e pupil (normal and sym pathectom ised), n ictitatin g m em ­
brane, blood pressure, and galvanic reflex were recorded.
P arasym pathetic inhibition, shown by pupillary dilatation of
equal degree in th e norm al and sym pathectom ised eye, was
obtained from th e corona radiata, th e basal ganglia, th e hypo­
thalam us, and pretectal area. In th e hypothalam us th is
response occurred along w ith sym pathetic effects. In th e
pretectal region stim ulation gave constriction of th e pupil
followed b y dilatation (parasym pathetic inhibition).
W. M. H.
Subcortical somatic sensory mechanisms of cats under
nembutal anaesthesia. W . H. M arshall (J. Neurophysiol.,
1941, 4, 25— 43).— U nder nem butal anaesthesia a tactile
stim ulus to hairs on th e forefoot of th e c at consistently evokes
m easurable electrical reactions in the tegm entum , thalam us,
in tern al capsule, and cortex. The reactions in tegm entum
and in tern al capsule appear as spike barrages 5— 15 m-sec.
in duration. Three types of electrical activity can be recorded
from th e thalam us : (a) th e lemniscus spike barrage which
presum ably detonates th e thalam ic neurones, (b) a bu rst of
diphasic spikes of axon spike dimensions, and (c) a long,
slow positive wave. In th e regions rostral to th e ventralateral nucleus p ars externa, a definite absolutely unresponsive
tim e is seen in th e responses of single units as well as in th e
sum med activ ity of m any units. I t appears th a t a single
thalam ic neurone can discharge repetitively a t a high fre­
quency for 6— 8 m-sec. owing to a sustained lemniscus bom ­
b ardm ent during th a t interval or longer. This train of spikes
represents a u n it of a ctiv ity after w hich th e mechanism is
refractory.
S. C r.
Effects of prefrontal lobotomy on depressed patients. P.
Worchel and J . G. L yerly (J. Neurophysiol., 1941, 4, 62—
67).— 13 p atien ts showed a definite heightening of th e em o­
tional tone and subsequently th e y showed a tendency to
rem ain above th e level of depression before operation. No
significant changes in th e ir intellectual abilities were revealed.
S. C r .
Technique and evaluation of electroencephalogram. P . A".
Davis ( /. Neurophysiol., 1941, 4, 92— 114).—The m easure­
m ent of sp. features of th e electroencephalogram (e.e.g.) is
described. The lim itations in m easuring single factors, and
of synthesising them , is pointed out. A system of evaluating
th e e.e.g. p a tte rn as a w hole on a 5-point scale from norm ality
to abnorm ality is described. The m ethod has been validated
on selected groups of a d u lt individuals of known norm al,
presum ably norm al, and known abnorm al classification.
S. Cr .
Cortical somatic sensory mechanisms of cat and monkey.
W . H . Marshall, C. N. Woolsey, and P. B ard (J. Neuro­
physiol., 1941, 4, 1— 24).—T he application of a brief tactile
743
A., III.—ix, NERVOUS SYSTEM.
stim ulus of low in ten sity to a very sm all cutaneous area
evokes discrete surface positive p o ten tial waves, th e prim ary
cortical response, in sp. places on th e contralateral cortex
of th e cat or monkey. A single stim ulus evokes tw o or more
max. prim ary responses and each region of response is sur­
rounded by a fringe of subm ax. responses. N em butal,
ether, and other anaesthetics reduce th e a ctiv ity of th e cortex
b u t do n o t greatly affect th e characteristics of th e prim ary
resp o n se; nem butal prolongs th e recovery tim e. In th e
absence of anaesthetics, long-lasting facilitation effects are
found.
S. Cr .
Petechial haemorrhages of brain experimentally produced in
rats by concussion. W. F. Schaller, K. Tam aki, and H . W.
N ewm an (Arch. Neurol. Psychiat., Chicago, 1941, 45, 1— 23).—
W hite ra ts were subjected to a propulsion im pact in ju ry to
th e h e a d ; th e chief histological changes in th e brain were
found in th e vascular tree. The lesions described were th e
result of vascular dilatation, stasis, and anoxaemia and were
clearly different from contusions and lacerations of th e vessels.
These changes m ay be reversible b y resorption of th e peri­
vascular petechiae. Irreversible effects were followed by
obliteration of th e dam aged vessel and replacem ent gliosis.
No instance of large secondary haemorrhagic or softening
process or progression of vascular changes occurred.
W. M. H.
Traumatic shock in experimental cerebral concussion. D.
Denny-Brown and W. R. Russell (J. Physiol., 1941, 99,
6— 7p).— Concussion is an im m ediate b u t tran sito ry paralysis
of all bulbar reflex mechanisms. In ju ry of greater intensity
induces more prolonged paralysis, of lesser in ten sity tran sien t
depression of function. Associated w ith th is nervous
phenom enon are (1) an im m ediate jerk or “ s ta rt ” in th e
m usculature, (2) bradycardia, a respiratory pause, a fall in
blood pressure, and m otor effects in lim bs and tru n k , (3) a
tran sien t rise in blood pressure. Severe vagal effects m ay be
followed by a fu rth er slow progressive fall in blood pressure,
shallow respiration, and loss of spontaneous m ovem ent and
p ostural tone (compare “ acute surgical shock ”). D eath
m ay result from com plete failure of blood pressure, inde­
pendent of asphyxia (cf. A., 1941, II I, 178).
J. A. C.
Choline-like substances and epilepsy. D. W illiams (/.
Physiol., 1941, 99, 8— 9p).—A small subcutaneous injection
of eserine sulphate given to epileptic p atien ts inhibits petit
mal epilepsy recorded in th e electroencephalogram . Petit
mal activ ity is increased by prostigm ine and larger doses of
eserine, also by carbam ylcholine chloride (0-25 mg.) and by
acetylcholine hydrochloride (30— 60 mg. injected rapidly
in to an arm vein). Control injections in norm al subjects
are n o t followed b y epileptic activity.
J. A. C.
Basis of temperament. A. N. B ruce (Edinb. Med. J., 1941,
[iv], 48, 520— 534).— A lecture.
H . S.
Negativism : its treatment and implication. J. S. P la n t
(Amer. J . B is. Child., 1941, 62, 358— 368).—A lecture.
C. J . C. B.
Phosphatidyl serine from brain-kephalin. J. Folch (J.
Biol. Chem., 1941, 139, 973— 974; cf. A., 1941, I I I , 343).—
W hen kephalin (ox) is dissolved in 15 p a rts of CHC13 and
15 p a rts of abs. alcohol are added, p p tn . occurs, m ost of th e
phosphatide (phosphatidyl serine), which contains th e aamino-acid, rem aining in solution. R epetition of th e p ro ­
cedure w ith m aterial recovered from th e solution gives a
p roduct (C 60-9, H 9-3, N 1-6, and P 3-65%) in w hich 97%
of th e N is a-amino-N. H ydrolysis of th is m aterial gives
a, 38% yield of /(-f)-serine.
W . McC.
Phosphorus compounds of brain, n . Adenosine triphos­
phate. S. E. K err [with K. Seraidarian] ( /. Biol. Chem.,
1941, 140, 77— 81; cf. A., 1941, II, 270, 271).—W hen dog’s
brain is rapidly crushed in iced 20% aq. trichloroacetic acid
an d th e m ixture is first diluted w ith w ater and trichloro­
acetic acid until th e acid concn. is approx. 8% and th e ratio
of liquid to brain is 5 : 1, filtration, approx. neutralisation of
th e filtrate w ith N aOH, rem oval of p p td . P O /" , addition of
0-2% of acetic acid and 0-05 vol. of 20% aq. H g acetate, and
application of th e procedure previously described for muscle
tre a tm e n t gives th e B a2 salt of adenosinetriphosphoric acid
in 70% yield. The acid yields adenylic acid ap parently
identical w ith th a t from th e adenosinetriphosphoric acid of
muscle.
W . McC.
744
Correlation between sex and chemical composition of central
nervous system of rats. A. W eil (Endocrinol., 1941, 29, 150—
154).— A fter castratio n w ts. of body and brain decrease in
m ales and increase in females as com pared w ith controls.
B rains of norm al males contain more kephalin and less
galactolipins and sphingomyelin th a n those of females or
castrated males.
v . J. W.
Comparative study of excised cerebral tissues of adult and
infant rats. H . E. Himwich, P. Sykowski, and J. F. Fazekas
(Amer. J . Physiol., 1941, 132, 293—296).—Various parts of
th e ad u lt ra t brain have descending metabolic rates in the
order : cerebral cortex, brain stem , cerebellum, and medulla.
In general, there is an increase of m etabolic rate as the
neuraxis is ascended. The im m ature r a t brain has a lower
m etabolic rate. W ith huge doses of alcohol and pharm a­
cological doses of p en to b arb ital th e abs. depression of
m etabolism is g reatest in th e cerebral cortex and least in
th e brain stem . Cerebral tissue of newly born rats is less
sensitive th a n th a t of adults to alcohol and pentobarbital.
M. W. G.
Effect of hyperthermy on electrolyte composition of brain.
E. N. Liubovitsch {Ukrain. Biochem. J ., 1941, 16, 423—428),—
A n increase in Ca, Na, and Cl content of th e brain of mice
is produced by a tem p, of 42— 43° and R .H . of 30% for 6 hr.
daily for I f m onths and is due to variations in the water
and electrolyte con ten t of th e blood and tissues.
H. G. R.
Changes in sterols during diseases of cerebrum. P. D.
Gorisontov (Biochimia, 1940, 5, 102— 114).—Absorption
spectra indicate variations in th e cerebral sterols of dogs and
an increase in th e m etabolic processes of th e brain in meningo­
encephalitis. From th e la tte r tw o types of sterol can be
isolated : dehydrocholesterol ty p e w ith absorption max. at
282 m/x. and cholestatriene ty p e w ith max. a t 292— 295 m/j.
A sim ilar variation in blood-sterols is observed b u t th e presence
of L ifschiitz’s oxycholesterol in norm al or pathological brain
could n o t be confirmed.
H. G. R.
Chemical composition of brain. D. L. F erdm an and P. D.
D vornikova (Ukrain. Biochem. J ., 1940, 15, 69— 83).—
D uring hibernation, th e suslik’s brain (frozen in situ) contains
14-6 m g.-% of creatinephosphoric acid. D ecapitation of
hibernating susliks and rem oval of th e brain before freezing
in liquid air decreases th e co n ten t of creatinephosphoric
acid by 33%. The am ount of acid in th e frozen brain of
narcotised controls is 42% less th a n th a t in hibernating
anim als, and th is am ount is considerably decreased if the
brain is removed before freezing. The am ount of adenosine
triphosphate in th e brain of hibernating is 27% greater than
in controls. The brain, frozen in situ, of hibernating susliks
contains 27 m g.-% of lactic acid, which is less th a n in control
brains.
‘
J. N. A.
Protein metabolism of brain in trauma. V. Change in
protein and lipin-phosphorus in brain depending on its state.
I. L. B enkovitsch (Ukrain. Biochem. J ., 1940, 15, 105— 114;
cf. A., 1940, III, 718).— A fter rem oval of th e eyeballs of dogs
th ere is a general increase in b rain-P and a sharp rise in the
am ount of P in th e visual cortical centres of both hemispheres.
Cauterising th e nasal mucous m em brane of dogs increases P
in b o th hemispheres m ainly in th e w hite substance and in the
visual and olfactory cortical centres. A m putation of a limb,
especially on th e right side, decreases P in th e opposite motor
centre. A general mechanical trau m a of th e skull or incision
in th e cortex of th e right m otor centre increases th e P content
in all p a rts of th e brain w hich are examined. An incision
in th e cortex of th e right cortical visual centre decreases
P in m ost regions of th e left hem isphere; in the right hemi­
sphere P is increased. An incision in th e cortex of the right
olfactory centre m arkedly increases P in th e left olfactory
cortical c e n tre ; in th e right hemisphere th e P in the motor and
olfactory centres and in th e visual tu b er is decreased but is
increased in other regions of th e brain.
J. N. A.
Effect of age on glycolysis in brain. S. E. Epelbaum and
E. V. Skvirskaja (Ukrain. Biochem. J ., 1940, 15, 233—-248).—The am ount of lactic acid produced during 2 hr. by brain
pulp (rabbit) a t 37— 38° in P O /" buffer containing 0-4%
of glucose (p s 7-04— 7-10) decreases from 3-016% during
th e last days of em bryonic life to 1-879% a t 5— 9 days of
age, to 1-329% a t 12— 22 days, and to 1-002% a t one month,
th e last val. being typical for th e ad u lt brain. In th e brain,
th e content of phospholipins involved in glycolysis is greatest
745
A., III.—x, SENSE ORGANS.
during th e period of greatest glycolysis and hence there is
probably a close connexion betw een glycolysis and change in
amount of P com pounds present. The high glycolytic
activity in brain during early stages of developm ent m ay be
due, in p art, to th e change in th e ratio of grey to w hite
matter, since grey m atter, w hich a t first predom inates,
exhibits high glycolytic activ ity . V ariations in enzymic
activity a t various stages of developm ent are also p a rtly
responsible fo r changes in glycolytic activity.
W. McC.
Variations with age of cholesterol and saturated and un­
saturated phosphatides in central nervous system of rabbits.
L. E. Rozenfeld an d L .T . L ando fUJtrain. Biochem. J ., 1940,
16, 483— 495).—D uring developm ent of th e brain, an increase
in the cholesterol co n ten t of th e grey and, more especially,
white substance, b u t only a slight increase in the phosphatides,
occur. In ad u lt anim als, sa tu ra te d and un satu rated p hos­
phatides dim inish.
H . G. R.
Mechanism of glycolysis in animal brains during different
stages of ontogenesis. Ht. Glycolytic activity of brain in
presence of various substrates. B. I. Chaikina (U krain.
Biochem. J ., 1940, 16, 547— 555; cf. A., 1940, II I, 112).—The
glycolytic a c tiv ity of brains of rab b its and hens a t various
stages of em bryonic and post-em bryonic developm ent under
anaerobic conditions in R inger solution, and in presence of
0-25% of glucose, glycogen, and liexose diphosphate, is deter­
mined. D uring th e early stages of developm ent th e glycolytic
activity of brain is very high in presence of glucose. A slight
decomp, of glycogen tak es place only during embryogenesis.
Hexose diphosphate form s m ore lactic acid th a n does glycogen
and less th a n does glucose. The glycolytic activity of brain
tissue decreases w ith grow th of th e anim als, and th e decrease
occurs m ore rapidly w ith hexose diphosphate th an with
glucose.
J. N. A.
Carbohydrate metabolism in central and peripheral nervous
systems. S. E . E pelbaum {U krain. Biochem. J ., 1940, 15,
449—495).— A review.
W . McC,
Reactions of partly denervated smooth muscle to adrenaline
and sympathin. C. T. K lopp (Amer. J . Physiol., 1940, 130,
475—480).— A fter chronic p a rtia l postganglionic denervation
of the n ictitatin g m em brane (cat), some cells retain th eir
normal sensitivity to sym p athin an d adrenaline w hilst
others are m ore sensitive. Such differentiation is absent
in norm al or to tally decentralised or denervated membranes.
This difference is due to changes in th e effector and no t
the superior cervical ganglion. R em oval of th e eyeballs
did not influence th e results.
M. W . G.
Sympathetic preganglionic outflow to limbs of monkeys. D.
Sheehan and A. S. M arrazzi ( / . Neurophysiol., 1941, 4, 68—
79).—The sym pathetic preganglionic outflow from th e spinal
cord to th e lim bs has been re-investigated b y recording action
potentials in th e peripheral nerves following stim ulation of
ventral roots. In the low er ex trem ity th e outflow extends
from Th. 11 to L. 4 in the c a t and T h. 12 to L 3 in th e rhesus
monkey, and to th e m onkey’s upper extrem ity it extends
from T h 4 to 8. T hus it is more restricted th a n earlier workers
have found. T he n atu re of th e outflow was studied. Large
C waves were recorded in b o th anim als; B waves were
recorded in th e cat, b u t only rarely in th e monkey. Nicotine
abolished b o th B and C waves, th u s establishing th eir
autonomic nature.
S. C r.
Electrical stimulation of concentrating (adrenergic) and
dispersing (cholinergic) nerve fibres of melanophores in cat­
fish. G. H . P ark er and A. R osenblueth (Proc. N at. Acad.
Sci., 1941, 27, 198— 204).— The innervated region in th e ta il
of Ameirurus nebulosus blanches when th e melanophore
nerves (probably th eir adrenergic fibres) are electrically
stimulated for periods of 5— 20 min. a t frequencies of 15— 25
per sec. w ith pulses of 4— 8 m-sec. d uration a t approx.
8 v. W hen th e stim ulation period is 5— 10 min. a t frequencies
of 1—-2 per sec. w ith pulses of 0-3— 0-5 sec. d uration a t
6—8 v. th e region is darkened, th e fibres concerned being
probably cholinergic. A t 4 v. th ere is neither blanching nor
darkening. The m elanophores of th is fish, of o th er teleosts,
and possibly of cham eleon are p robably doubly innervated.
W , McC.
Diagnostic value of Takata-Ara reaction in cerebrospinal
fluid. P. B. Szanto and S. B urack (J. Lab. clin. Med., 1941,
28, 1079— 1084).—T he T ak ata-A ra reaction is of g reat val.
in the diagnosis of syphilis and of th e central nervous system
746
and shows an abs. parallelism to th e Au sol reaction and
th e globulin-album in ratio.
C. J. C. B.
Diagnostic value of colloidal carbon flocculation test in
cerebrospinal fluid. P. B. Szanto, S. B urack, and O. Kreisler
( /. Lab. clin. M ed., 1941, 26, 13+9— 1351).—The colloidal C
flocculation te st was positive in 90-4% of 141 cases of general
paresis w ith a positive c.s.f. W asserm ann reaction. T he te s t
is more sensitive th a n th e Au sol and T ak a ta -A ra tests.
C. J. C. B.
Ether and normal saline solution absorption from subarachnoid space [dog], T . H . B. Bedford (J. Physiol., 1941,
99, 487—495).—The adm inistration of ether to dogs anaesthet­
ised w ith am ytal, avertin, or chloralose causes a m arked
reduction in th e ra te of absorp tio n ; th e effect persists as
long as, th e ether adm inistration and is due to dilatation
of cerebral blood vessels. V ariation in th e rate of adm in­
istratio n of eth er to anim als already under th e influence of
th is anaesthetic is unaccom panied b y an y change in ra te of
absorption. E th e r dilates th e cerebral vessels when the
degree of ether satu ratio n is low ; th is action passes off as
satu ratio n increases.
J . A. C.
X .-S EN S E ORGANS.
Insertions of levator palpebrse muscle. H . R. H ildreth
(Amer. J . Ophthal., 1941, 24, 749—758).—The muscle is
inserted by a broad tendinous sheet in to th e lower an terio r
surface of th e tarsu s an d in to th e skin. M uller's sm ooth
muscle layer lies posterior to th e le v a to r; it arises from th e
belly of th e levator and is inserted into th e upper border of
th e tarsus. An operation for ptosis is described; it consists
of advancem ent of th e levator tendon through a skin incision.
This approach avoids th e danger of m istaking M uller’s muscle
for th e levator.
W . T. A.
Phlyctenular conjunctivitis [treatment with tuberculin].
P . J . H ow ard ( /. Pediat., 1940, 17, 185— 192).— D etails of
trea tm en t of 16 cases of phlyctenular conjunctivitis are
given. I t is im p o rtan t to determ ine th e sm allest am ount of
tuberculin to w hich th e p a tie n t will give an intraderm al
reaction and to s ta rt desensitising injections below th is point.
If reactions are encouraged either locally a t th e site of injec­
tion or a t th e focus of infection, or generally, w ith rise of
tem p., th e am ount of tuberculin m ust be lowered again. In
m ost cases acute inflam m ation can be overcome in 3— 6 weeks
and sight can be restored, except for an occasional corneal
scar.
C. J. C. B.
Exophthalmos in goitre. N. M. H arry (Med. J . Austral.,
1941, 28, I, 412— 418).—The aetiology, pathology, and
clinical features of exophthalm os and lid retraction in goitre
are reviewed. A plea is made for more careful differentiation
betw een these tw o conditions.
W . T. A.
Calcium therapy in eye diseases. A. K rebs (Penn. Med. J .,
1941, 44, 874— 876).
E. M. J.
An anophthalmic strain of mice. n . Effect of congenital
eyelessness on reproductive phenomena. E. B. Chase (Anat.
Rec., 1941, 80, 33— 36).—Eyeless fem ale mice were signi­
ficantly younger th a n controls a t th e tim e of th e first comified
vaginal sm ear. In o th er phenom ena n either sex differed
from controls.
W. T. A.
Pigmentary changes and background response in Amphibia.
B. Dawes (Nature, 1941, 147, 806— 807).—A discussion of th e
source an d fate of th e melanin involved in pigm entary
changes in th e skin of A m phibia.
W. T. A.
Transplantation of eye primordia in chick embryo. A.
W eber (Arch. Sci. phys. nat., 1940, [v], 22, Suppl., 273— 274).
—W hen an eye prim ordium of a 48-hr. chick em bryo is
grafted on to an o th er 48-hr. em bryo, th e dorsal cord in th e
region of th e g ra ft behaves as if th e norm al developm ent a t
th e cephalic end w as occurring. Im p lan tatio n of th e retin a
is effective only when th e lens is im planted too. A t ab ou t
60 hr. th e lens and retinal cup of b o th norm al and im planted
Cyes show sim ilar g ran u lar changes in th eir cytoplasm .
These effects are pro b ab ly n o t due to influences tran sm itted
by th e blood o r lym phatic stream s, for th e sphere of action
corresponds w ith no know n anatom ical distribution of th e
respective vessels.
J. L. D.
Distance object test type for children. F . E. P reston (Brit.
J . Ophthal., 1941, 25, 357— 360).—A description of a visual
747
A., III.—x, SENSE ORGANS.
acuity te s t c h art w ith pictures of fam iliar objects draw n on
th e Snellen le tte r principle.
W . T. A.
Problems of vision testing for screening purposes. E . W .
Mumford (Sight Saving Rev., 1941, 11, 136— 149).— A bstracts
of recent literatu re (cf. A., 1941, I I I , 500).
H . L.
Fifty years’ experience in ocular motility, n , m . W . B.
L ancaster (A m e r.J . Ophthal., 1941, 24, 619— 624, 741— 748;
cf. A., 1941, II I, 568).— II. Some practical p oints in th e
diagnosis of eye deviations.
II I. R em arks on retinal correspondence and th e tre atm e n t
of heterophoria.
W . T. A.
Newer developments on orthoptics with reference to reading
problems. O. B. N ugent and V. Ilg {Eye, Ear, Throat, 1941,
20, 173— 178).—V isual function w as te sted in 160 children
and young adults of norm al intelligence w ith reading diffi­
culties other th a n those due to strabism us. T he findings are
tab u lated according to age groups and com pared w ith sub­
sequent findings as obtained b o th in cases w hich had m ean­
while been given orthoptic train in g and in others w hich had not
been treated. W hile more losses were found in th e second
group, th e gains in th e first group included im provem ent in
binocular suppression, right eye suppression, n ear po in t fusion,
lateral balance a t th e fa r point, duction ratio, sta tic and
dynam ic foci, binocular and m onocular p u rsu it fixation, and
increase in abduction and adduction recovery points. F in d ­
ings are also given of a stu d y of 33 random selected children
w ith regard to preference (hand, foot, eye, ear), binocular
and m onocular p u rsu it fixations, and G ray Oral R eading
Check Tests.
H . L.
Squint in relation to loss of vision. H . W . G ran t (Minnesota
Med., 1941, 24, 9— 11).
E . M. J.
Case of blue sclerotics. J . P . S. W alker (Brit. J . Ophthal.,
1941, 25, 3S3).— On trephining th e p a tie n t’s eye for glaucoma
the sclera was found to be very th in .
W . T. A.
Mechanism of intra-ocular pressure in Mammalia. T.
H enderson (Brit. J . Ophthal., 1941, 25, 349—-356).— A no.
of argum ents, based on clinical observations and hydrodynam ic principles, are adduced fo r supposing th a t th e
norm al intra-ocular pressure is th e sam e as th e in tra-cranial
pressure, nam ely, in m an, a b o u t 10 mm. H g.
W . T. A.
Intra-ocular pressure at high altitudes. E . A. Pinson (J.
aviat. M ed., 1940,11, 108— 111).—The intra-ocular pressure of
anaesthetised rab b its was m easured directly With a capillary
H g m anom eter during environm ental pressure changes equiv.
to rates of ascent and descent of 1000— 30,000 ft. p er min. up
to altitudes of 40,000 ft. These changes produced no a lte r­
ation in intra-ocular pressure sufficient to cause concern as
to an y in ju ry or discom fort to th e eye.
F. S.
Rare form of glaucoma. S. J. Beach and E . E . H olt
(Ainer. J . Ophthal., 1941, 24, 668— 673).-—N ine cases, 8 in
women, of glaucom a following m ydriasis are described.
M iotics prom ptly term inated th e attac k s an d glaucom a did
n o t subsequently develop. In 4 p a tie n ts th e an terio r cham ­
ber was shallow.
W . T. A.
Effects of adrenaline and acetylcholine on isolated iris
muscle, in relation to pupillary regulation. J . W . Bean and
D. F . B ohr (Anier. J . Physiol., 1941, 133, 106— 111).—The
sphincter muscle of th e iris of dog, cow, an d ra b b it was
inhibited b y adrenaline; occasionally in th e dog and cow
contraction followed. T he sphincter muscle w as contracted
b y acetylcholine b u t its sensitivity w as low. The radial
muscle w as contracted b y adrenaline in th e dog an d ra b b it
b u t usually inhibited in th e cow. A cetylcholine usually had
no effect on radial muscle. T he dilato r muscle w as m uch
less sensitive to adrenaline th a n th e sphincter, suggesting
th a t sym pathetic effects on th e pupil are b rought a b o u t b y
changes in tonus of th e sphincter.
W . T. A.
Experimental acute iridocyclitis in rabbits produced by coliform bacteria isolated from upper respiratory tract of man.
C. Berens and E . L. Nilson (Airier. J . Ophthal., 1941, 24,
645— 654).— Cultures of coliform bacilli from th e hum an
upper respiratory tra c t, when injected intravenously into
rabbits, were m ore p o ten t in producing iridocyclitis th a n
were other respiratory organism s or faecal coliform strains.
F iltrates of th e cultures were equally effective. A tem porary
p artial or com plete im m unity to th e production of irido­
748
cyclitis b y coliform bacilli was induced by intravenous
injection of sm all doses of culture or filtrate.
W . T. A.
Influence of cervical sympathetic nerve on lens. J . M. D.
Olmsted and M. W . Morgan (Artier. J . Physiol., 1941, 133,
720—-723).— Photographs of th e P urk in je-S an so n images re­
flected from th e eye of th e ra b b it showed th a t stim ulation of
th is nerve decreased th e cu rv atu re of th e an terio r surface of
th e lens. In th e p a rtially iridectom ised c a t photographs
of th e an terio r surface of th e lens showed flattening of this
surface during stim ulation of th e nerve.
W . T. A.
Spontaneous absorption of cataract. W . M. Box (Med. J.
A ustral., 1941, 28, I, 451—452).— A case in a m an aged 36
is described; th ere was no h isto ry of ocular injury.
W . T. A.
Spasm of retinal artery, with thrombosis of retinal vein.
Case report. S. A. A gatston (Eye, Ear, Throat, 1941, 20,
183).—C ase reported (young adult).
H . L.
Changes in retinal arteries before convulsions induced by
electric shock. E. C. Milch (Arch. Neurol. Psychiat., Chicago,
1941, 45, 848— 850).— The retin al arteries were observed in
psychotic p atien ts in th e period of unconsciousness preceding
electrically induced convulsions. In 10 p a tie n ts who de­
veloped convulsions constriction of th e arteries w as noticed
5 to 10 sec. before th e onset. V asoconstriction w as usually
n o t observed in p atien ts in w hom unconsciousness was not
followed b y convulsions.
W. T. A.
Retinopathia centralis angiospastica (angioneurotica) and
serosa allergica, and their relation to detachment of retina.
A. Loewenstein (Brit. J . Ophthal., 1941, 25, 369— 383).—
Cases are described. Allergic spasm of th e retin al and
choroidal vessels w ith oedema of th e surrounding tissue may
lead to detach m en t of th e retin a.
W . T. A.
Energy and visual threshold. S. H echt and M. H . Pirenne
(Science, 1941, 93, 585—587).— The min. energy required to
elicit th e sensation of light w as determ ined for th e darkadap ted eye w ith m onochrom atic lig h t of A 510 m/i, under
conditions know n to give m ax. sensitivity. T he vals. for 6
subjects ranged betw een 2-2 an d 5-7 X 10‘10 erg a t th e cornea,
w hich is equiv. to 58 to 148 q u a n ta of light. Corrections
were applied for th e loss of energy due to reflexion from the
cornea, in transm ission through th e ocular m edia, and in
abso rp tio n b y th e visual purple of th e rods. The vals. so
corr. were 5— 14 q u a n ta absorbed b y th e retin a. The area
on w hich th is no. of q u a n ta w as absorbed contains about
500 receptor cells, an d th e p ro b ab ility of 2 q u a n ta being
absorbed b y a single rod is therefore a b o u t 4% only. I t is
concluded th a t in order to see, 1 q u a n tu m of lig h t m ust be
absorbed b y each of 5 to 14 rods. A ssum ing a quantum
efficiency for visual purple of 1, th is m eans t h a t 1 mol. of
visual purple m u st be broken down in 5 to 14 rods in order
to give a visual effect. These conclusions were verified inde­
p en d en tly in th e following w ay. T he no. of q u a n ta of stimul­
a tin g light w as varied b y sm all changes in th e brightness of
th e te s t flash, an d th e log average no. of q u a n ta w as plotted
ag ain st th e percentage of th e no. of flashes reported as seen
b y th e su b ject a t each of 6 levels of brightness. Comparison
of th e curves so obtained from 3 subjects w ith a Poisson
pro b ab ility d istrib u tio n of th e log average no. of quanta
p lo tted ag ain st th e frequency w ith w hich th e flash will con­
ta in n or m ore q u a n ta fo r vals. of n from 1 to 9, showed that
for these subjects th e curves obtained fitted th e vals. for
n = 5, 6, and 7, which agrees closely w ith th e vals. obtained
b y straightforw ard physical m easurem ent. C ontrary to pre­
vious assum ption, th e fluctuations in response b y th e organ­
ism in m easurem ents a t th e threshold, w here th e quan ta of
energy are few, are due to variatio n s in th e no. of quanta
received, and th e n a tu re of th is v ariab ility determ ines the
variations encountered betw een response an d stim ulus.
D . M. S.
Relation between electroencephalogram and reaction time
to visual stimuli in man. T. M ita (Tohoku J . exp. Med., 1941,
39, 485— 504).— The electroencephalogram (e.e.g.) was
recorded from fro n tal and occipital electrodes. T he subject’s
reaction tim e to a flash of light, as signalled b y a fore-finger
m ovem ent, w as sim ultaneously recorded. In response to a
flash of light th e e.e.g. showed a la te n t period followed by a
diphasic negative-positive (at fro n tal electrode) potential
variation. T his appeared to represent an “ on-effect." In­
hibition of th e a waves began a t a b o u t th e negative peak.
749
A., III.—x, SENSE ORGANS.
The positive peak approx. coincided w ith th e forefinger
reaction. A n increase in in ten sity of th e light stim ulus,
over a range from 10~° to 10* m illilam bert, caused a p ro­
gressive decrease in th e la te n t period of th e e.e.g. response
and in th e reaction tim e (approx. from 0-5 to 0T sec. and
from 1-0 to 0-36 sec. respectively). The in terv al between
negative an d positive peaks rem ained const, a t a b o u t 0-16
sec. The difference betw een la te n t period of e.e.g. response
and reaction tim e also rem ained const, a t ab o u t 0-18 sec.
independently of in ten sity of stim ulus. The difference be­
tween tim e of onset of a wave inhibition and reaction tim e
was about th e sam e as th a t betw een la te n t period of sensation
and reaction tim e. W hen more com plicated reactions were
used th e reaction tim e w as longer b u t th e e.e.g. appearance
remained su b stan tially th e same.
W . T. A.
Nature of dark adaptation. K. J. W. Graik an d M. D.
Vernon (Brit. J . Psychol., 1941, 32, 02— 81).—Tem porary
blindness produced by m echanical pressure on th e eye,
occluding th e arteries and presum ably causing retinal anoxia
and nerve block, affords a convenient m ethod for separating
processes occurring in th e eye and brain. An eye can become
bright-adapted while th u s blinded, and can also recover
dark ad ap tatio n while pressure is m ain tain ed ; th is indicates
th at b o th processes arc retin al in origin. Positive after­
images contribute to th e raised threshold following bright
a d ap tatio n ; th e ir tim e course has been measured by a
matching m ethod an d th eir co ntribution assessed. B right
adaptation b y illum ination above 12,000 e.f.c. causes no
further delay in d a rk a d a p ta tio n ; a photochem ical explan­
ation of th is satu ratio n effect is proposed. Using very small
test fields fo r m easuring d a rk adap tatio n , th e difference
between rod and cone ad ap ta tio n is app aren tly only ab o u t
8-fold.
K. J. W . C.
Effect of caffeine and bromide on dark adaptation. R. W.
Ditchbum and E . J . P . Steel (Nature, 1941, 147, 745— 746).—
Doses of K B r up to 25 grains had no effect on th e ra te of
adaptation of th e central p a rt of th e retin a or on th e scatter
of the observations of subjects during th e first min. of dark
adaptation, following a period of lig h t adap tatio n . One of
two subjects showed no effect following doses of caffeine up
to 8 grains. T he other si)owed a sm all b u t definite increase
iu the rate of d ark ad ap ta tio n following doses of 6— 10 grains
of caffeine. T his effect was, however, considerably less th a n
the decrease obtained by vitam in-/! starv atio n for 17 days.
At no tim e w as fatigue or m inor ill h ealth found to affect the
rate of dark ad ap ta tio n .
D. M. S.
Theory and measurement of visual mechanisms. IV.
Critical intensities for visual flicker, monocular and binocular.
V. Flash duration and critical intensity for response to flicker.
W. J. Crozier and E . W olf (J. Gen. Physiol., 1941, 24, 505—
534, 635— 654; cf. A., 1940, II I, 116).— IV. The law of
binocular sum m ation fo r crit. flicker frequency is show n to
be different a t th e rod-cone inflexion and a t th e m ax. cone
frequency. An a tte m p t is m ade to describe these results in
terms of th e th eo ry of a p rob ab ility distribution of sensitivity
among retinal receptors.
. Y- If th e light period in a flicker of fixed frequency, which
is just a t th e crit. flicker frequency for th e in ten sity used, is
reduced, th e flash in ten sity can also be reduced b y a certain
amount, m aintaining th e flicker frequency as crit.
K. J . W . C.
Simplex flicker threshold contour for zebra finch. W. J.
trozier and E . W olf (J. Gen. Physiol., 1941, 24, 625— 635).—
u cr^:' fi'cker frequency curve fo r th is p u re cone retina
shows no " r o d -c o n e ” inflexion.
If. J. W . C.
Factors determining direction of visual after-im age drift.
w, G\ H erm ans ( / . E xp. Psychol., 1941, 28, 187— I9S).—
Afterimages ten d to d rift (a) tow ards an y fixation point
*nd (b) in th e direction of th e preceding m uscular tensions
aue to rotation of th e eye.
K. J . W . C.
Change in size of after-im age in total darkness. F. V.
¿aylor (J, E xp. Psychol., 1941, 29, 75— 80).— The app aren t
■ze of a positive after-im age seen in com plete darkness
decreases if th e head is moved forw ard and increases if it is
moved backw ards. T his effect is only obtained if th e conergence and accom m odation of th e eyes is unrestricted b y
any fixation point. T hus it appears th a t stim uli from neck
muscies and th e laby rinths influence accom m odation and
m (a ., h i .)
750
convergence, and these are known to affect th e ap p aren t
size of images.
K . J. W . C.
Bartley effect in estimation of equivalent brightness. W . C.
H alstead (J. E xp. Psychol., 1941, 28, 524— 528).—The
B artley or Briicke effect (the enhancem ent of subjective
brightness of flickering light a t frequencies of a b o u t 10 p er
sec.) is shown n o t to be due to pupillary or accom m odation
mechanisms.
K . J, W. C.
Spectral saturation curves for chimpanzee and man. W . F.
G rether (J. E xp . Psychol., 1941, 28, 419—427).— S aturation
curves for th e chim panzee resemble those for h u m an beings
except th a t th e point of lowest satu ratio n is a t 570 m/t. in
men and a t 575 'myi. in th e chimpanzee. This suggests, in
term s of th e Y oung-H elm holtz theory, a sh ift of th e crossing
point of red and green response curves tow ards th e sh o rter AA.
K. J . W . C.
Activity in optic system following stimulation by brief flashes
of light. G. H . Bishop and S. H . B artley (Proc. Soc. E xp.
Biol. Mecl., 1941, 46, 657— 558).— S tim ulation of th e retina
of th e c a t by flashes of light produces 3 nerve responses, an
im m ediate and a delayed " on ” and an " off.” The nerve
response is facilitated a t th e geniculate level, and th e first
few spikes can be correlated w ith spike-like elevations in the
cortical and colliculus records. In th e c a t th e colliculus is
activated b y th e highest threshold nerve fibres, th e cortex
by th e lowest threshold fibres. In th e ra b b it th e colliculus
record shows 2 successive elevations from low- and liighthreshold fibres. In b o th anim als th e colliculus response is
reversed in sign when th e recording electrode is inserted to the
level of th e stra tu m opticum.
W. T. A.
Corpus callosum, n . Higher visual functions in each
homonymous field following complete section of corpus
callosum. A. J. Akelaitis (Arch. Neurol. Psychiat., Chicago,
1941, 45, 788— 796).— Visual perceptions in each homonymous
field were studied in 6 epileptic p atien ts in whom th e corpus
callosum h ad been completely sectioned. No disturbance of
abs. or relative orientation, or of discrim ination of size, or of
recognition of colours, objects, or letters was found in either
field.
W . T. A.
Ear in experimental vitamin-/l deficiency. H . B. Perlm an
and J. W illard (Ann. Otol., etc., St. Louis, 1941, 50, 349—
362).— E xtensive h ypertrophy of th e periosteal layer of the
cranial surface of th e otic capsule including th e internal
acoustic m eatus, posterior fossa surface, and m outh of th e
flocculus were observed in young rab b its fed on a diet rich
in cereals an d entirely free from vitam in-/! and its pre­
cursors. W hile th e compression and stretching of th e nerve
fibres and Scarpa's ganglion caused th ereb y did n o t im pair
cochlear function (as shown by threshold studies on th e
acoustic middle ear muscle reflex), it resulted in various
degrees of degenerative changes in some of th e vestibular
and cochlear ganglion cells and in one case in degeneration of
th e peripheral fibres going to p a rt of th e basal coil. There
w as no evidence of serious labyrinthitis, degeneration of
C orti’s organ, th e v estibular end organs, or th e stria vascu­
laris nor of im pairm ent of th e middle ear and ad jacent bony
lab y rin th structures.
H . L.
Present interpretation of otosclerosis [and its treatment].
J . A. B abbitt- and L. E. Silcox (Penn. Med.
1941, 44,
841— 845).—A review.
E . M. J.
Ossicle changes in otosclerosis. F . N ager (Schweiz, mtd.
IVschr., 1941, 71, 757— 758).— 46 petrous bones of 31 cases of
otosclerosis were examined. In cases showing m ore or less
complete stapedal ankylosis, changes in th e ossicular jo in ts
were a frequent associated finding, th e degree of these changes
depending on th a t of th e lesion in th e oval window. They
are held to be due to a displacem ent of th e stapedal head
in th e direction of th e stapes tendon causing displacem ent
and overstretching of th e joints. The changes in th e malleolar
incudal jo in t m ay explain H olm gren’s observation in some
cases of otosclerosis of an absence of malleolar m ovem ent
on changes in pressure. In 1 case otosclerotic lesions were
found in b o th malleus and incus.
H . L.
Chemotherapy in otolaryngology. J . W . H am psey (Penn.
Med. / . , 1941, 44, 900— 904).—The indications for m astoid­
ectom y in cases of acu te o titis m edia receiving sulphanilamides w hich to a certain e x te n t m ask th e usual sym ptom s
are discussed.
E . M. J.
751
A., III.—xi, DUCTLESS GLANDS, EXCLUDING GONADS.
Use of prostigmin methosulphate in deainess. L. W .
A lexander (New Orleans Med. J . , 1941, 93, 474— 476).—
H earing was restored a ite r 3 injections of 1 c.c. of a 0-05%
solution a t 48-hr. intervals in 20 cases of tu b o ty m p an itis and
6 in the end stage of acute o titis m edia a fte r th e usual tre a t­
m ent had failed. 44 cases of chronic cata rrh al o titis media
were given I c.c. tw ice a week along w ith catheterisation and
m assage; 16 showed good recovery of hearing, 13 im proved.
3 of 5 cases of tin n itu s were com pletely relieved, 2 much
im proved, and relief w as also obtained in 5 cases of facial
neuralgia. Prostigm in brom ide m ay be used for oral ad ­
m inistration.
E. M. J.
Cochlear activity after death. E . G. W ever, C. W . B ray,
and W. Lawrence (Ann. Otol., etc., St. Louis, 1941, 50, 317—
329).— Cochlear p o tentials were studied in guinea-pigs and
cats killed by pithing th e medulla, clam ping th e heart,
clam ping the trachea, or poisoning w ith curare. E ach of
these procedures produced a p ro m p t im pairm ent of response,
b ut it w as m ost rapid a fter clam ping th e h e a rt and least
rapid a fter curare poisoning. A fter a large in itial loss, th e
response declined relatively slowly, occasionally showing
periods of stab ility and p artial recovery. B oth a *' rebound,"
found com m only a fte r th e initial drop, and a late p artial
recovery occurred in the absence of th e m iddle ear, showing
th a t these are n o t due to relaxation of th e tym panic muscles.
T he initial fall in p o ten tial seemed unrelated to body tem p,
b u t slight applications of h e a t caused a noticeable increase
in th e response. The curves for different tones, w hich began
b y falling sim ilarly, la te r followed slightly separate courses,
high tones usually show ing th e m ost rapid decline. W hile
th e m agnitude of responses w»as reduced b y death , no sig­
nificant variation occurred in th e form of th e in ten sity
fu n c tio n ; th e course of th e change w as practically independent
of th e degree of stim ulation. I t is suggested th a t th e cochlear
p otentials arise th rough a d irect tran slatio n of stim ulus
energy and n o t through a liberation of stored energy.
H . L.
Reactions of ear to sound. A. G. Pohlm an (Ann. Otol., etc.,
St. Louis., 1941, 50, 363— 378).— W hile it is conceded th a t th e
tym panic m em brane vibrates to sound, th a t sounds are
conducted through th e ossicle chain, and th a t bone-conducted
sounds are heard in th e sam e w ay as air-conducted sounds,
all th e other assertions of th e W eber-H elm holtz th eo ry are
adversely criticised. T he leverage action serves as shock
absorption ra th e r th a n b y im proving sound conduction.
The la b y rin th is an incom pressible m edium an d th e otic
capsule n o t inelastic. E specially th e results of L em b ert’s
fenestration operation (by w hich all mass m ovem ent in th e
cochlear liquid is com pletely suppressed) in cases of stapes
ankylosis disprove th a t m ass displacem ents in th e lab y rin th
liquid, due to interaction betw een th e 2 window's, are essential
to audition and th a t, as suggested by v . B6kesy, endolym ph
and perilym ph ducts and blood vessels a c t as com pensation
areas perm itting the shifting of labyrinthine liquid when
pressure is applied to the round window in cases of fixed
stapes. The assum ption th a t th e basilar m em brane vibrates
transversely and serves as a m echanical harm onic analyser
is held to be disproved by th e facts th a t individuals w ith a
scala comm unis cochlea:, affording a connexion betw een
th e scala vestibuli and th e scala ty m p an i proxim al to the
d istal end of th e cochlear duct, have norm al hearing an d th a t
individuals in w hom th e L em bert operation w as perform ed
do not h ear all frequencies in to o high a p itch. Finally,
the auditory cells in C orti’s organ are th o u g h t to respond
specifically to frequencies, th e ir stru c tu ral sim ilarity being
no evidence of functional sim ilarity, and to be directly
activated by th e pulsating pressures applied to them through
th e lab y rin th in e liquid.
H . L.
Behaviour of time-difference and phase-diflerence in the
binaural effect. Y. K itu ti and T. Yosida (Japan. J . Med.
Set., 1940, I I I , 7, 71—-77).—The binaural spacial sense of
pure tone for £ sec. is affected b y b o th tim e difference and
phase difference.
T. F . D.
Drug therapy in some common otolaryngological conditions.
R. A lm our (A'\Y . Sta. J . M ed., 1939, 39, 128— 131).— A
review.
E . M. J.
Drugs in M6ni6re’s disease. M. A tkinson (J. A m er. Med.
Assoc., 1941, 116, 1753— 1760).— Some cases of M eniere's
disease are hypersensitive to histam ine, w hich m ay reproduce
a tta c k s ; histam ine desensitisation gives relief. T he m ajo rity
752
of cases respond well to vasodilators, e.g., nitrites, histamine,
acetylcholine, nicotinic acid, an d to thiam in, indicating a
vasospastic origin.
C. A. K.
Changes in vestibular sensitivity in Méniére’s syndrome and
their significance. M. A tkinson (Arch. Otolaryngol., 1941, 33,
969— 974).— The syndrom e m ay be due either to allergy or
to vasospasm . In th e allergic ty p e v estib u lar function is
dim inished or unchanged, th e excess of endolym ph, caused
b y increased p erm eability of th e vessels of th e stria vas­
cularis, dam ping dow n th e m ovem ent of th e h a ir cells in
th e sem icircular canals. In th e vasospastic form vestibular
sensitivity is nearly alw ays increased, a phenom enon com­
parable w ith parassthesiae in a lim b receiving a diminished
blood supply.
H . L.
Treatment of laryngeal tuberculosis.
(Dtsch. Tuberh.-Bl„ 1939, 13, 202— 208).
Abuses of nasal medication.
1941, 34, 524— 528).
W.
E . Schaich
E . M. J.
B. J. McMahon S th .M e d .J .,
E . M. J.
Xl.-D UC TLESS GLANDS, EXCLUDING GONADS.
Recent progress in endocrinology. E. von H am m (Ohio
Sta. Med. J ., 1941, 37, 625— 632).— A review.
E. M. J.
Changes during growth in weight and composition of endo­
crine glands of rabbits. T. P . Schcsterikova and N. M.
Poljakova (Ultrain. Biochem. J ., 1940, 15, 369— 3S4).— Until
the age of 90 days is attain ed , th e sol. N content of the
thym us (thyroid ?) gland rem ains alm ost unchanged and the
residual N content decreases. Betw een th e ages of 90 and
150 days, these changes are reversed and the w t. of th e gland
decreases. The abs. am ount of cholesterol in th e testes and
ovaries increases as th e w t. of these organs increases. In
th e testes, th e cholesterol con ten t decreases when sexual
m a tu rity is attain ed an d rem ains low in ad u lt life, b u t in the
ovaries it increases during a d u lt life a fte r decreasing during
th e period when sexual m a tu rity is a ttain ed . The diminu­
tions are a ttrib u te d to conversion of cholesterol into sex
horm ones and th e increase to form ation of corpora lutea.
The adrenaline co n ten t of th e adrenal glands varies little
w ith age, there being a small increase a t 20— 60 days.
W. McC.
Correlation between sex hormones, thyroid hormones, and
deoxycorticosterone judged by their effects on weights of organs
of gonadectomised rats. V. K orenchevsky and K. Hall
(Biochem. J ., 1941, 35, 726— 735).— Co-operative activity of
thyroid horm ones and cestrogens in males and females is
shown b y increased h y pertrophy of adrenals, liver, kidneys,
and h eart in ra ts treated w ith b o th as com pared w ith either
separately. The w t. of th e thym us is unchanged or slightly
increased, w hilst th e spleen, which decreases a fte r oestrogen
treatm en t, is enlarged. A ndrosterone, given in combination
w ith these tw o hormones, in females is only slightly antagon­
istic, p articu larly w ith large doses of thyro id but, when
cestrogens are om itted, its antagonistic effect is considerable.
Testosterone propionate is more effective in th is respect than
androsterone. T here is no obvious correlation between
deoxycorticosterone and thyro id horm ones in th e sex organs,
adrenals, p itu itary , and thym us of male rats, although, with
sm all doses of thyroid, deoxycorticosterone shows some
antagonism in th e case of gain in body-w t. and fat deposition,
and there is co-operative activ ity in th e case of liver, kidneys,
spleen, an d h eart.
P. G. M.
Management of hyperthyroidism complicated by other con­
ditions. R. B. C attell (Penn. Med. J ., 1941, 44, 685— 691).
E. M. J.
Kidney function in hyperthyroidism. E . C. B artels (AM7Sta. J . M ed., 1939, 39, 117— 120).— U rea clearance test was
w ithin norm al range in 17 of 23 cases of hyperthyroidism and
only slightly below norm al in th e rem aining 6 cases.
E . M. J.
Secondary exophthalmic goitre. J. E . McClenahan and
J. P. Griffith (Penn. Med. J ., 1941, 44, 1146— 1151).
E. M. J.
Symptoms, sequelae, and treatment of nodular goitre.
W . C. K appes (Sth. M ed. J ., 1941, 34, 517— 520). E. M. J.
Recent studies on diagnosis of hypothyroidism in children.
L. W ilkins (Penn. M ed. J ., 1941, 44, 429— 432).
E. M. J-
753
A., III.—xi, DUCTLESS GLANDS, EXCLUDING GONADS.
Effect of testosterone propionate on creatinuria oi experi­
mental hyperthyroidism in male and female monkeys. J. W.
Jailer (E n d o c r i n o l1941, 29, 89—92).— D aily injections of
1 mg. of thyroxine cause creatine excretion to equal or
exceed excretion of creatinine, reaching over 100 mg. per
24 hr. If 10 mg. of testosterone propionate was given daily
in addition, creatine excretion was reduced to norm al in both
sexes.
V. J . W.
Radioactive iodine as indicator in thyroid physiology. HI.
Iodine collection as criterion of thyroid function in rabbits
injected with thyrotrophic hormone. S. H ertz and A.
Roberts (Endocrinol., 1941, 29, S2—8 8 ; cf. A., 1938, III,
800; 1940, II I, 578).— A dm inistration of the hormone causes
initial increase in cell height, thyroid w t., and basal m eta­
bolic rate, reaching a max. in about 5 days and then declining.
Decline is hastened by adm inistration of I. Thyroid I col­
lection (thyroid-I% : body-I% ) shows an initial decline for
3—4 days, then rises above initial val., and declines later
than the others, this decline also being hastened by I.
V. J. W.
Thyroid activity of iodinated serum-albumin. IV. Effect
of progressive iodination. J . Muus, A. H . Coons, and W. T.
Salter (J. Biol. Chon., 1941, 139, 135— 144; cf. A., 1940,
III, 208).— W hen serum -album in is iodinated in stages,
thyroidal activ ity appears a t an I content of 6% and increases
up to one of 10%. I t is suggested th a t di-iodotyrosinc m ust
be formed before m etabolic activ ity is manifested and th a t
at least another atom of I m ust be introduced into the protein
to form a com pletely active iodoprotein. F u rth e r iodination
of the album in mol. does n o t increase th e metabolic activity
of the iodoprotein.
J. N. A.
Oxygen consumption of brain cortex in thyrotoxic guineapigs. M. A. Spirtes (Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol. Med., 1941, 46,
279—280).— Guinea-pigs were given 2 grains of dried thyroid
daily for a week and 0 2 consum ption determ ined for slices
of brain, kidney, and liver in saline solutions containing 0-2%
glucose, a P O /" buffer, b u t no NaHCOa. 0 2 consum ption of
liver and kidney w as m arkedly above norm al, b u t of brain
was not affected.
V. J. W.
Hyperparathyroidism cured by excision of parathyroid
adenoma. C. J. H andron (N .Y . Sla. J . Med., 193S, 38,
J449— 1453).— Case report.
E . M. J.
Treatment of chronic adult tetany of gastro-intestinal origin
with dihydrotachysterol. V. W. Eisenstein (Penn. Med. J .,
1940, 44, 33— 30).— Case report.
E. M. J.
Treatment of tetany w ith dihydrotachysterol. T. C. W ilkin­
son (Penn. M ed. / . , 1940, 44, 37— 40).—Case report.
E. M. J.
Use of A.T.10 (dihydrotachysterol) in chronic tetany. E. J.
Ryan and E . P. McCullagh (Ohio Sla. Med. J ., 1941, 37,
430—432).— Im provem ent of objective and subjective sym p­
toms was seen in all 14 cases a fter initiation of A.T.10 th e ra p y ;
13 were cases of post-operative hypoparathyroidism and one
of renal tetan y . T reatm ent was supplem ented by large doses
(48 g. or more daily) of Ca (usually Ca lactate) b y m outh. A
rise in scrum-Ca or m aintenance of a norm al level was ob­
tained in all eases. Two cases a t one stage developed severe
symptoms of hypercalcajm ia a t serum levels of 16-2 and
13-2 mg.-% Ca respectively, owing to cum ulative action of the
drug. A m aintenance dose of 0-5— 0-75 c.c. daily or on
alternate days w as given.
E. M. J.
Effect on blood-calcium of prolonged treatment with para­
thormone ; influence of temperature. T. J. C. Combes (Rev.
Soc. argent. Biol., 1940, 16, 688— 700).— Dogs received 10
units of parathorm one for several w eeks; periodically scrumCa curves-were determ ined following injection of 5 units per
kg- of parathorm one. The initial response to this dose was
a marked hypercalcsemia. A fter prolonged tre atm e n t the
response depended on room tem p. On h o t days th e anim als
were considerably depressed, blood clotted rapidly, bu t serumCa rose only slightly. On cold days hypercalca:m ia was of
the same order as before trea tm en t.
J. T. L.
Rate of oxygen consum ption in parathyroidectomised rat.
S. B. Chandler and A. D. P ick ett (¡Endocrinol., 1941, 29,
161).—Removal of p arathyro id glands does n o t a lte r ra te of
0 2 consumption.
V. J. W.
Adrenaline secretion from adrenal glands in relation to
Parathyroid activity. J. M. Rogoff, G. N. Stew art, and R.
754
Cortell (J. Lab. clin. Med., 1941, 26, 1084— 1089).— None of
11 thyroparathyroidectom ised cats showed alteration in
rate of adrenaline liberation from th e adrenals. Among 11
dogs, however, there was reduced adrenaline o u tp u t in 3.
H yperparathyroidism , induccd by adm inistration of p a ra ­
thyroid ex tract does no t influence th e ra te of adrenaline
secretion from the adrenals.
C. J. C. B.
Thymic death. C. A. Hellwig ( /. Kansas Med. Soc., 1941,
42, 242— 244).—Sudden death in 50 cases w ith a large thym us,
weighing 15— 45 g., was on autopsy found to be due to
diseases of other organs, in half the cases to an acute broncho­
pneumonia.
E. M. J.
Growth and development of six generations of thymectomised albino rats. A. Scgaloff and W. O. Nelson (Amer.
J . Physiol., 1940, 130, 071— C74).—Albino ra ts on th e 21st
day of life in G successive generations were thym ectom ised;
no alteration in the rate of grow th or tim e of occurrence of
developm ent in males and females took place.
M. W. G.
Interpretation of thymus bodies. B. F. K ingsbury (Endo­
crinol., 1941, 29, 155— 160).— A discussion.
V. J. W.
Progress in adrenal therapy. J. L. McLeod (Minnesota
Med., 1941, 24, 159— 163).—A review.
E. M. J.
Fulminating meningococcal septicaemia with bilateral
adrenal haemorrahge. E. S. Moss and J. R. Schenken (New
Orleans Med. J ., 1940, 93, 294—299).— R eport of 2 cases.
E. M. J.
Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome (acute bilateral adrenal
haemorrhage) [and its treatment]. W. F. D rum m ond and
T. B. Tooke, jun. (New Orleans Med. J ., 1941, 94, 11—10).—
Review and report of 2 ad u lt cases.
E. M. J.
Backache as symptom of adrenal dysfunction. G. D.
Hoffeld (N .Y . Sta. J . Med., 193S, 38, 909—970). E. M. J.
Influence of adrenals on transport of fat into liver. R. H.
Barnes, E. S. Miller, and G. O. B u rr (J. Biol. Chem., 1941,
140, 247— 253).—The ability of adrenalectom ised ra ts m ain­
tained w ith NaCl to deposit absorbed fa t in th e liver is
im paired, b u t it returns to norm al on adm inistration of cor­
tical hormone. This interference w ith fa t tran sp o rt is
restricted to th e acetone-sol. fraction. No such effect on the
tran sp o rt of fa tty acids into livcr-phospholipins is noted.
P. G. M.
Adrenals and fat absorption. R. H. Barnes, E. S. Miller,
and G. O. B urr (J. Biol. Chem., 1941, 140, 241— 246).— The
adrenal cortical hormone plays no direct p a rt either in fa tty
acid phosphorylation or in th e incorporation of absorbed fa tty
acids in neutral fat in th e intestinal mucosa, as indicated by
th e absorption of labelled fa tty acids adm inistered as their
m ethyl esters.
P. G. M.
Lipins of adrenal gland in normal and fasting rabbits. P. L.
MacLaclilan, H . C. Hodge, and R. W hitehead (J. Biol. Chem.,
1941, 139, 185— 191).—The w t. of th e adrenal glands of
norm al and fasting rabbits varies from 53 to 315 mg. and
there is no correlation w ith body wt. F or rabbits fasted for
3 days, th e average adrenal wt. is 8% less th a n n o rm al;
after 7, 14, and over 14 days’ fasting, th e w ts. are 3, 14, and
11%, respectively, g reater th a n normal. Phospholipin in the
glands of norm al and fasting rabbits is const, a t 3—3-5 mg.
N eutral fa t increases initially and th en decreases w ith p ro­
longed fasting, b u t th e changes are slight. Free and esterified
cholesterol steadily increase w ith fasting, and th e to tal lipin
increases a fte r 3 day s’ fasting from 12 to 21% of th e wt. of
th e fresh adrenal, a fter which it decreases and rem ains a t
14%.
J. N. A.
Phloridzin diabetes in dogs after removal of adrenal medulla.
V. G. Foglia (Rev. Soc. argent. Biol., 1940, 16, 495— 498).—
The adrenal medulla w as removed in 3 dogs. A fter 34, 84,
and 103 days phloridzin (1 g. daily) was injected for 10 days.
H yperglycam ia, glycosuria, and th e urinary glucose : N ratio
were the same as in unoperated controls; N excretion
was
lower.
J. T. L.
Ventricular paroxysmal tachycardia from adrenaline in
coronary occlusions. R. C. K irk and E. M. K ilpatrick (Ohio
Sta. Med. J ., 1941, 37, 437— 439).
E. M. J.
Effect of denervation on response to adrenaline in isolated
fish scale melanophores. D. C. Sm ith (Amer. J . Physiol.,
1941, 132, 245— 248).— The responses of operated scale
melanophores from th e tan to g (Tantogu onilis) to adrenaline
755
A., III.—xi, DUCTLESS GLANDS, EXCLUDING GONADS.
were studied during period of denervation and compared w ith
those in norm al unoperated scales an d those in scales showing
recovery from denervation. D enervation an d subsequent
degeneration of th e chrom o-neural ju n ctio n increases th e
response to adrenaline.
M. W . G.
Sodium chloride and dextrose appetite o£ untreated and
treated adrenalectomised rats. C. P . R ichter (Endocrinol.,
1941, 29, 115— 125).— Adrenalectom ised ra ts on a NaCl-free
d iet had increased ap petite for NaCl and decreased appetite
for glucose. T reatm ent w ith deoxycorticosterone acetate or
w ith cortical e x tra c t tended to neutralise these effects.
V. J. W.
Maintenance of adrenalectomised guinea-pigs. W . G. Clark
(Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. Med., 1041, 46, 253— 257).— A special
diet, adequate for norm al guinea-pigs and high in " grassjuice factor,” does n o t m aintain adrenalectom ised guineapigs even if deoxycorticosterone is added, b u t such guineapigs can be m aintained indefinitely on a norm al diet, w ithout
deoxycorticosterone, if th eir drinking w ater contains 1% of
N ad.
V. J . W.
Urinary nitrogen and survival time of fasted adrenalectom­
ised salt-treated rat. E . Anderson an d M. Joseph (Proc.
Soc. E xp. Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 321— 325).— Unfed adrenalec­
tom ised rats, m aintained w ith 1% NaCl, excrete as much N
as those m aintained w ith horm one and survive slightly longer.
V. J . W.
Distribution of adreno-cortical hormones in tissues of rat
under normal and experimental conditions. W . R aab (Endo­
crinol., 1941, 29, 126— 136).— These com pounds were d eter­
m ined in various tissues b y th e m ethod previously used for
blood (A., 1941, I I I , 348). Vais, are ta b u la te d for kidney,
liver, brain, muscle, and spleen a t different tim es of y ear and
u n d er various experim ental conditions which produce only
sm all changes, adrenalectom y excepted. Vais, for spleen
were high a t all tim es.
V. J . W.
Decrease of histaminase in tissue by adrenalectomy and its
restoration by cortico-adrenal extract. S. K araty , B. Rose,
an d J. S. L. Browne (Am er. J . Physiol., 1940, 130, 539—
542).— If adrenalectom ised ra ts are m aintained on a stan d ard
d iet and given norm al saline to drink, a dim inution of th e
histam inase content of th e lung o ccu rs; if w ater is su b stitu ted
for the norm al saline a greater dim inution occurs. The
dim inution of histam inase in th e lung tissue m ay be restored
to norm al by cortin (2 c.c. of W ilson’s cortin intram uscularly
tw ice daily for 4 days).
M. W . G.
Pancreatic and cortico-adrenal involvement in carbohydrate
regulation. S. W . B ritto n and E . L. Corey (Amer. J . Physiol.,
1941, 131, 790— 799).—-Cortico-adrenal e x tra c t m arkedly
raised tissue-glycogen levels in adrenalectom ised, pancreatectomised, and adreno-pancreatectom ised cats. Insulin had
little effect an d even in pancreatectom ised cats did n o t raise
th e liver-glycogen to levels equal to those produced by
cortico-adrenal e x tr a c t; in some cases, insulin brought about
some increase in muscle-glycogen. E xperim ents on adrenalec­
tom ised and adreno-pancreatectom ised cats show th e pre­
p onderating influence of cortical horm one on hepatic glycogen
levels. The restoration by cortico-adrenal e x tra c t of adren­
alectomised or adreno-pancreatectom ised cats showing sym p­
tom s of insufficiency depends on an increase in circulating
blood-glucose.
Glucose solution alone was tem porarily
effective in b o th operated groups; insulin was of no avail.
M. W . G.
Refractoriness produced by sodium-retaining substances [of
adrenal cortex]. F . A. H artm an an d L. A. Lewis (Endocrinol.,
1941, 29, 111— 114).—The ability of adrenal e x trac t to cause
refractoriness to its N a-retaining factor (A., 1938, III, 392)
is n o t possessed b y th e pptd . facto r (A., 1940, II I, 727),
w hich in th is respect resembles corticosterone and deoxy­
corticosterone. I t is possible to develop refractoriness to a
m ixture of deoxycorticosterone w ith N a-factor-free protein
from ox adrenal, b u t th is does n o t confer refractoriness to a
m ixture of th is protein w ith corticosterone. Injections of
deoxycorticosterone w ith pig serum cause a p a rtia l refractori­
ness.
V. J. W.
Effects of deoxycorticosterone acetate in rat. W . H .
Carnes, C. R agan, J. W . Ferrebee, and J. O’Neill (Endocrinol.,
1941, 29, 144— 149).— A dm inistration of 5 mg. daily for 28
days caused no toxic effects o th er th a n a m arked a tro p h y of
th e adrenal cortex w ith loss of osmic acid staining substance.
V. J. W.
756
Constituents of adrenal cortex and related substances.
XLIV—XLVDX— See A., 1941, II , 251, 258, 259.
Mortality studies of diabetes. E. S. Dillon (Penn. Med. J.,
1941, 44, 1003— 1007).—The cause of d eath in 521 diabetics
w as acidosis in 59, gangrene in 131, cardiovascular disease in
106, infections in 104, apoplexy in 20, chronic nephritis in 18,
cancer in 29, tuberculosis in 14, other diseases in 40 cases.
E. M. J.
[Treatment of] staphylococcal septicaemia in diabetics.
H . H . Seiple (Penn. Med. J ., 1940, 44, 50).— Recovery is
reported after tre a tm e n t w ith sulphapyridine, insulin, and
am putation.
E. M. J.
Relation of diabetes to surgery. I. Abell (N .Y . Sta. J.
Med., 1939, 39, 13— 17).— A review.
E. M. J.
Treatment of diabetes in childhood. A. O. Stephens (Penn.
Med. J ., 1941, 44, 1008— 1010).
E . M. J.
Management of pregnancy in diabetes. R . D. P o rte r (Penn.
E . M. J.
M e d .J ., 1941, 44, 1011— 1013).
Treatment of diabetes in aged. J. W . M itchell (Penn. Med.
J ., 1941, 44, 1015— 1018).
E . M. J.
Modern diabetic care. J. T. Beardwood, jun. (Penn. Med.
J ., 1941, 44, 1022— 1025).
E . M. J.
Use of protamine zinc and crystalline insulin in treatment
of diabetes. H . J. Jo h n (N .Y . Sta. J . M ed., 1938, 38,12GG—
1272).
E . M. J.
Post-mortem findings in cases of diabetes [mellitus]. T. J.
D ry and C. F . Tessm er (Minnesota Med., 1941, 24, 9G— 105).
— Of 182 cases studied clinically 22 died in com a; 16 of these
h ad com plications consisting of either hyperthyroidism or
severe infection. The incidence of advanced arteriosclerosis
in those over 40 years of age w as higher th a n in non-diabetics
of th e sam e age. 21% of th e cases showed m alignant disease.
Compared w ith th e 25 post-m ortem s in th e pre-insulin era
th ere was an increase in atro p h y of islets, hyalinisation, and
fa tty infiltration. The incidence of th e tw o form er lesions,
as well as lym phocytic infiltration and fibrosis, distinguished
these diabetic from 50 non-diabetic pancreases, whereas
hy p ertro p h y of islets, fa tty infiltration and interacinar pan­
creatitis w as common in b o th series. The average age at
death was 59-5 years, or 5 years higher th a n in a series of the
pre-insulin area.
E . M. J.
Case of insulin allergy simulating coronary occlusion.
H. F . W echsler, L. F arm er, and J. A. U rban (J. Lab. clin.
Med., 1941, 26, 1090— 1092).—The injection of 20 units, and
la te r of 3 units, of iletin (Lilly) in a 65-year-old arteriosclerotic
hypertensive diabetic p a tie n t gave rise to a syndrom e due
to anaphylactic shock w hich sim ulated coronary occlusion.
Skin te sts showed an allergic reaction.
C. J . C. B.
Effect of chronic insulinisation and subsequent overloading
with carbohydrates on carbohydrate content of brain and
tissues of rats. L. A. Chaim ovitsch (Ukrain. Biochem. ].,
1940, 16, 557— 565).— R epeated ad m inistration of insulin
followed b y overloading w ith carbohydrate causes accumul­
ation of glycogen in brain, liver, and muscle tissue of rats.
L actic acid of brain changes only slightly, w hilst th a t of
muscles decreases.
J. N. A.
Effect of insulin on glycogen deposition and on glucose
utilisation by isolated muscles. C. L. Gemmill and L. Hamm an (Johns H opkins Hosp. B ull., 1941, 68, 50— 57).— Insulin
aids th e in vitro deposition of glycogen from glucose in the
isolated r a t diaphragm w ith o u t increasing th e 0 2 consump­
tion. Galactose, fructose, xylose, arabinose, m altose, succin­
ate, lactate, and c itra te do n o t a c t as su b stitu tes for glucose
in th is reaction.
T. F. D.
Effect of insulin injection on glucose and chloride contents
of blood. M. F. Mereshinski, A. A. Kobilin, and V. T. Kaza­
kova (U krain. Biochem. J ., 1940, 15, 437—-447).— In schizo­
phrenic p atients, injection of insulin usually increases the Cl'
con ten t of th e blood. A fter some hr. a decrease occurs. If
injections are repeated, th e e x te n t of th e increase is diminished
an d som etimes a decrease occurs instead of an increase. In
schizophrenia, th e glucose and Cl' contents of th e blood
frequently v a ry in parallel, although in health th ey vary in
opposite directions and th e lactic acid and Cl' contents some­
tim es also v ary in opposite directions. The changes in acidbase balance observed during insulin shock are possibly
related to these la st variations.
W. McC.
757
A., III.—xi, DUCTLESS GLANDS, EXCLUDING GONADS.
Assay of insulin on hypopkysectomised, adrenodemedullated,
and hypopkysectomised-adrenodemeduUated rats. E. Gellhorn, J . Feldm an, and A. Allen (Endocrinol., 1941, 29, 137—
140).—A fter dem edullation of th e adrenals convulsions are
caused by 0-02 u n it of insulin p er 100 g., a fter hypopliysectom y by 0-025— 0-03 unit, and a fte r both operations by 0-001
unit. A ddition of blood to insulin solution does n o t modify
its effect.
v. J. W .
Prolonged action of acidified solution of protamine-zincinsulin. M. Sahyun (Amer. J . Physiol., 1940, 130, 521—
526).—-A m ethod is described for th e prep, of a clear acidified
solution of protam ine-Z n-insulin containing 5 mg. of p ro t­
amine and 0-2 mg. of Zn per 100 units. Its subcutaneous
injection into fasting rabbits causes a prolonged hypoglycem ia
greater th a n th a t following th e injection of a similar am ount
of cryst. insulin w ith and w ithout added Zn. The clear
solution of protam ine-Z n-insulin produces hypoglycem ia
more rapidly and for a longer tim e th a n th e pre-pptd. protam ine-Zn-insulin. Samples of clear protam ine-Z n-insulin
were incubated a t 52° for 9 days w ith little loss in potency.
M. W . G.
Insulin azo-derivatives. L. R einer and E. H . Lang (J. Biol.
Chem., 1941, 139, 641.—648).—The isoelectric point of insulin
is altered in azo-derivatives containing acidic or basic groups.
Basic groups also cause slight loss of activity.
R. L. E.
Thyrotropkic and antithyrotropkic factors in some types of
thyroid disease. A. R. R obinson (Med. J . Austral., 1941, I,
349—355).— A reliable m ethod for th e concn. and extraction
of thyrotropic horm one from whole hum an blood is described.
The horm one could n o t be detected in th e blood of 3 cases
of Graves' disease, 2 of toxic adenom a, or 1 each of myxoedema
and hypopituitarism w ith secondary hypothyroidism .
F. S.
Effect of administering tkyrotrophic kormone with and
without iodine on tkyroid tissue metabolism. J. E. Vanderlaan, W. P. V anderlaan, and M. A. Logan (Endocrinol., 1941,
29, 93— 95).— D aily adm inistration of th e horm one to guineapigs for 6 days causes h ypertro p h y of th e thyroid throughout,
with increased 0 2 uptak e by th e gland for the first 3 days.
A dministration of 0-2 g. of K I p e r kg. w ith th e hormone
abolishes th e increased Oz u p tak e b u t docs n o t modify the
hypertrophy.
V. J. W.
Rapid response of guinea-pig thyroid to single injection of
tkyrotrophic kormone. P. S tarr and J. Metcoff (Proc. Soc.
Exp. Biol. Med., 1941, 46, 306— 308).— One injection of
0-03 c.c. of " a n tu itr in -T " caused a significant increase in
thyroid cell height in 8— 16 hr. which persisted for a t least
48 hr.
V. J. W .
Chromopkobe pituitary adenoma with Simmonds’ disease.
T. J. Moran and G. H . F etterm an (J. Lab. clin. Med., 1941,
26, 1289— 1294).— A case of Sim monds’ disease w ith p itu ita ry
tumour is reported w ith autopsy findings. The tum our, a
semicystic chrom ophobe adenoma, had resulted in complete
destruction of th e p itu ita ry body.
C. J. C. B.
Interrelation between vitamin-5 complex and anterior lobe
of pituitary gland. D. C. S u tto n (Sth. Med. J ., 1941, 34,
47—51 ; cf. A., 1940, I I I , 730, 847).
E. M. J.
Effect of hypopkysectomy on diurnal rkytkm of spontaneous
activity in rat. L. Levinson, J. H . W elsh, and A. A. Abramowitz (Endocrinol., 1941, 29, 41—46).— R a ts k ep t in revolving
cages in the d ark norm ally show increased a ctiv ity during
nocturnal hr. In hypophysectom ised anim als this rhythm
is re-established 2 weeks after operation, and can be reversed
by suitable artificial illum ination.
V. J . W.
Relation between hypophysis and adrenals of toad. J.
Porto (Rev. Soc. argent. B iol., 1940, 16, 489—494).— The pars
glandularis of the hypophysis or th e whole gland was removed
ln, toads (B . arenarum). In sum m er 15 days la te r and in
■"■inter one m onth la te r th e y were injected for 5 days w ith
(a) a suspension of toad anterior lobes in saline, or (b) E vans
and Simpson’s bovine alkaline hypophyseal extract, or (c)
adrenotropic hypophyseal ex trac t prepared b y P erla's method.
One week after hypophysectom y or rem oval of the glandular
lobe in summer, and 20 days after in w inter, th e corticoadrenal
cells were full of gross fa tty inclusions. Those containing fine
droplets, which predom inate in norm al anim als, were absent.
All three treatm en ts restored th e normal aspect of th e gland.
J. T. L.
758
Action of hypophysis of B. arenarum on adrenals, thymus,
and spleen of mammals. V. G. Foglia (Rev. Soc. argent. Biol.,
1940, 16, 511— 522).— A nterior and posterior lobes were
injected suspended in saline twice daily for 3— 5 days when
observing th e adrenal effect and for 14 days when observing
th e reaction of spleen and thym us. A drenotropic a ctiv ity of
th e anterior lobe was seen in th e norm al guinea-pig, infantile
rat, and ad u lt hypophysectomised ra t; it was directly pro­
portional to th e dose (within limits) in th e ra t. The effect
was independent of grow th-stim ulating activ ity and followed
th e thyrotropic in im portance; it w as equiv. to 100 units
per g. of fresh anterior lobe. The posterior lobe also showed
adrenotropic activ ity in th e hypophysectom ised r a t ; it was
proportional to the dose and independent of grow th-stim ulat­
ing activity. The anterior lobe increased the w t. of the
spleen and thym us in hypophysectomised r a t s ; th e posterior
lobe had a similar, less m arked effect when given in large
doses.
J. T. L.
Anterior pituitary extracts and insulin content of pancreas
of hypophysectomised rat. M. Griffiths ( / . Physiol., 1941,
100, 104— 111).— In th e growing W istar r a t pancreatic insulin
increases approx. in proportion to th e increase in body-wt.
In rats hypophysectomised a t 80 g. body-w t. grow th ceases
w ithout occurrence of loss in wt., pancreatic insulin is in­
creased, and atro p h y of the pancreas occurs. In ra ts hypo­
physectomised a t 100 g. or more body-w t., grow th ceases,
loss of body w t. is 20% , pancreas atrophies, and its insulin
content decreases. In both groups of ra ts injection of anterior
p itu ita ry ex tracts causes increase in body-wt. (due to growth
hormone) and increase in insulin con ten t of pancreas sim ul­
taneously w ith increase in body-wt.
J. A. C.
Action of hypophysis of Bufo arenarum on pigeon’s crop.
V. G. Foglia (Rev. Soc. argent. Biol., 1940, 16, 559— 562).—
Young birds received 40 (132 mg.) and 100 (330 mg.) glandular
lobes of toad hypophysis b y subcutaneous injection in the
course of 4 d a y s ; there was no change in th e w t. and structure
of the crop. O ther birds were injected w ith 8— 60 lobes in
4 days under th e skin covering th e c ro p ; hyperplasia of the
crop epithelium occurred when th e larger doses were used.
Saline liver, kidney, and muscle e x tra c t did n o t produce
hyperplasia. 198 mg. of glandular lobe contained less th a n
1 u n it of prolactin as defined b y Reece and T urner.
J. T. L.
Pituitary lactogenic kormone. Et. Comparison of electropkoretic behaviour of lactogenic hormone as prepared from
beef and from sheep pituitaries. C. H. Li, W . R. Lyons, and
H . M. E vans ( /. Amer. Chem. Soc., 1940, 62, 2925— 2927;
cf. A., 1940, III, 405).— An a tte m p t has been made to differ­
entiate th e lactogenic hormone from sheep and ox pituitaries
b y electrophoresis experiments. E lectrophoretic mobilities
have been com puted for sheep over th e pa. range 2-25— 10
and ionic stren g th 0-05 a t 1-5°, and for ox over the pa range
2-25— S-25 and ionic strength 0-050— 0-055 a t 1-5— 3°. No
differentiation was possible. The isoelectric points in both
cases are a t pa 5-73.
W . R. A.
Pituitary lactogenic hormone. VI. Molecular weight.
C. H . Li, W. R. Lyons, and H . M. E vans ( /. Biol. Chem.,
1941, 140, 43— 53; cf. A., 1941, I I I , 352).— Electrophoresis
and solubility experim ents confirm th e p u rity of th e hormone
b u t show th a t th e solubility, in 0-357M-NaCl a t pa 2-5, of
m aterial from sheep is greater th a n th a t of m aterial from ox.
Osmotic pressure m easurem ents show th a t th e mol. w t. of
th e horm one in urea and aq. solutions is approx. 26,500.
The horm one contains try p to p h a n 2-5, cystine 3-0, arginine
8-31, and S 1-79%, and th e mol. w t. calc, from these vals. is
approx. 25,000. The tyrosine content of m aterial from sheep
is 4-7% and th a t of m aterial from ox is 5-42%.
W. McC.
“ Mammogen,” and treatment of spayed hypophysectomised
rats witk lipin extracts of cattle pituitary. R. O. Greep and
H . E . Stavely (Endocrinol., 1941, 29, 18— 22).— A saline
suspension of dried cow p itu itary caused mammary' duct
grow th in such rats, b u t th e fraction ex tracted from dried
or fresh glands w ith 1 : 3 ether-alcohol m ixture failed to do so.
V. J. W.
Effect of method of desiccation and storage on gonadotropkic activity of pituitary gland. H . S. K upperm an, W. H.
Elden, and R . K. Meyer (Endocrinol., 1941, 29, 23—26).—
In ra t, sheep, chicken, and ox p itu ita ry air drying caused
no loss of activity, b u t by acetone and alcohol drying activ ity
759
A., III.—x ii , REPRODUCTION.
w as halved. There was no a ctiv ity in th e acetone or alcohol
residues. Storage a t —10° for 35 days had no effect, b u t in
80 days there is decrease of activ ity in glands of ra ts and
chickens, but n o t of sheep.
V. J. W.
Influence oi vitamin-is deficiency on endocrine glands of
rats, particularly gonadotropic hormone content oi pituitary
gland. C. B iddulph and R. K. Meyer (A mer. J . Physiol.,
1941, 132, 259—271).— E ndocrine gland w ts. of 234 vitam in/T-deficient male and female ra ts and 247 gonadectom ised
and norm al male and female ra ts were studied. Some of th e
effects of -E deficiency a r e : regeneration of th e epithelium
w ith consequent decrease in testis wt. to less th a n h alf norm al
w t., an increase in accessory gland w t. a fte r 3 m onths, b u t a
decrease after 15 m onths. Adding w lieat-germ oil to th e diet
produced the heaviest accessory glands obtained in an y of
the anim als. Male adrenals increased in w t., due to cortex
hypertrophy. Involution of th e thym us w as delayed in th e
males. Male -thyroids doubled in w t . ; supplem enting th e
diet w ith w lieat-germ oil largely prevented, and X com pletely
prevented, this increase. A fter 3— 6 m onths’ deficiency male
pituitaries increased in w t., b u t n o t a fte r 12 m onths. Size
and no. of basophils increased a fte r 6 m onths’ deficiency.
Judged by th e effect on ovarian wt. an terio r p itu ita ry gonado­
tropic potency is unchanged b y -E deficiency, th a t of p itu ita ry
glands from castrate ra ts is increased. An increase in the
luteinising horm one content of p itu itary glands of -E-deficient
males occurred when com pared w ith norm als. A greater
increase was obtained w ith those of castrate males.
M. W. G.
Gonadotropic action of hypophysis of Bufo arenarum in
mammals. V. G. Foglia (Rev. Soc. argent. Biol., 1940, 16,
598— 608).—The glandular lobe of th e hypophysis of male and
female B . arenarum w as injected subcutaneously 2— 3 tim es
daily for 3 days into the following groups of w hite ra ts :
(a) im m ature females (21 days o ld ); (b) im m ature females
who also received urine from p regnant w om en; (c) female
(100 g.) hypophysectom ised rats, 15 days a fte r operation;
(d) male (100 g.) hypophysectom ised, 15 days a fte r operation.
The ovarian w t. of (a), (b), and (c) w as n o t modified b y the
treatm en t. In (b) th e uterus weighed more th a n in controls
who received only pregnancy urine. There w as no increase
in the w ts. of testes, sem inal vesicles, p rostate, and coagulat­
ing glands in (d). Posterior lobe injections had no effect on
the sexual apparatus of an y of th e 4 groups. A p art from th e
action on the uterus when combined w ith pregnancy urine,
the hypophysis of this toad has no gonadotropic action on th e
norm al or hypophysectom ised ra t.
J. T. L.
Effect of increasing number of daily injections of gonado­
trophic preparations on ovaries of immature rats. R. K.
M eyer and W. H . McShan (Endocrinol., 1941, 29, 31— 34).—
Doses of sheep and ox p itu ita ry had m arkedly more effect on
ovary w t. in rats when given in 24 adm inistrations instead
of 2 daily. Efficiency of pregnancy urine, p regnant mare
serum , or horse p itu ita ry w as n o t altered b y such division.
V. J. W.
Gonadotrophic antagonism in mature rats. F. Bischoff and
G .. J. Clarke (Endocrinol., 1941, 29, 163).— A p itu ita ry
gonadotrophic prep, which, when given in sol. form to im m a­
tu re rats, m arkedly antagonised oth er gonadotrophic preps,
(of. A., 1940, II I, 642), caused decreased uterine wt.
when given alone to 68-day-old rats, th u s dem onstrating
some antagonism to endogenous genadotrophic horm one;
nevertheless th e ovarian w ts. were unaffected. W hen given
alone as an insol. Cu com pound th e sam e prep, increased w ts.
of both uterus and ovaries.
V. J . W.
Gonadotrophic stimulation in intact and thyroidectomised
adult female rats. F. Bischoff and G. J. Clarke (Endocrinol.,
1941, 29, 27— 30).—A dose of sol. gonadotrophic horm one
which causes significant wt. increase in th e ovary of the
thyroidectom ised r a t does n o t affect th e norm al ra t, b u t if
th e horm one is given as th e insol. Cu com pound (A., 1940,
II I, 899) it has th e sam e effect on both.
V. J . W.
Gonadotrophic action of normal male urine extract on
ovaries of normal and hypophysectomised immature rats and
of immature mice. J . H . Leathern and L. Levin (Endocrinol.,
1941, 29, 8— 17).— Effects of Prosperm in (a Squibb extract)
and a tannic acid concentrate of norm al male urine, and a
sim ilar concentrate of pregnancy urine were com pared. On
mouse ovary, prosperm in and pregnancy urine give identical
b u t sm all grow th curves w ith increasing doses; th e tannic
760
acid concentrate has more relative effect as dosage increases.
On mouse uterus, wt. curves are th e sam e for all three preps.
In th e hypophysectom ised rat, prosperm in liasrboth a folliclestim ulating and luteinising effect; th e tan n ic acid concen­
tra te h as no luteinising pro p erty b u t stim ulates follicles and
closely resembles m enopause urine.
V. J. W.
Influence of thyroidectomy on mare serum hormone admin­
istration to immature rats. F. Bischoff an d G. J. Clarke
(Endocrinol., 1941, 29, 162).— Thyroidectom y does not
m odify th e ovarian w t. response to p reg n an t m are serum.
V. J. W.
Antihormone production to crude and purified pregnant
mare serum preparations. A. S. G ordon (Endocrinol., 1941,
29, 35—40).— Increased p u rity of such preps, caused them
to produce m ore p o te n t an tisera in rab b its an d rats.
V. J. W.
Insulin versus posterior lobe pituitary extract. M. Griffiths
(J. Physiol., 1941, 100, 112— 146).— The ex tra ct inhibits the
hypoglycem ia due to th e subcutaneous injection (rabbit) of
insulin b u t often no antagonism to intravenously administered
insulin'is found. W ith subcutaneous injection there is prob­
able a decreased ra te of absorption of th e insulin due to the
vaso-constrictor action of th e pressor substance of th e extract.
J. A. C.
XII.—REPRODUCTION.
Physiology of testis. C. R. Moore (J. Amer. Med. Assoc.,
1941, 116, 1G3S— 1644).— A review.
C. A. K.
Therapeutics of testicular dysfunction. J. B. H am ilton (/.
Amer. M ed. Assoc., 1941, 116, 1903—-1908).—A review.
C. A. K.
Absorption of [hormone] pellets in rat. T. R. Forbes
(Endocrinol., 1941, 29, 70— 76).— 6— 10-mg. pellets were
im planted subcutaneously. 90% absorption of deoxycorti­
costerone occurred in 27 d a y s; of testosterone in 31 days;
of m cthyltestosterone in 36 d a y s; of stilboestrol in 51 days;
of testosterone m onopropionate in 61 d ay s; of progesterone
in 88 days. A bsorption rates were th e sam e in b o th sexes,
and stilboestrol caused loss of body-w t.
V. J. W.
Effect of testosterone propionate on reproduction in female.
J. W . H uffm an (Endocrinol., 1941, 29, 77— 79).—Daily
adm in istratio n of 2 mg. to fem ale ra ts caused ancestrus
an d sterility. Cessation of tre a tm e n t was followed in 5—8
days b y oestrus and ultim ate production of norm al offspring.
V. J. W.
Effects of large amounts of androgen on testes of prepuberal
rat. R. R. Greene and M. W . B urrill (Endocrinol., 1941, 29,
64— 69).— R a ts w hich received to ta l doses of 25-—140 mg.
of testosterone propionate from 10 to 31 days of age had
testes w hich did n o t differ significantly from those of un­
tre a te d controls in different cages, b u t were larger than
those of u n treated controls in th e sam e cages.
V. J. W.
Effect of castration and replacement therapy on thyroid,
pituitary, adrenal, and body weights in thyrohyperplastic rats.
W. Schilling an d G. L. L aq u eu r (Endocrinol., 1941, 29, 103—
107).— In these ra ts castratio n did n o t affect thyroid or
p itu ita ry w t . ; it decreased adrenal w t. and increased body
w t. (E strone increased p itu ita ry and adrenal w ts. b u t had
no effect on thyro id w t. P rogesterone decreased thyroid
w t. b u t did n o t affect p itu ita ry , adrenal, or body w t. though
it neutralised th e effect of cestrone.
V. J. W.
Androsterone effect on pituitary and mammary gland. R ?•
Reece (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. Med., 1941, 46, 265— 26G).—
D aily ad m inistration of 200 fig. of androsterone in to mature
spayed ra ts caused no change in w t. or lactogen content of
p itu ita ry and no grow th of m am m ary glands (cf. A., 1939,
I I I , 983).
V. J. W.
Effect of testosterone propionate on anal fin transformation
of female viviparous teleost, Xiphophorus helleri.
F. M.
B aldw in and H . S. Goldin (Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol. Med., 1941,
46, 283—-284).— A dm inistration of 0'5 mg. weekly for 5 months
to fem ale fish caused th e anal fin to assum e th e form of the
male gonopod.
V. J. W.
Influence of testosterone propionate on gonadotropic
potency of anterior pituitary gland. H. C. Chang, T. F. Liu,
an d S. Y. P ’an (Chinese J . Physiol., 1941, 16, 57— 60).—
T estosterone propionate injected in to fem ale ra ts kept
under ordinary, continuous, or no illum ination suppressed
761
A., III.—x ii , REPRODUCTION.
normal or sustained oestrus and decreased th e w t. of th e
ovaries. T he ovaries of ra ts injected w ith an terior p itu itary
extract from testosterone-treated ra ts, under all con­
ditions of illum ination, were heavier th a n those of ra ts
injected from controls.
N. H.
Effect of castration and androgen therapy on creatine and
creatinine excretion in monkeys. J. W. Jailer (Airier. J.
Physiol., 1940, 130, 503—-511).— Young male monkeys
excrete creatine, and show im paired retention of exogenous
creatine. M ature m onkeys som etimes exhibit creatinuria,
but retain exogenous creatine. Injection of testosterone
propionate in to th e young m onkeys abolishes creatinuria
and enhances th e capacity to retain creatine. C astration
in the m atu re m onkeys results in an increased creatinuria
and im paired creatine retention. Testosterone propionate
injection abolishes th e creatinu ria of castration and restores
creatine retention capacity. OEstradiol benzoate th erap y
is w ithout efiect on creatine excretion. The level of creatinine
excretion w as n o t affected b y a n y of these procedures.
M. W. G.
Inactivation of cestrone by liver after exclusion of reticulo­
endothelial system. B. Zondek and J. Sklow (Proc. Soc. Exp.
Biol. Med., 1941, 46, 276— 278).— R a ts of 50 g. received
intracardially 0-4 c.c. of colloidal Cu solution containing
0'24 mg. of Cu. 30 min. la te r th e y were given 0-25 mg. of
(Estrone. A fter 4 hr. th e y were killed and cestrone content
was determ ined. 98% had been inactivated in b o th these
and control anim als.
V. J. W.
iEtioij//ccholan-3-(j3)-ol-17-one (/ioandrosterone) as meta­
bolite of testosterone in human male. R. I. D orfm an (Proc.
Soc. Exp. Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 351— 353).— 2’9 mg. per day
of this substance w as excreted when 30 mg. p er day of
testosterone propionate w as injected. None was found in
the absence of injections.
V. J . W .
Relation of vitamin-/! and oestrogens. H . B rody and S.
Goldman (Endocrinol., 1941, 29, 164).— Daily injections of
10,000— 40,000 i.u. of vitam in-.^ had no effect on contiguous
cestrus produced in spayed ra ts by min. injections of oestradiol
benzoate, and daily feeding w ith 2000 i.u. had no effect on
the norm al cycle.
V. J. W .
Morphological ovarian changes in oestrogen-treated thyrohyperplastic rats. G. L. L aqueur and L. A. Emge (Endo­
crinol., 1941, 29, 108— 110).— 10— 15 weekly doses of 100 i.u.
of theelin caused in 400-day-old goitrous ra ts follicular
atresia, persistent corpora lutea, an d degenerative changes
in interstitial cells. In 120-day-old ra ts these changes were
not produced.
V. J . W .
Vaginal response to oestradiol and progesterone. E . B. Del
Castillo and G. D i P aola (Rev. Soc. argent. Biol., 1940, 16,
563—566).— Ovariectom ised ra ts were injected w ith 1 i.u.
of cestradiol benzoate w ith typical cestrous vaginal response.
Subsequent adrenalectom y produced a continuous oestrous
response. Injection of 0-5 mg. of progesterone in th e adrenalectomised anim al re-establishes a norm al vaginal response.
This same dose of progesterone in non-adrenalectomised
rats suppressed th e vaginal response to 1 u n it of oestradiol
benzoate. A drenalectom y increases th e sensitiveness of
the vagina to oestradiol, and progesterone (like corticosterone)
reduces it.
J . T. L.
Production of uterine tumours in guinea-pig by local
implantation of oestrogen pellets. W . H . Perloff and R.
Kurzrok (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. Med., 1941, 46, 262— 265).—
Subperitoneal im plantation of 3-mg. pellets of oestradiol
benzoate caused in 32— 150 days grow th of uterine fibromyomata in 9 o u t of 12 animals. Sim ilar pellets of oestrone
were ineffective.
V. J. W .
Guinea-pig copulatory reflex in response to aqueous extracts
Of adrenal cortex. O. T orstveit and C. H . Mellish (Proc. Soc.
Exp. Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 239—240).— Cortical extracts, like
progesterone and deoxycorticosterone, elicit th is reflex in
spayed guinea-pigs a fte r prelim inary oestrogen treatm en t.
V. J. W.
Vaginal cestrus in irradiated m ice. S. H . Geist, J. A. Gaines,
and G. C. E scher (Endocrinol., 1941, 29, 59— 63).— A fter one
dose of 200 r. of .AT-rays applied to th e tru n k , vaginal smears
remained anoestrous for 24 days. Irregular oestrus then
appeared, accom panied b y ovarian luteinisation, and persisted
for 6 months. B y th is tim e th e no. of mice showing irregular
osstrus had fallen from 100 to 37%, and luteinised cells became
762
replaced b y down-growing epithelium . A fter 1 y ear th ere
m ay be anoestrus w ith degenerated ovaries, o r irregular
custrus w ith theca-cell tum ours.
V. J . W.
Use of colchicine in detecting hormonal effects on vaginal
epithelium of menstruating and castrate women. E . Shorr
and E. J . Cohen (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 330—
335).—A pplication of pessaries containing 1— 3 mg. of
colchicine causes an accum ulation in th e vaginal epithelium of
th e proliferating cells produced b y horm one tre a tm e n t and
showing m itotic figures.
V. J. W,
Occurrence of ovarian “ tumours ” in spontaneous virilism
of hen. H . B. Friedgood and U. U. U otila (Endocrinol., 1941,
29, 47— 58).— In 5 hens showing male characters th e left
ovary wras atrophic and its site was occupied b y tissue having
th e structure of th e testis or arrhenoblastom a.
V. J. W.
Influence of ovarian hormones on thyroid hyperplasia. L. A.
Emge and G. L. L aqueur (Endocrinol., 1941, 29, 96— 102).—
Removal of ovaries in rats causes decreased activ ity in normal
thyroids b u t does n o t affect hyperplasia produced b y addition
of w heat germ to d ie t; it is not affected by adm inistration
of cestrogens, b u t is reduced by adm inistration of progesterone.
In in ta c t females CEstrogens in m oderate doses do n o t affect
hyperplasia, b u t in very large doses m ay cause necrosis and
atrophy.
V. J. W .
Influence of ligature of ovaries on genital tract and hypo­
physis. E . Fels (Rev. Soc. argent. Biol., 1940,16, 499— 510).—
The ovaries were tied off in w hite rats. Congestion of th e
gland and degeneration of cells beginning w ith th e corpus
luteum followed im mediately. L a ter subcapsular and folli­
cular cysts, follicular atresia, and proliferation of th e in te r­
stitial cells developed. The ovarian cycle occurred in some
ovaries; others were com pletely atrophied. 3 weeks a fte r
th e operation infantile ra ts responded -to gonadotropic
substances in cases where ovarian atro p h y w as n o t complete.
P reg n an t ra ts aborted after ovarian ligation. The vaginal
cycle usually reappeared 1— 3 weeks after operation. CEstrus
generally occurred a t shorter intervals an d occasionally
became continuous; in these la s t pronounced follicular
atresia, proliferation of th e theca, and old corpora lutea
were seen. T he endom etrium w as frequently hypertrophied,
som etimes w ith m etaplasia. A fter 7 m onths, castration
cells appeared in th e hypophysis in c o n trast w ith th e active
sta te of th e genital tra c t.
J. T. L.
Primary chorionepithelioma of ovary. G. R. Backus and
E . P . Griffin, jun. (Amer. J . clin. Path., 1941, 11, 252—256).—
A case report of terato m ato u s chorionepitheliom a of the
ovary occurring in a virgin w hite female, 13 years of age, who
w as operated on for appendicitis and on w hom an incidental
oophorectom y was perform ed. (2 photom icrographs.)
C. J. C. B.
Progesterone in blood of female macaques injected with
progesterone. I. L. C. de Allende (Rev. Soc. argent. Biol.,
1940,16, 755— 762).— One ovariectom ised and one ovariectom ­
ised and hysterectom ised m acaque were injected w ith 3 mg.
of progesterone daily for 5 days. Blood w as draw n 24 hr.
a fte r th e first, an d 24, 48, 72, and 96 hr. after th e last, injec­
tion. Progesterone w as determ ined by progestational
reaction of ra b b it uterus (M cPhail’s scale). Before injection
and a fte r 6 mg. of progesterone no reaction was produced
by th e serum . A fter 15 mg. had been given a + reaction
was observed in 24 hr. and a persisten t + -f reaction after
72 hr. in th e ovariectom ised anim al. The ovariectomisedhysterectom ised one gave a + reaction a t 48 hr. which
persisted u p to 96 h r.
J . T. L.
Frequent failure of single insemination to activate corpora
lutea of rat sufficiently for implantation of fertilised ova. J.
Ball (Amer. J . Physiol., 1940, 130, 471— 474).—One th ird of
109 single-insem ination m atings of fertile ra ts (a mixed
divided strain) were followed b y oestrous sm ears w ithin
4— 5 days as if no m ating h ad tak en place. A sim ilar
failure of th e pseudopregnancy m echanism occurred when
sim ilar m atings were m ade w ith vasectomised males. A
sm all group of albino strain ra ts responded to th e stim ulus
of one plug.
M. W . G.
Progesterone and corpus luteum hormones. Council on
P harm acy and Chemistry (J. Am er. Med. Assoc., 1941, 116,
1523— 1525).— T herapeutic effects are reviewed and proges­
terone is n o t accepted in New and Nonofficial Remedies.
C. A. K.
763
A., III.—xii, REPRODUCTION.
Local action of oesfcrone on mammary glands of mice. W . U.
G ardner and T. L. Chamberlin (Yale J . Biol. M ed., 1941, 13,
461— 465).— G istrone in alcoholic solution w as applied to th e
skin of 21 male mice in am ounts of 0-02— 0-16 ftg. p e r day
for 15 days. 4 mice showed grow th of only those m am m ary
glands near th e site of application and 7 showed a g reater
grow th of these glands th a n of those of rem ote areas. M am­
m ary tissue is therefore directly stim ulated b y oestrogen.
(6 photom icrographs.)
F . S.
Teat growth in immature female goats. S. J. Folley and
A. C. B ottom ley (J. Physiol., 1941, 99, 6— 6 p ). — F o r a short
tim e a fte r b irth th e te a ts grow a t th e sam e ra te as th e body.
From th e age of 51 to 108 days th e te a ts grow faster th a n th e
body. The caprine ovary therefore displays endocrine activ ­
ity quite soon after b irth . In fem ales born in th e spring,
te a t grow th ceases during th e breeding season; th e regular
cestrous cycles are from Septem ber to March. T eat grow th
is therefore inhibited b y some facto r (progesterone ?); on
th e other hand oestrus prom otes grow th of th e m am m ary
ducts. The effect of oestrogens on th e te a ts resembles the
responses of th e cervix, sexual skin, and vagina (monkey),
which are antagonised by progesterone.
J. A. C.
Pituitary lactogenic hormone. V. Reactions with iodine.
C. H . Li, W. R. Lyons, and H. M. E vans (J. Biol. Chem., 1941,
139, 43— 55; cf. A., 1941, I I I , 352).— A t p n approx. 6-5— 7-0
( P O /" and citrate buffer, no iodination occurs a t p n below
3-8) and in presence or absence of urea, I reacts w ith th e
horm one approx. to th e sam e e x te n t as w ith a corresponding
am ount of tyrosine, producing alm ost com plete biological
inactivation. Since no iodination (and no inactivation) takes
place in O-OIn-HCI, th e horm one pro b ab ly contains no
cysteine or thiol groups. P ro b ab ly only ty ro sy l residues
undergo iodination, some reacting a t th e sam e ra te as does
free tyrosine and some m ore slowly. The isoelectric p o in t of
th e iodinated horm one is p n approx. 4-7.
W . McC.
Distribution of nitrogen and protein amino-acids in human
and cow’s milk. E . F. Beach, S. S. B ernstein, O. D. Hoffman,
D. M. Teague, and I. G. Macy (J. Biol. Chem., 1941, 139, 57—
63).— The fat, Ca, Mg, K , N a, P, Cl, S, to ta l, caseinogen-,
w hey-protcin-, and non-protein-N and th e histidine, arginine,
lysine, tyrosine, try p to p h an , cystine, and m ethionine contents
of th e caseinogen and w hey-protein of hum an an d cow’s
m ilk sam ples taken during th e in terv al betw een 8 weeks and
6 m onths post p a rtu m arc recorded. The to ta l and protein-N
contents of hum an m ilk are only 30 and 25% , respectively,
of those of cow 's m ilk and th e m ineral co n ten t is correspond­
ingly lower. The milks co n tain approx. equal proportions
of w hey-protein b u t the caseinogen co n ten t of cow 's milk
(cquiv. to 82% of th e protein-N ) is 8 tim es t h a t of hum an
m ilk (equiv. to 39% of th e protein-N ). In 100 ml. of hum an
and cow ’s m ilk there are, respectively: histidine 12, 59;
arginine 40, 127; lysine 50, 223; tyrosine 50, 197; try p to ­
phan 19, 43; cystine 20, 23; and m ethionine 18, 104 mg.
Most of th e protein-S of cow ’s m ilk occurs as m ethionine b u t
th a t of hum an m ilk is approx. equally divided betw een
cystine and m ethionine.
W ..McC.
Utilisation of plasma-glycoprotein by lactating mammary
gland. E . P . Reineke, M. B. W illiamson, an d C. W . T urner
(J. Biol. Chem., 1941, 138, 83— 90).—The arterial blood of
anaesthetised, lactatin g goats contains 2-15 m g.-% of glycoprotein-sugar m ore th a n does th e m am m ary venous blood;
th e corresponding differences for th e blood of non-lactating
p regnant and non-pregnant goats are 0-58 and 0-38 mg.-% ,
respectively. The am ino-acid c o n ten t of th e m am m ary
venous blood of fasting, lactatin g goats does n o t differ from
th a t of arterial blood. These results suggest th a t th e glob­
ulins of plasm a are concerned in th e synthesis of m ilk-protein
and th a t free am ino-acids are n o t th e chief precursors of th e
protein.
W . McC.
Gonadotrophic hormone in human male urine. E . J. Heller,
C. G. Heller, and E . L. Sevringhaus (Endocrinol., 1941, 29,
1— 7).— E x tra c ts were assayed on 24-day-old fem ale ra ts b y
uterine and ovarian w t. D aily excretion w as variable in th e
sam e individual and varied more widely still in different
individuals, some excreting 4 tim es as m uch as others. No
change in am ount excreted tak es place in old age.
V. J. W .
Factors modifying sensitiveness of rabbits to gonadotrophic
effect of urine. II. Effect of male sex hormone. HI.
764
Effect of eserine and acetylcholine. J . M. B arm an (Rev. Soc.
argent. Biol., 1940, 16, C67— 676, 677— 687 ; cf. A., 1941, III,
267).— II. Fem ale rab b its received 40— 45 mg. of testosterone
p ropionate subcutaneously in 5— 10-mg. doses on alternate
d ay s; pregnancy urine of know n gonadotrophin concn. was
th e n injected intrav en o u sly ; ovulation occurred w ith the
sam e doses as in controls which had n o t received testosterone.
Male and fem ale ra b b its were united in parabiosis and 15
days afte r vascular connexion had been established, pregnancy
urine w as injected. L arg er doses th a n th o se necessary in
controls had to be given to produce ovulation. The testicles
of th e male p a rtn e r showed degeneration and th e ovary was
functionally quiescent.
III.
P regnancy urine w as injected in to fem ale ra b b its; 12
hr. la te r ovulation h ad n o t occurred (58 experim ents). In tra­
venous injection of atro p in e sulphate (1 mg.) followed by
eserine sulphate (1-5 mg.) and acetylcholine (0-25 mg.) pro­
duced ru p tu re of th e follicles w ithin 15 min. in 49 (83%) of
cases. E serine and acetylcholine provoke intense abdominal
congestion b u t no follicular hæ m orrhage in ra b b its which
h ave received urine from non-pregnant fem ales or males.
J. T. L.
Serum-gonadotrophin. I. Preparation of stable con­
centrate from pregnant mares’ serum. C. R im ington and
I. W . Rowlands (Biochem. J ., 1941, 35, 736— 748).—The
serum is diluted w ith 2 vols, of w ater, cooled to 0°, and stirred
while adding 0 -3 n -H P 0 3 to p n 3-3 (electrom etric).. The
protein m etaphosphate is w ashed w ith 0 0 1 n -H P 0 3, and the
com bined filtrates are ad ju sted to p n 7-0 w ith 20% NaOH.
T he solution is cooled to 0° and sufficient N a benzoate added
to give approx. 5% solution. 3n-HC1 acid is th e n added to
p n 4-5. The p p t. of benzoic acid is collected and, without
washing, tre a te d w ith a vol. of acetone approx. equal to the
original serum , an d th e p p t. collected, w ashed w ith acetone
and ether, an d dried. T he yield is approx. 80% of the
original activ ity of th e serum . F u rth e r purification is effected
b y dissolving in 40 p a rts of w ater w ith sufficient N aOH to
give p n 7-4, addition of an equal vol. of alcohol
5% acetic
acid in 50% alcohol to give p n 4-7, chilling, an d removing
th e inactive p p t. An equal vol. of alcohol is added to the
su p e rn a ta n t fluid an d th e m ix tu re k e p t a t 0° overnight.
T he p p t. is collected, w ashed w ith 80% an d abs. alcohol,
acetone, and ether, and dried in a vac. An overall yield of
approx. 70% is obtained of m aterial w ith an activity of
150— 625 i.u. p e r mg., and containing 2-5— 3-5% of hexose.
P . G. M.
Artificial insemination of (A) cattle, (B) sheep, in Kenya. JAnderson (J. Agric. Res., 1941, 31, 348— 353, 354— 369).—
(a ) 76-8% of 733 artificially insem inated cows calved, with
an average of 1-88 insem inations p er conception. The results
were unaffected b y varying doses and dilutions (up to four
times) of sperm , or b y giving tw o insem inations in one heat
period.
(b )
U nder good conditions of season, d u ratio n of œstrus
etc-., artificial insem ination can give as good results as normal
service. H igher conception ra tes are obtained when the
oestrous period is short, in Dec.— July. Two inseminations
are desirable w hen th e h e a t period is long. The best time
for insem ination is a t th e end of oestrus. Sperm m ay be
diluted up to eight tim es w ith a suitable diluent.
R . L. E.
Technique for artificial insemination of white rat. R. JB landau and E . S. Jo rd a n ( /. Lab. clin. M ed., 1941, 26, 1361—
1363).
C. J . C. B.
Weight gain in normal pregnancy in Chinese patients. C. C.
K uo (Chinese Med. J ., 1941, 59, 278— 286).— The average wt.
gain of 200 norm al Chinese women during pregnancy was
23-3 lb.
E. B.
Transfer of radioactive sodium across placenta of cat.
H . A. Pohl and L. B. F lexner (J. Biol. Chem., 1941, 139, 163—
173).—T he c a t foetus comes to w ith in 10% of equilibrium
w ith a4N a in th e m aternal plasm a a fte r 12— 18 hr., the
m aternal extracellular fluid in 4 min. The ra te of placental
tra n sfe r p er u n it w t. of p lacen ta w ith 21N a from a gestation
age of 15—20 days u n til term increases 60 tim es. The shape
of th e relative grow th curve of th e c a t foetus is similar to
th a t of th e change of ra te of tran sfe r of 2,N a to a u n it wt.
of foetus a t different stages of pregnancy. The fœ tus receives
25 tim es as m uch N a across th e placen ta as is incorporated
in th e growing tissues. Differences in u n it tran sfer rate
across c a t and guinea-pig placenta: a t com parable stages of
765
A., III.—X III, DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
pregnancy are related to histological differences in th e tw o
types of placenta:.
J. N. A.
Visscher-Bowman chemical test for pregnancy. H . G.
Hadley ( /. Lab. Clin. M ed., 1941, 26, 1374).—The urines of
232 persons were te ste d ; 35 were urines of pregnancy, th e
remainder urines of 77 males and 120 non-pregnant females.
There were as m any positive reactions in th e males as in the
females. 75% of the to ta l group were positive.
C. J. C. B.
Tissue-lipins in pregnancy (ewe). H . D ryerre and A.
Robertson J . Physiol., 1941, 99, 443— 453).— F a tty infiltra­
tion of th e liver is q u ite comm on in ap parently healthy
pregnant ewes, th e average lipin con ten t being 10% (range
4-3— 19-5%) of th e m oist liver com pared w ith 0% (range
4-3— 8-7%) for th e non-pregnant anim als. The m ax. val. is
reached ab o u t th e end of th e 4 th m onth of pregnancy and
the val. rem ains a t th is level until th e end of pregnancy.
The increase is m ainly in th e n eu tral fa t fraction. Liver
from a few castrated male sheep had a lipin content similar
to th a t for p regnant ewes n ea r term . In pregnancy toxaemia
(few cases) th e liver-Iipin co n ten t was only slightly greater
than th a t for ap p aren tly h ealth y p regnant ewes. The lipin
content of th e kidneys shows no significant difference between
pregnant and non-pregnant anim als.
J. A. C.
Effect of pregnancy on phosphorus turnover of skeleton of
rats on normal and rachitogenic diets. M. L. Manly and
S. R. L evy ( /. Biol. Chem., 1941, 139, 35—41).—D eterm in­
ations of radioactive P in th e bones and tee th of new-born
rats and in th e bones, teeth , and blood of th eir m others and
of non-pregnant fem ale rats, th e la tte r tw o groups having
received a single dose of radioactive N aaH P 0 4, show th a t
although a rachitogenic diet causes an increase (e.g., G0% in
incisors and blood) in th e ^ P -fractio n of th e to tal P in
actively calcifying tissues, pregnancy, alone or in com bin­
ation w ith deficient diet, causes no appreciable change in th e
distribution of radioactive P in th e m aternal skeleton.
W. McC.
XIII.—DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
Improved cannula for gastric and intestinal Astute. J. E.
Thomas (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 260—261).—
The cannula has a large flange w hich th e anim al can n o t pull
out through the opening. T his flange is p u t in to th e viscus
first and th e rest of th e cannula screwed to it b y a special
instrum ent passed dow n its lum en. The device is illustrated
by diagrams.
V. J . W .
Influence of autonomic drugs and nerve stimulation on
spasm of cardiac sphincter following bilateral vagotomy. G.
Lehmann (J. P hann. E xp. Ther., 1941, 72, 25).— Stim ulation
of the peripheral rig h t vagus h as a diphasic effect in vagotom ised dogs under b arb ital an;esthesia. Strong stim uli cause
a fall in tone followed b y a rise. W eak stim uli cause only a
fall in tone. The secondary rise is abolished b y atropine and
augmented by eserine. S tim ulation of th e left splanchnic
nerve causes only a rise in tone. A drenaline injected in tra­
venously an d in th e left gastric arte ry produces a rise in
tone w hich is greatly augm ented a fter cocaine and reduced
or reversed a fte r ergotam ine. The response to adrenaline is
not dependent on th e original tone of th e sphincter. Small
doses of ergotam ine alone causes a fall in tone. T he sensitiv­
ity of th e cardiac sphincter to adrenaline is greatly increased
by vagotom y. In tra-arterial injections of acetylcholine cause
a rise in tone. A tropine produces relaxation.
H. H. K.
Peptic activity of achlorhydrio human gastric juice from
carcinomatous stomachs. R. A. Rasm ussen and A. Brunschwig (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. Med., 1941, 46, 298— 300).—
Pepsin was determ ined by digestion in M ett’s tubes a t pa 1-2.
All achlorhydric juices exam ined had an equally low pepsin
content, w hether carcinom a w as present or not.
V. J. W.
Elim ination of dyes by gastric m ucosa. R. L. Varco and
M. B. Visscher (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. Med., 1941, 46, 295—
-98).—A no. of acid dyes, intravenously injected into dogs,
were n o t secreted in histam ine juice, in disagreem ent w ith
results reported by Morrison ct al. (A m er. J . digest. Dis.
Nulr., 1936, 3, 551).
V. J . W.
Lactic acid content of gastric juice. L. S. M udrakova
(ukrain. Biochem. J ., 1940,16, 207— 213).—F rom observations
766
of oesophagotomised dogs w ith gastric fistulæ, it is concluded
th a t lactic acid is a norm al co n stitu en t of gastric juice, being
present in a considerably lower concn. th a n in th e blood. I t
is present in the fundal and pyloric juices in th e sam e concn.
H . G. R.
Effect of noise on gastric secretion in Pavlov dogs. P . E.
V aughan and J. V an Liere (J. aviat. Med., 1940, 11, 102—
107).—The effects of 100 decibels of noise a t frequencies of
600 and 2000 were studied on 4 dogs w ith P avlov pouches.
A t 600 cycles, one dog showed a reduction in th e vol. of
gastric juice secreted and none showed a reduction in the
am ount of acid. A t 2000 cycles, tw o dogs showed a reduc­
tion in acid secretion, and th e average of all 4 dogs showed a
reduction in bo th vol. and acid secretion. N either frequency
produced any significant change in th e to ta l Cl' secreted or
in th e p a of the gastric juice.
F . S.
Factors in absorption of insulin from alimentary tract.
M. L. D river and J. R. M urlin (Amer. J . Physiol., 1941, 132,
281— 292).— Pinacol, m ethyl salicylate, thiam in, quinine,
alkylresorcinols, and aerosol O.T. (dioctyl N a sulphosuccinate), introduced w ith insulin into a segm ent em bracing th e
lower duodenum and upper jejunum of th e am ytalised dog,
prom ote insulin absorption a t p a 4-5. The effcct equals th a t
of th e same dose of insulin given subcutaneously b u t is more
transient. The effect of m ethyl salicylate is a ttrib u te d to
its irritatin g effect on the mucosa. Alkaline reactions favour
absorption still more. Quinine " poisons ’’ th e mucosa,
causing a more rapid penetration of insulin. T here is no
direct relationship between th e absorption of insulin and
surface tension. A high p a inhibits th e destructive action
of pepsin on insulin. Acidic and basic org. dyes added to
solutions containing hexylresorcinol do n o t prom ote insulin
absorption. Hexylresorcinol prom otes absorption b y chang­
ing th e n ature of th e m em brane and by protecting th e h o r­
mone from enzymic hydrolysis. B y combining different
factors additive effects on absorption can be obtained.
M. W . G.
Absorption and transport of fatty acids across intestinal
mucosa. R. H- Barnes, E. S. Miller, and G. O. B u rr (J. Biol.
Chem., 1941, 140, 233—240).—The conjugated fa tty acids
(m ethyl esters) of corn oil have been used to follow the
incorporation of a labelled fa tty acid into phospholipin and
n eu tral fat fractions of th e intestinal mucosa. These can be
measured spectrophotom etrically in th e presence of p re­
existing body fat. There is no correlation between rate of
incorporation of fa tty acids into mucosal phospholipins and
fa t tran sp o rt.
P . G. M.
Origin and extent of gastro-intestinal motility in cat and
guinea-pig ; direct observations on fœtuses. M. F. Becker
a n d W . F. W indle (Amer. J . Physiol., 1941, 132, 297— 304).—
T he earliest indication of m otility in th e fœ tal cat and guineapig was a simple localised contraction in response to stim ul­
atio n (25— 27 days, approx. 17 mm.). Spontaneous gastric
or in testinal peristalsis was presen t in c a t fœtuses of 29— 30
days' gestation (27— 28 mm.), in guinea-pig fœ tuses on the
35th d ay (35 mm.). Peristalsis was observed earlier th a n
rhythm ic segm entation in th e cat, b u t b o th were often
present in th e sam e intestine. Segm entation w as elicitable
before spontaneous peristalsis in th e guinea-pig. Peristalsis
became progressively more active in th e stom ach an d sm all
intestine up to 50 d ay s; it th en became less active in th e
small intestine of bo th species. In th e guinea-pig th e stom ach,
c æ c u m , and colon retained a high degree of m otility through­
out. A fter clam ping th e um bilical cord peristalsis gave w ay
to generalised rhythm ic segm entation an d to diminished
in testinal tonus. Anoxæm ia excited inactive intestines to
an initial hyperactive sta te of generalised rhythm ic con­
tractio n and relaxation ; activ ity soon ceased, b u t th e intes­
tines rem ained severely co n tracted for some tim e. Deep
e th er anæ sthesia com pletely inhibited activity. L ight ether
anæ sthesia h ad a sim ilar effcct to th a t engendered by clam p­
ing th e cord. N em butal given to th e p reg n an t m other first
depressed fœ tal gastro-intestinal activ ity ; tonus and rhythm ic
m otility gradually returned and finally th e g u t became h y p er­
active. The m yenteric and subcutaneous ganglia and plexuses
were established as early as 17 mm. in b o th species. A rich
vagal supply to th e stom ach and an equally prom inent
sym pathetico-vagal supply from th e cceliac ganglion to th e
in testinal tra c t were present in th e cat a t 13 mm.
767
A., III.—xiv, LIVER AND BILE.
Glucose tolerance test in coeliac disease [relation to gastro­
intestinal tone]. C. D. M ay and J . F. McCreary ( / . Pediat.,
1940, 17, 143— 154).— In infants an d children w ith low bloodsugar curves from cccliac disease or o th er conditions, gastro­
intestinal m otility as observed b y fluoroscopy w as " sluggish.”
The entire B a m eal frequently rem ained in th e stom ach for
over 3 hr. T he blood-sugar curves obtained a t th e same tim e
were low as no glucose is absorbed from th e stom ach. A
few min. a fter giving mecholyl, vigorous segm ental and
peristaltic activ ity commenced and bowel tone returned. W ith
im proved bowel m otility, greater rise in th e blood-sugar curve
occurred.
C. J. C. B.
Control of external pancreatic secretion (cat). A. A.
H arp er and C. C. N. Vass (J. Physiol., 1941, 99, 41&—435).—
All th e " trophic " fibres are contained in th e dorsal vagus
tru n k . T here is a parallel secretion of trypsinogen and am yl­
ase during alim entary, nervous, or secretin stim ulation of
th e pancreas. V agal stim ulation has no effect on th e ra te
of secretion of th e pancreatic juice. The splanchnic nerves
contain fibres inhibitory to th e acinous cells of th e pancreas.
C entral vagal or sym pathetic stim ulation either is w ith o u t
effect or inhibits pancreatic secretion. T rau m a to th e duo­
denum results in prolonged reflex inhibition of pancreatic
secretion (splanchnic nerves). The presence of foodstuffs in
th e stom ach does n o t stim ulate th e pancreas. The passage
of foodstuffs, inulin, norm al saline, or w ater through th e
pylorus in to th e duodenum , or th e ir injection in to th e duo­
denum , increases enzyme o u tp u t b y th e pancreas and usually
increases th e rate of secretion, independently of all extrinsic
nerves to th e sm all intestine. Secretin does n o t increase th e
production of enzymes b y th e pancreas. Intrinsic nerves or
o th er horm ones m ay be responsible.
J. A. C.
Pathological physiology of insular and external secretory
functions of human pancreas. A. O. W hipple and L. B au­
m an (/liner. J . med. Set'., 1941, 201, 029— 036).—The glucose
tolerance curve in cases of hyperinsulinism due to tu m o u r of
th e islets of L angerhans is frequently of th e diabetic type.
N orm al glucose tolerance tests were obtained in 3 p a tie n ts in
whom 3/4 of th e pancreas had been rem oved. T here was no
obvious difficulty w ith food digestion o r absorption. N orm al
fa t absorption is possible when no pancreatic juice enters th e
intestine.
C. J . C. B.
Review of one thousand consecutive appendectomies. M. L.
Mason, H . S. Allen, F. B. Queen, and E. W . G ibbs (Quart. B ull.
Northwest. Univ. Med. School, 1941, 15, 1— 20).— N ausea was
observed in 48% , vom iting in 37-7%, of th e cases. The
following sym ptom s were each recorded in less th a n 10% of
th e p atien ts suffering from acu te appendicitis : diarrhoea,
constipation, distension, anorexia, weakness, flatulence, head­
ache, vertigo, chills, and sym ptom s referable to th e u rin ary
tra c t. Tenderness w as dem onstrated in 98-9%, abdom inal
rigidity in 41-5%, rebound tenderness in 13%. Leucocytosis
above 10,000 w as found in 74-9% of p a tie n ts w ith u n p er­
forated acute appendicitis, in 86-6% w ith early perforation,
in 85% w ith peritonitis, an d in 89-5% w ith appendical
abscess. P yuria was found in 56-7%, hsem aturia in 19-6%,
of 127 p atien ts w ith retro cec a l or retroperitoneal appendices;
th e figures for other patien ts were 35-8 and 8-8% respectively.
16-1% of 87 p atien ts who to o k a t least one c ath a rtic before
adm ission had peritonitis, com pared w ith 4-6% in th e control
series; the incidence of appendical abscess w as increased from
2-5 to 5-8% and of post-operative com plications from 4-4 to
23-0% ; of those w ho took cath artics 1 in 29 died (1 in 83 of
th e control series). 5-2% suffered from chronic appendicitis
(excessive infiltration of the m uscular wall w ith lym phocytes,
m ononuclear an d plasm a cells). No pathological changes
were found in 186 appendices rem oved w ith th e diagnosis of
" acute appendicitis " ; nausea w as noted in 41-4, vom iting
in 19-4, tenderness in 69-9, rigidity and rebound tenderness
in 10-8 and 3-2%, respectively; th e -white cell co u n t was
above 10,000 in 39-5%.
A. S.
XIV.—LIVER AND BILE.
Hormonal influences on carbohydrate metabolism of liver.
M. M iura (Tohoku J . exp. M ed., 1941, 39, 319— 346).—In tra ­
venous injection of p itu itrin (0-5 c.c. p er kg. body-w t.) or
th y ro x in e (0-5 c.c. per kg.) in rab b its increases glucose and
lactic acid contents of hepatic a rte ry and vein and of p o rtal
b lo o d ; this effect is more m arked a fte r vagotom y. Injection
768
of insulin (5 c.c. p er kg.) dim inishes th e glucose and lactic
acid c o n ten t; th e dim inution of th e glucose c o n te n t is most
m arked in hepatic vein blood. The insulin effect is less
pronounced a fter vagotom y.
A. S.
Glycogen levels in isolated liver perfused with corticoadrenal extract, insulin, and other preparations. E . L. Corey
and S. W . B ritto n (Amer. J . Physiol., 1941, 131, 783— 789).—
C ortico-adrenal ex tra c t perfused th ro u g h th e r a t liver with
glucose was m ore effective in preventing glycogenolysis than
glucose alone. In th e perfused c a t liver in vitro th e use of
cortico-adrenal e x tra c t w ith R inger-gum -glucose solution
largely increased glycogen content. E levations of 50— 100%
above pre-perfusion glycogen levels occurred w ithin 10— 15
min. A ddition of K acetate to perfusion fluids containing
cortico-adrenal e x tra c t p revented th e glycogenetic action of
e x tract. D eoxycorticosterone acetate did n o t stim ulate glycogenesis in th e isolated c a t liver. H epatic glycogenesis did not
occur w ith different concns. of insulin (1, 2, an d 10 units per
100 c.c. of perfusing fluid); under sim ilar conditions corticoadrenal ex tra c t was highly effective.
M. W . G.
Hippuric acid liver function t e s t : intravenous method.
E . C. B artels (J. Lab. clin. M ed., 1941, 26, 1330— 1333).—
T he intravenous hippuric acid te s t of liver function w as used
in 300 p a tie n ts w ith o u t subjective or objective reactions.
T he results in 58 p atien ts w ith hyperthyroidism compare
favourably w ith th e results obtained when N a benzoate was
given b y m outh. In intrinsic liver disease th e degree of
reduction in th e hippuric acid excretion is in d irect accord
w ith th e clinical an d a u to p sy findings of liver damage.
R epeated tests can be carried o u t w ith o u t ill effects.
C. J. C. B.
Bromsulphalein test [for hepatic disease]. L. B aum an and
L. O rr (N .Y . Sta. J . M ed., 1938, 38, 1161).— Histological
evidence of hepatic disease, m ostly cirrhosis or carcinoma,
w as obtained in 26 cases w ith reten tio n of th e dye in the
blood for 30 min. A few cases w ith verified hep atic disease
showed no retention.
E . M. J.
Differential diagnosis of and laboratory tests in liver disease.
C. J . Tripoli and D. E . F ad er (New Orleans Med. J ., 1940, 93,
13— 18).— A review.
E . M. J.
Therapeutic considerations in diseases of liver. F . F.
Boyce (New Orleans M ed. J ., 1940, 93, 18—25).—A review.
E . M. J.
Clinical aspects of hepatic disease. C. W . Dowden (Sth.
M ed. J ., 1941, 34, 51— 56).— A review.
E . M. J.
Clinical applications of recent advances in liver disease.
F . C. Helwig (Nebraska Sta. Med. J ., 1941, 26, 37—43).—A
review.
E . M. J.
Hepatic cirrhosis and insulin therapy. J. F. H a rt and J. R.
Lisa (N .Y . Sta. J . M ed., 1938, 38, 1158— 1101).— 24 pints of
ascitic fluid were obtained from a m an, aged 47, who for 25
years had daily d ru n k a p in t of w hiskey. D iabetes mellitus
w as discovered a t th e sam e tim e an d th e p a tie n t received 20
u n its of insulin daily u n til his d eath 7 years la te r from acute
bronchopneum onia. The ascites did n o t re tu rn b u t a t post­
m ortem cirrhosis of th e liver, chronic m ural throm bosis of
th e p o rtal vein, aortic atherosclerosis, and chronic spleno­
m egaly were present. A rrest of th e cirrhotic condition by
th e adm inistration of insulin is discussed.
E . M. J.
Primary carcinoma of liver with Banti’s syndrome. V. B.
W entz and K. K ato / . Pediat., 1940, 17, 155— 165).— A case
of p rim ary carcinom a of th e liver is reported in a 6-year-old
fem ale child characterised b y pronounced cirrhotic changes
in th e organ, resulting in th e developm ent of collateral cir­
culation, oesophageal an d gastric varices, haematemesis,
splenomegaly, ascites, an d a hypoplastic blood picture.
Effects of obstructive jaundice on polyarthritis in rats. J- E.
Snow and H . M. H ines (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. M ed., 1941, 46,
257— 259).— A rth ritis induced b y th e organism described by
F in d lay (A., 1939, II I, 1102) was delayed in onset if the bile
d u ct w as tied before or w ithin 20 hr. a fte r inoculation.
A rth ritis caused by hsemolytic streptococci w as n o t affectcd.
F in d la y ’s organism is pleuropneum onia-like an d is bile-sol.
Ferrous and ferric iron in liver extract. R . S. Fisher and
W . A. P eabody (Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol. Med., 1941, 46, 207—
209).— Aq. liver e x tra c t p revented oxidation of added F eS 0 4,
and reduced to th e ferrous sta te 50— 95% of added FenI
769
A., III.—xv, KIDNEY AND URINE,
NH4 citrate. D eterm inations o£ F e" and F e " ' were by
McFarlane’s m ethod (A., 1930, 580).
V. J. W.
Functions of extrahepatic bile ducts and secretory function
of liver. Relation between duodenal movements and evacuation
of bile into duodenum during fasting. IV. In man. V. In
dogs. T. M urakam i and H . U chiyam a (Arch. Surg., Chicago,
1941, 42, 093— 702, 703— 711).—IV. In man, during fasting
the m ovem ent of th e duodenum is periodic, w ith active
tetanic and resting phases repeating regularly, or non-periodic,
being continuous and changing from active to tetanic with
no resting phase. Outflow of bile occurred only during
periods of duodenal activity.
V. In dogs, th e resistance a t th e distal end of th e common
duct during th e resting phase of th e duodenum w as 80— 200
mm. w ater pressure and th ere was a gradual decrease (e.g.,
240 to 150 mm.) during th a t period. D uring th e active period
resistance was m aintained a t th e lower level.
F. S.
Effect of desiccated hog bile and hog bile acid preparations on
volume and constituents of bile. A. L. Berm an, E . Snapp,
A. C. Ivy, V. H . H ough, and A. J . Atkinson (Amer. J .
Physiol., 1941, 131, 752— 759).— 3 g. daily of desiccated hog
bile caused a 38% increase in th e o u tp u t of bile in biliary
fistula dogs. 3 g. of pure hyodeoxycholic acid (the chief
bile acid of hog bile) increased bile o u tp u t to the same extent.
Oxidation of desiccated hog bile or of pure hyodeoxycholic
acid or conjugation of oxidised hyodeoxycholic acid did not
augment th eir choleretic property. The position of the
carbonyl group or groups in th e cholane nucleus is im portant
in determ ining the choleretic property. The doses of hog
bile preps, used did not m odify cholic acid o utput, which,
however, became more v ariab le; th ey had no effect on the
total o u tp u t of pigm ent and th e concn. of non-volatile solids
but increased to ta l cholesterol o utput. The hog bile preps,
do not " th in ” th e bile like oxidised unconjugated cholic
acid.
M. W. G.
Effect of hyperpyrexia on secretion and flow of bile. S. L.
Osborne, F. S. Grodius, L. Goldman, and A. C. Iv y (Amer. J .
Physiol., 1941, 132, 32— 41).—B oth acute and chronic bile
fistula dogs were used. In th e acu te (anaesthetised) anim als
bile vol. o u tp u t increased in th e treated group b u t n o t in
the unanjesthetised anim als w ith a p erm an en t bile fistula.
The output of the various constituents of bile was unchanged.
M. W. G.
X V .-K ID N E Y AND URINE.
Formation of pressor amines in kidney. R. J . Bing and
M. B. Zucker (Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 343—
347).— E x trac ts of guinea-pig kidney, incubated anaerobically
with phenylalanine, produce an amine which is pressor for
the cat. E x tra c t of c a t's kidney does n o t do so, b u t does
produce a pressor substancc from dihydroxyphenylalanine.
Decarboxylating enzymes of th e kidney are sp. for certain
amino-acids an d differ in different species.
V. J. W.
Subcutaneous urography. J. H . V astine I I and D. A. Sam p­
son (Penn. M ed. J ., 1941, 44, 006— 011).—A review.
E. M. J.
Shortcomings of intravenous urography. D. M. Davis
(Penn. Med. J ., 1941, 44, 012— 618).— R eport of 6 cases in
which retrograde pyelography disclosed lesions not suspected
after intravenous urography.
E. M. J.
Excretory urography for children. G. M. W y a tt (Radiology,
1941, 36, 604— 071).
E . M. J.
Intravenous urography in upright position. J. A. Bowen
and E. L. Shifiett (Radiology, 1941, 36, 672— 675).—There
was loss of definition in the calyces, pelves, and ureters of
19 young ad u lts (7 men and 12 women) on th e films taken
in an upright position 20, 35, and 50 min. after injection of
the dye. W ith re tu rn to th e supine position a fte r 50 min.
definition of these stru ctu res was greatly im proved.
E. M. J.
Pregnancy changes in urinary tract, their sequel» and treat­
ment. J. A. Bowen and J . R. Stites (Sth. Med. J ., 1941, 34,
494— 497).—A review and report of 5 cases.
E . M. J. '
Osseous findings in chronic renal insufficiency in adults.
A. M. Ginzler and H . L. Jaffe (Amer. J . Path., 1941, 17, 293—
301).—Skeletal changes comm only occur consisting of
fibroporotic resorption of bone accom panied b y new bone
formation. The la tte r m ay occasionally result in gross
xvi, OTHER ORGANS, TISSUES, ETC.
770
osteosclerosis when renal insufficiency is pro tracted . There
is generally m oderate hyperplasia of th e p arath y ro id glands
b u t no definite evidence of parath y ro id hyperfunction.
(4 photom icrographs.)
C. J. C. B.
Non-diabetic glycosuria. H . J. John (Ohio Sta. M ed. J .,
1941, 37,136— 138).
E. M. J.
Sucrose nephrosis. W . A. D. Anderson (Sth. Med. J .,
1941, 34, 257— 202).—A vacuolar nephrosis due to sucrose
was seen in 2 cases; in one in w hich the kidney also showed
changes due to a toxcemia of pregnancy, the p a tie n t had
received a to ta l of 2100 c.c. of a 25% solution of sucrose;
th e other, a woman aged 00, had been given a single injection
of 250 c.c. of th e sam e solution and th e kidney also showed
arteriolosclerosis and in terstitial fibrosis. A sim ilar nephrosis
was observed in 35 cases of enterocolitis.
E. M. J.
Beneficial action of testosterone in experimental renal
atrophy caused by ligature of ureter. H . Selye and S. M.
F riedm an (Endocrinol., 1941, 29, 80— 81).— A fter ligature of
one ureter in the female mouse renal atrophy in th e correspond­
ing kidney is delayed b y daily injection of 4 mg. of te sto ­
sterone.
V. J. W.
Suprapubic puncture in treatment of bladder paralysis.
C. C. Higgins, W . J. Gardner, and W . A. Nosik (Cleveland
Clin. Quart., 1941, 8, 162— 160).— Use of a suprapubic
cath eter in conditions of disease or trau m a of th e spinal cord
is followed by fewer complications in the u rin ary tr a c t th an
when prolonged u rethral retention cath e ter drainage is used.
A. S.
Determination of urobilinogen in urine. F . I. Simon
(Schweiz, med. Wschr., 1941, 71, 141— 142).— 1 c.c. of E hrlich’s
reagent and 5 c.c. of CHCl, are added to 5 c.c. of urine,
and a fte r centrifuging th e su p ern atan t urine is pipetted off.
The CHClj e x tract is shaken w ith 5 c.c. of glycerol and
centrifuged and colorim etrically compared w ith a solution
of 5 c.c. of CHClj and Lugol’s solution. 1 c.c. of Lugol’s
solution contains 0-2 mg. of I. The urobilinogen concn. is
expressed in term s of I concn.
A. S.
Ratio of free to total phenolphthalein in urine. F. Steigm ann and J. M. Dyniewicz (J. Lab. clin. Med., 1941, 26,
1148— 1153).—The higher is th e concn. of conjugated phenol­
phthalein in the urine, th e more likely is th e appearance of free
phenolphthalein in it. Phenolphthalein elimination after
ingestion of 100 mg. of phenolphthalein in alcoholic solution
is much g reater w ithin 10 hr. th a n th e elim ination after 300
mg. of powdered phenolphthalein in capsule form within
24 hr. owing to more rapid absorption.
C. J. C. B.
Role of papillary pathology in renal calculus formation. A.
R andall (Penn. Med. J ., 1941, 44, 838— 839).—A deposit of
Ca salts in th e renal papilla was seen in 19-0% of 1154
autopsies; a visible calculus adherent to a renal papilla was
seen in 5-6% of th e whole series.
E. M. J.
Urinary citrates in calcium urolithiasis. B. Kissin and
M. O. Locks (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 216—
218).— 16 p atien ts with Ca urin ary calculihad an average
citrate excretion of 0-13 mg. per c.c. as against 0-61 mg. per
c.c. in 16 controls.
V. J. W.
X V I.-O T H ER ORGANS, TISSUES, AND BODY
FLUIDS.
A. Szent-Gyorgyi (Science,
L. S. T.
Biological applications of organo-metallic compounds. H .
Gilman (Science, 1941, 93, 47— 50).— An address.
Towards a new biochemistry?
1941, 93, 609— 610).— A lecture.
Problems of old age and their treatment. I. L. Robbins
(New Orleans Med. J ., 1940, 93, 184— 187).— A review.
v
E . M. J.
Rheumatism and arthritis. Review of American and
English literature for 1939. P . S. Hench, W . Bauer, H.
Dawson, F . Hall, P . Holbrook, J. A. Key, and C. McEwen
(Ann. int. Med., 1941, 14, 1383— 1448, 1631— 1701).— A
bibliography of 844 papers and monographs is attached.
A. S.
Relationship of dental infection to arthritis. S. Selig
(N .Y . Sta. J . M ed., 1938, 38, 1221— 1226).— A review.
v
J
E. M. J.
771
A., III.—xvii, TUMOURS,
xvin, NUTRITION AND VITAMINS.
Potassium in bones and teeth. L. T. Steadm an, H . C.
H odge, an d H . W . H orn (J. Biol. Chem., 1941, 140, 71— 76;
cf. L ow ater and M urray, A., 1937, I I I , 251).— Spectrographic exam ination shows th a t enam el contains approx.
0-3% of K ; dentine contains less and bone still less. The
min. detectable content of K increases as th e con ten t of Ca
salts [e.g., Ca phosphate) increases. In pure solutions approx.
1 /xg. of IC per 0-2 ml. is detectable when K is th e only anion
present. The min. detectable am ounts are 0-04 and 0-07
mg. per ml. when 60 and 100 mg. of Ca p er ml. respectively
are also present. The Ca phosphate con ten t of bones and
te eth increases 8-fold th e min. detectable I< content.
W . McC.
Physico-chemical structure of salivary gland chromosomes.
II. M. Calvin and M. K odani (Proc. N at. Acad.. Sci., 1941, 27,
291— 300; cf. A., 1940, II I, 626).—The effect of N-NaOH
a t 10° and 25° on th e salivary gland chromosomes (? of
Drosophila melanogaster) was studied. O bservations a t th e
granule and chrom atid stages perm it a conception of th e
stru ctu re of th e nucleoprotein co n stitu en t of th e chromosome
a n d this conception is supported b y th e production of th e
granule stage by satu rated aq. urea and of separated chrom ­
a tid s ’by th e subsequent action of satu rate d aq. NaCl.
F. O. H .
Chloroform-soluble components of beet leaf-hoppers as an
indication of the distance they move in the spring. R. A.
F u lton and V. E . R om ney (J. Agric. Res., 1940, 61, 737—
743).—A stead y reduction in CHCl3-sol. m aterial in th e
hoppers occurs as th e y move on an extended m igration
from the breeding place. Changes are sm all during localised
or short-distance flights.
A. G. P.
Denaturation of sericin. IV. Relation of denaturation of
a3.6-sericin and a14-seriem. Z. H irose (J. Agric. Chem. Soc.
Japan, 1941, 17, 389— 393; cf. A ., 1941, III, 301).— a4.9Sericin contains more diam ino-acid-N th a n does a3.s-sericin.
In composition a4.4- and a4.,-sericin are more sim ilar to a tth a n to a3.s-sericin. ai .i- and o,-sericin contain more carbo­
hydrates and am ino-sugars th a n does a3.8-scricin, a4.,-, a Ir
and cij.j-sericin contain more try p to p h an than does a3.esericin, w hilst a4.4- and a t- contain more th a n does o4>1sericin.
J. N. A.
Hydrolysis of proteins at high temperatures and pressures.—
See A., 1941, II , 275.
A'-Ray analysis of protein denaturation.— See A., 1941,
II , 306.
Marine products. Sterol of sponges : clionasterol and poriferasterol.— See A., 1941, II, 289.
XV II.-TU M O U R S .
Transplantable mammary fibroadenoma of the rat showing
sarcomatous changes. F . R. Selbie (Brit. J . exp. Path., 1941,
22, 156— 166).— This tum our was m ore readily tran sp lan tab le
an d grew m ore rap id ly in fem ale th a n in male rats. The
epithelial stru c tu re was also g reatly influenced b y th e sex
of the host, being m ainly tu b u la r in male ra ts an d activ ely
secretory w ith th e form ation of cysts an d o th e r abnorm alities
in fem ale rats. (12 photom icrographs.)
F . S.
Reticulum cell sarcoma of lymph nodes. S. W arren and
J . P. Picena (Amer. J . Path., 1941, 17, 385— 390).— A review
based on th e literatu re and 11 cases. (8 photom icrographs.)
C. J . C. B.
Histochemical study of distribution of alkaline phosphatase
in various normal and neoplastic tissues. E . A. K a b a t an d J.
F u rth (Amer. J . Path., 1941, 17, 303— 316).— Osteoblasts,
endothelium , an d th e epithelium of th e sm all in testin e and
of th e proxim al convoluted tu b u les are rich in phosphatase.
In th e liver and spleen, only endothelial cells contained
p hosphatase (not K upffer’s cells or histiocytes). P hosphatase
w as present in conspicuous am ounts in th e m alig n an t
osteoblasts of a transm issible chicken sarcom a (particularly
a b o u t th e sites of bony and cartilaginous deposits) and in
an osteogenic tum our of th e mouse. In 3 non-bone-form ing
strain s of transm issible chicken sarcom a, phosphatase was
absent. H um an fibroadenom a of th e b re a st contained as
m uch phosphatase as lacta tin g b re a st; th e enzym e was
absent in carcinom a of the breast. (20 photom icrographs.)
C. J . C. B.
772
Serum- and tissue-phosphatase determinations in bone
tumours. H . Q. W oodw ard and N . L. H iginbotham (J,
Amer. M ed. Assoc., 1941, 116, 1621— 1627).— Benign osteo­
chondrom as and g ian t cell tum ours produce little phosphatase.
Some osteogenic sarcom as produce little phosphatase,
some produce large am ounts which do n o t en te r th e circul­
ation, an d some produce large am ounts w hich en ter the
circulation. The phosphatase-producing mechanism is in­
activ ated b y rad iatio n th e ra p y and raised serum vals. are
lowered. R adioactive P b y m outh localises in th a t portion
of sarcom a which contains m ost phosphatase.
C. A. K.
Alterations in nuclear viscosity during experimental carcino­
genesis determined by ultracentrifugation. E . V. Cowdry and
F. X . P a le tta (Amer. J . Path., 1941, 17, 335— 357).—When
th e nuclei in tw o pieces of tissue are subjected to equal
centrifugal force so th a t nucleoli and chrom atin are more
displaced in one th a n in the other, intranuclear viscosity
is lower where th e displacem ent is greater. In methylcholanthrene carcinogenesis in mice, progressive changes in
intranuclear viscosity occur. I t is high in th e nuclei of
norm al epiderm al cells before th e beginning of treatm ent,
lower in th e nuclei of cells rendered hyperplastic in th e treated
epiderm is and in th e proxim al p a rts of papillom ata, and much
lower in th e nuclei of squam ous cell carcinom ata. Passing
backw ard from norm al ad u lt epidermis, through th e epidermis
of newborn mice to em bryonic epiderm is, there is also a
decrease in in tranuclear viscosity. In a less com plete series
of hum an tissues, sim ilar changes were observed. Intra­
nuclear viscosity is high in norm al epiderm al cells, lower
in hyperplastic cells of a healing w ound and in papillomata
(warts), and much lower in th e nuclei of squam ous cell
carcinom ata. W hen, w ith degeneration, th e nuclei of normal
and m alignant cells of both mice and hum ans shrink and
become pyknotic, intranuclear viscosity increases so th a t it
is impossible to displace th eir nucleoli and chrom atin by the
centrifugal force employed. (24 photom icrographs.)
C. J. C. B.
Effects of potassium deficiency on tumour-bearing mice.
A. A. Liebow, J. McF. W ard, and R . T e n n an t (Yale J . Biol.
M ed., 1941, 13, 523— 538).— The grow th of tu m o u r 15091a in
A B C albino mice deficient in K is retard ed in comparison with
its grow th in controls. K deficiency causes cessation of
gain in w t., increase of kidney w t., reduction of K an d increase
of N a in v o lu n tary muscle, and necrosis of cardiac muscle.
(11 photom icrographs.)
F . S.
Anti-lymphocytic serum. A. H . Cruickshank (Brit. J . exp.
Path., 1941, 22, 126— 136).—The sera of rabbits, given 8 daily
intraperitoneal injections of 0-2 g. of ra t lym ph gland tissue in
3-0 c.c. of saline, caused a g reat dim inution in th e no. of
circulating lym phocytes in ra ts when injected intraperitoneally
in doses of 0-5 c.c. Unlike an ti-erythrocyte serum , th e effect is
n o t modified b y splenectom y of th e injected rat.
F. S.
Combinations of lead, arsenic, and other chemicals with
experimental asphyxia of tumours. F . M. Allen (J. Lab. din.
M ed., 1941, 26, 1120-—1128).— In ra ts th e action, of certain
drugs, especially As and Pb, resembles th a t of local asphyxia
and the m echanism of th e tum our-killing effect may be
similar. A ttem p ts to use local ligation to o b tain an intensified
action of th e drugs, or to use th e drugs in local or systemic
application to augm ent th e effect of asphyxia, gave scanty
success because of insufficient specificity, th e distinctly
increased in ju ry to th e tum ours being offset b y increased
local or system ic dangers.
C. J. C. B.
XVIII.—NUTRITION AND VITAMINS.
Feeding of German Army. M. Gerson (N .Y . Sta. J . Med.,
1941, 41, 1471— 1476).—A review.
E . M. J.
“ Good ” eaters and“ poor ” eaters. J. B. McCay and H. D.
B ull (J. Pediat., 1940, 17, 230— 240).— Comparison of 10
" poor ” caters w ith 10 lu sty eaters showed eating was an index
of developm ent in o th er aspects. A m ong th e " good ” eaters
th ere was a higher frequency of eczema an d roughened skin,
prom inent abdom ens, bed w etting, and colds. T he poor
eaters as a group gained equal poundage w ith th e “ good
eaters b u t were unable to catch up w ith th e la tte r in actual
w t.
C. J. C. B.
Homogenised milk. I. J . W olm an (Penn. M ed. J ., 1941, 44,
735— 737).
E. M. J .
773
A., III.—X V III, NUTRITION AND VITAMINS.
Diabetic diets and eating habits of nationalities. A. L.
Luchi (Penn. M ed. J ., 1940,44, 41— 44).
E. M. J .
Feeding of premature babies. A. V. Stoesser (Minnesota
Med., 1941, 24, 30— 34).
E. M. J.
Comparison of the nutritive values of raw, pasteurised, and
evaporated milks for the dog. H . D. Anderson, C. A. Elvehjem, and J. E . Gonce, jun. (J. N utrition, 1940, 20, 433— 443).—
A diet of raw m ilk supplem ented w ith Fe, Cu, Mn, and codliver oil produced good grow th and reproduction in fox
terriers (2 gestations). S ubstitution of evaporated milk
resulted in m uscular dystrophy or a haemorrhagic condition
of the pericardium , lungs, and brain of the young. V itam inE prevented th e dystrophy b u t n o t the hajmorrhagic condition.
With fortified pasteurised milk sim ilar b u t less severe sym p­
toms appeared in th e second litte r of pups. E vaporated
and pasteurised milks were only slightly inadequate for
growth b u t did n o t provide for th e additional requirem ents
of reproduction.
A. G. P.
Digestible nutrients of feeding stuffs for the domestic rabbit.
LeR. Voris, L. F. Marcy, E . J . Thacker, and W . W . W ainio ( /.
Agric. Res., 1940, 61, 673— 683).— Analyses and digestibility
data for 47 feeding stuffs for rab b its are recorded. The
digestibility of concentrates w as high and th a t of roughages
was alm ost as high as th a t for o th er dom esticated animals.
Cottonseed m eal was toxic to rabbits.
A. G. P.
Nutritive value of Tanganyika foods. II. Cassava. W . D.
Raymond, W . Jojo, and Z. Nicodem us (E. A fr. Agric. J .,
1941, Jan ., R eprint, 8 pp.).— The fresh ro o t of th e cassava
plant contains approx. the sam e am ount of vitam in-C as
does the sweet potato. The (low) cyanogenetic glucoside
content varies according to th e v ariety and m ethod of cultiv­
ation. The protein and m ineral con ten t of the root is low
and there is a negligible am ount of digestible fat. The leaf
contains cyanogenetic glucosides and is one of th e richest
sources of -C. Vac. concn. of th e juice from cooked leaves
gives a stable prep, containing 2% of -C. The leaf also
contains appreciable am ounts of carotene and Ca, b u t in
addition it contains oxalic acid. The inclusion of both fresh
root and leaf is a valuable addition to African diets, and
although th e dried root is not valuable as a staple, it can be
used as a fam ine food.
J . N. A.
Utilisation by calves of energy in rations containing different
percentages of protein and in glucose supplements. H . H .
Mitchell and T. S. H am ilton [w ith W. T. H aines] (J. Agric.
Res., 1940, 61, 847— 864).— U tilisation of th e metabolisable
energy in calf rations is n o t im paired b y insufficiency of
protein. Food energy is utilised as efficiently for fattening
as for grow th. M oderate am ounts of glucose fed to calves
after a 5-day fast exert no sp. dynam ic effect although th e
li.Q. indicates its consum ption. The fasting level of h eat
production is unchanged although body-protein is probably
spared. A ddition of glucose to a basal ration lowers th e
digestibility of cellulose and hemicellulose; th e ap p aren t
raetabolisability of th e gross energy of glucose (average 65%)
is less th a n th e tru e val. for this reason. Approx. 50% of
the m etabolisable energy of glucose, used to supplem ent a
basal ration, is dissipated in th e increased h eat production.
A. G. P.
Effect of soya-bean oil meal on avian reproduction. H . S.
Wilgus, jun., and F. X . Gassner (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. Med.,
1941, 46, 290— 293).— E gg production, fertility, and hatching
rate were greatly increased when hens were fed on a diet con­
taining bran and m eat scrap in place of soya-bean oil meal.
V. J. W.
Production of seborrhcea in rats by feeding with whale oil.
HI. Effects of oxidation and distillation. E. Somekawa and
T. Suzuki (Sci. Papers Inst. Phys. Chem. Res. Tokyo, 1941, 38,
304—311; cf. A„ 1939, I I I , 701).—W hale oil oxidised by
Cr03 yields neutral and acidic substances, which when separ­
ated, esterified, and fed to rats, did n o t produce seborrhcea.
Distillation of w hale oil in a vac. yields fractions of increased
seborrhoea-producing c a p a c ity ; th is capacity appears to
increase w ith increase in I val.
J- 'L- D.
Dental dietetics. V. J. M atthew s (Bril. Dent. J ., 1941, 70,
11— 14).—D ietary reform s proposed to com bat d en tal caries
a re : reduced consum ption of sugar and sweets and the
adoption of th e wholemeal loaf.
J. H. B.
Poverty and dental caries. E . H . W ilkins (Brit. Dent. J .,
19H , 70, 82— 85).—E lem entary school children (5 years old)
774
showed a much higher incidence of caries th a n those a t
p rivate schools. The effects of po v erty and food custom s on
d iet as affecting caries are discussed.
J . H . B.
Diet and dental caries. R. W. B unting (N .Y . Sta. J . M ed.,
1939, 39, 18— 21).
E. M. J.
Comparison of the wool and skins of full-fed and mainten­
ance-fed lambs. M. X . Sullivan, W . C. Hess, and P . E. Howe
(J. Agric. Res., 1940, 61, 877-—-886).— Wool of lam bs receiving
a m aintenance ration contained 10% less cystine in th e body
third of th e fibre th a n did th a t of tw in lam bs on a full diet.
G reater differences occurred in th e cystine con ten t of the
skins of th e tw o sets of lam bs. Differences in th e histidine,
lysine, and arginine contents of skins and wool were small.
The mol. ratio of histidine : lysine : arginine was 1 : 15 : 16
in th e skins and 1 : 4 : 12 in th e wool.
A. G. P.
Effect of choline and other supplements on perosis. T. H .
Jukes (J. Nutrition, 1940, 20, 445—-458).—Perosis in turkeys
receiving a diet containing Mn b u t deficient in choline was
prevented b y supplem entary feeding of choline or arsenocholine b u t n o t by betaine. V itam ins and other m inerals
examined had no anti-perotic action although the max. effect
of choline was n o t obtained unless adequate v itam in -# was
supplied. 25% of soya-bean meal in th e d iet provided full
protection. P artia l protection was obtained w ith 17% of
sardine meal, 5% of dried p o rk liver, or 65% of barley.
Choline is essential for grow th as well as for prevention of
perosis.
A. G. P.
Choline metabolism. V. Effect of supplementary choline,
methionine, and cystine, and of casein, lactalbumin, fibrin,
edestin, and gelatin in hcemorrhagic degeneration in young
rats. W . H . Griffith (J. Nutrition, 1941, 21, 291— 306; cf.
A., 1940, II I, 327, 860).— On a low-choline diet containing
more th a n 0-8% of methionine (as such or in th e form of casein,
fibrin, or lactalbum in), hem orrhagic degeneration in ra ts is
slight or absent. Methionine probably supplies m ethyl groups
for th e synthesis of choline. Choline is essential if th e ration
contains less th an 0-8% of methionine. The choline require­
m ent varies inversely w ith the level of d ietary m ethionine
and, w ithin limits, increases w ith th e am ount of cystine fed.
A considerable increase in kidney-wt. occurs w ith a diet
containing 18% - of casein and 22% of gelatin even when
ha:morrhagic degeneration is prevented by m ethionine or
choline.
A. G. P.
Role of arginine and glycine in chick nutrition. D. M.
H egsted, G. M. Briggs, C. A. Elvehjem , and E. B. H a rt (J.
Biol. Chem., 1941, 140, 191— 200).—A ddition of 0-5% of
arginine + 1% of glycine to a basal diet containing caseinogen
18 and y east 10% causes m arked grow th in Leghorn chicks
(rapidly feathering) b u t little in P lym outh Rocks (slowly
feathering). I t also prevents paralysis and raises th e musclecreatine level to approx. 4-2 mg. p er g. A supplem ent of
chondroitin (5%) depresses muscle-creatine, w hether arginine
and glycine are added o r not.
P. G. M.
Effect of prolonged acidic and basic diets on animal organism.
V. Effect on change in weight of rabbits during incomplete
starvation with subsequent normal nutrition. VI. Calcium
and phosphorous content in bones of rabbits maintained for long
time on acidic or basic diets. L. I. Grebinnik (Ukrain. Biochem. J ., 1940, 15, 169— 1S2, 183— 191 ; cf. A., 1940, I I I , 47).
— V. W hen rab b its are m aintained on a sem i-starvation diet
and are th en given norm al rations containing excess of either
acid or base, there is no change in w t. of th e ra b b it during
sem i-starvation or norm al n utrition. This is n o t due to
insufficient acid or base to affect th e acid-base balance,
because th e acidic d iet produces m arked changes in urinary
acidity. The am ounts of N and P in th e urine agree w ith
those previously found.
VI.
The w t. and Ca and P co n ten t of thigh bones of rabbits
m aintained for 10 m onths on acidic or basic diets are d eter­
mined. The bones of th e acidic group weigh som ew hat less,
and contain less fat and more P in th e ash, th a n those of
controls, b u t th e differences a re small. The changes observed
do n o t indicate an y g reat p articipation of th e bones in th e
neutralisation of the excess acid introduced in to th e organism
w ith th e food.
J. N. A.
Influence of lactose in calcium retention in children. R.
Mills, H . B reiter, E. K em pster, B. McKey, M. Pickens, and
J. O uthouse (J. Nutrition, 1940, 20, 467— 476).—The Ca
retention of boys (5— 7 years) receiving a d iet supplemented.
775
A., III.—xvni, NUTRITION AND VITAMINS.
w ith CaHPO., and vitam in-/? w as increased by addition of
36 g. of lactose to th e daily diet.
A. G. P.
Life-time experiments on optimum calcium intake. F . O.
v an D uyne, C. S. Lanford, E . W . Toepfer, and H . C. Sherm an
(J. N utrition, 1941, 21, 221— 224).— In ''f u ll- lif e ” trials
w ith 3 generations of rats, a d iet deficient in riboflavin and
v itam in -^ b u t otherwise adequate required 0-64— 0-8% of
Ca to prom ote optim um grow th. This am o u n t of Ca is 3—-4
tim es th e min. necessary intake.
A. G. P.
Requirement of potassium by chick. B. B. D or (Proc. Soc.
E xp. Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 341— 343).— Chick diet m ust con­
ta in 0-17% of K to secure ad equate grow th, an d 0-13% to
p rev en t heav y m ortality. Deficiency sym ptom s are relieved
to a slight and tem porary ex te n t b y R b.
V. J . W.
Domestic water and dental caries. H . T. D ean, P . Jay ,
F. A. Arnold, and E. E lvove (U .S. Publ. Health Repts., 1931,
56, 365— 381).— Subjects w ith m oderate to severe m ottled
enam el an d exposed to F'-free w aters during th e p a st 12 years
showed m arkedly less dental caries th a n a com parable group
w ithout m ottled enamel w ho had been using a F'-free w ater
during th eir lifetim e. This lim ited im m unity from dental
caries is n o t dependent on th e presence of macroscopic
m ottled enam el because children born w ithin several years of
th e change in th e w ater supply an d practically free from
m ottled enamel likewise disclosed a low d ental caries experi­
ence. The L . acidophilus counts reflect a difference in caries
a ctiv ity in the groups studied, a resu lt consistent w ith th e
clinical findings in these groups. T eeth m oderately to
severely affected w ith m ottled enam el showed no tendency
to ram p an t dental caries even though th e y had been exposed
to a F '-free w ater for th e p a st 12 years.
C. G. \V.
Domestic water and dental caries [role of fluoride]. H . T.
D ean, P . Ja y , F . A. Arnold, and E. Elvove (U .S. Publ.
Health Repts., 1941, 56, 761— 792).— T here is a negative
correlation betw een F concn. of th e public w ater supply and
th e dental caries in children continuously exposed to such
w aters. 8 suburban Chicago com m unities showed m arked
differences in am ount of d en tal caries. In 4 areas, where
w ater contains 1-8, 1-2, 1-2, an d 1-3 p.p.m . of F ', dental
caries experience rates were 252, 258, 281, and 323, respec­
tively. In 3 areas using F'-free w ater, rates were 673, 722,
an d 810, respectively. Differences in th e counts of L . acido­
philus in th e saliva corresponded w ith th e differences in the
d en tal caries experience in th e groups studied.
C. G. W .
Determination of dietary fluorine.— See A., 1941, I, 346.
Importance of micro-organisms in vitamin research. R . J.
W illiam s (Science, 1941, 93, 412— 414)— A review.
L. S. T.
Effect of vitamins on infection and inflammation. E. W .
P a tto n (Sth. Med. J ., 1941, 34, 289—292).— A review.
E. M. J.
Relation of vitamin-/! blood level in rat to vitamin-/! intake
and to liver storage. J. M-< Lewis, O. B odansky, K. G. Falk,
and G. McGuire (Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 248—
250).— Blood concn. of vitam in-/! w as roughly proportional
to intake up to 50 units daily. Above th is blood concn. was
n o t increased b u t storage began in th e liver.
V. J. W .
Length of time required for depletion of vitamin-/! reserves
in range cattle. J. K. Riggs (J. N utrition, 1940, 20, 491—
500).—Among 260 range cattle exam ined th e period of depletion
of vitam in-/! ranged from 3 to 16 m onths. D epletion is acceler­
ated by low rainfall. A ccum ulation of reserve -A increased
w ith age. The feeding of 1000 ¡xg. of carotene (in lucerne
meal) per 100 kg. live w t. to deficient calves prolonged the
average period before th e onset of night-blindness b y only
15 days.
A. G. P.
Methods for determination ofvitamin-/!,
their mutual
relations and conversion factors. Different vitamin-/! units
and their conversion into international units. T. K. W ith
(Z. Vitaminforsch., 1941, 11, 172— 186).— A review.
J. H . B.
[Determination of] vitamin-^. J. B. W ilkie (J. Assoc.
Off- Agric. Chem., 1941, 24, 400— 403)— Spectrophotom etric
results for cod-liver oils are recorded. The conversion factor
should be based on direct com parison of th e extinction coeff.
w ith th a t of a reference oil. B y using a saponification p ro­
cess th e specificity of th e determ ination is increased b u t th e
results are more variable.
A. A. E.
Vitamins of the 5-group.
432).— A lecture.
776
A. R. Todd (J.C .S., 1941, 427—
W . McC.
Deficiency disease of foxes produced by feeding fish. B r
avitaminosis analogous to Wernicke’s disease of man. R. G.
Green, W. E. Carlson, and C. A. E vans (J . ,Arutrition, 1941, 21,
243— 256).— C hastek paralysis in foxes m ay be induced by
feeding a d ie t containing less th a n 10% of fish (fresh carp)
and is prevented b y addition to such a ratio n of considerable
am ounts of thiam in. The paralysis is fundam entally a
v itam in -# j deficiency disease.
A. G. P.
Thiamin excretion. V. A. N a jja r and L. E . H olt, jun.
(Johns H opkins Hosp. B ull., 1940, 67, 107— 124).— Thiamin
excretion shows a wide range of v ariation depending on
intake. An excretion te s t w hereby u rin ary th iam in is fol­
lowed 4 hr. after intravenous adm inistration gives a more
accurate m easure of deficiency of th iam in th a n th e 24-hr.
ou tp u t. O ther v itam in deficiencies m ay ex ert an influence
on th e excretion curve an d ren al function is an im portant
factor.
T. F. D.
Effectiveness of yeast-peanut butter mixture in vitamin-5
complex deficiencies. T. D. Spies, H . M. G rant, and J. M.
G ran t (Sth. M ed. J ., 1941, 34, 159— 161).— 23 p atien ts with
mild deficiency diseases im proved following ingestion of a
y e a st-p e a n u t m ixture offered tw ice daily ad libitum. The
m ixture consisted of 65% of p e an u t b u tte r, 8% of peanut
oil, an d 25% of y east yielding in 100 g. 32 g. of protein, 40 g.
of fat, an d 18 g. of carbohydrate, equalling 560 cals.
E. M. J.
Effect of pn on destruction of aneurin at 100°. IC. T. H.
F arre r (J. Proc. Austral. Chem. In st., 1941, 8, 113— 118).—
A pplication of th e thiochrom e te s t shows th a t, a t 100°,
aneurin is destroyed com pletely in 15 min. a t p a 9. A t pa
8, 7, 6, 5, 4, and 3 th e respective proportions destroyed in 1
hr. are 100, 67-8, 53-4, 40-0, 20-3, and 16%. The correspond­
ing vals. for a heating period of 3 hr. are 100, 96-4, 86-3, 67-4,
44-5, and 29-1%. In 1% aq. HC1 no destruction occurs in
7 hr. The rate of destruction is high in th e early and low in
th e la te r stages of heating. The use of cryst. aneurin and
th e chemical m ethod lead to vals. for proportion destroyed
g reater th a n those obtained b y biological m ethods and with
aneurin in foods.
W . McC.
Colorimetric determination of vitam in-#!. HI. Y . Sakurai
(Bull. In st. Phys. Chem. Res. Japan, 1941, 20, 281— 284).—
The e x tra c t from, e.g., yeast, cereals, beans, potatoes, meat,
or m ilk is treated w ith acid clay, centrifuged, and th e residue
treated w ith phenol in dil. alcohol and then w ith a freshly
prepared £-am in o aceto p h en o n e-H N 0 2 reagent and allowed
to rem ain for 1 hr. A fter centrifuging, th e residue is sus­
pended in 60% alcohol and ex tracted w ith xylene, th e colour
of which is determ ined photom etrically.
J . L. D.
Dysfunction of sebaceous glands associated with pellagra.
S. G. Sm ith, D. T. Sm ith, and J. L. Callaway (J. invest.
Dermat., 1941, 4, 23— 39).—E x perim ental sebaceous gland
lesions were produced in th e tails of ra ts on diets deficient in
th e entire vitamin-Z?2 complex. The lesions were n o t cured
b y nicotinic acid, adenylic acid (muscle), riboflavin, -B„, -B v
or p aren teral liver e x tra c t fed singly. W hen th e lesions
developed in ra ts on th e flavin-deficient d iet of Bourquin
and Sherm an, riboflavin alone effected a cure. Crude aq.
e x tra c t of liver or autoclaved y east consistently prevents or
cures th e experim ental lesion. A com bination of riboilavinan d vitam in-B , com plex-deficient d iet results
in normal
sebaceous glands, b u t grow th rem ains subnorm al. A seba­
ceous gland syndrom e frequently found associated with
pellagra has been described an d term ed " dyssebacia." The
lesions, occurring chiefly on th e face, are characterised by
dryness of th e skin and th e presence of plugs of inspissated
sebum projecting from th e sebaceous follicles, giving a sand­
p a p er appearance. In 512 pellagrins, " d y sse b a c ia " was
observed more frequently in adults th a n in children and in
males th a n in females. The incidence is highest in negro
males, p articu larly alcoholics and dem entia. " Dyssebacia "
is readily cured b y autoclaved y east or crude extracts of
liver, b u t -B 1 and p aren teral liver e x tra c t are ineffective.
Synthetic riboflavin has little effect on th e active pellagrin
who has n o t been treated w ith nicotinic acid. The latter
usually cures b u t is n o t as effective as yeast or crude extracts
of liver.
C. J . C. B.
777
A., III.—xvin, NUTRITION AND VITAMINS.
Photodynamic action of lactoflavin. G. Boehm (Z. Vitaminforsch., 1941, 11, 128— 131)— A fter tre a tm e n t of th e isolated
urinary bladder of a frog w ith lactoflavin, contractions
occur on exposure to light. This photodynam ic action of
lactoflavin m ay also be exerted in contractile cells sensitive
to light.
•
J. H. B.
Riboflavin contents of tissues as stabilised in adults at
liberal levels of intake. F. O. V an D uyne and H. C. Sherman
(Proc. N at. Acad. Sei., 1941, 27, 289— 291).—The liver, kidney,
heart, and skeletal muscle of ra ts reared on food containing
approx. 5 or 20 ng. of riboflavin p er g. have contents of ribo­
flavin of approx. 40, 34, 27, and 3-5 fig. per g. of fresh tissue.
When the contents of riboflavin in th e tissues do n o t respond
to higher levels of intake, such higher levels m ay y e t have a
beneficial effect, as evidenced b y th e production of offspring
of greater vigour.
F. O. H.
[Determination of] riboflavin. A. R. K emmerer (J. Assoc.
Off. Agric. Chem., 1941, 24, 413— 423).— The bacteriological
or the fluorometric m ethod is more reliable th an the colori­
metric m ethod in which an acetic acid-m ethyl alcohol
extract is treated w ith I<M n04, th e n I i 20 2, and compared
with a standard. The m ean riboflavin content of dried
skim milk w as 19-9 and of yeast 55-7 p.p.m . (bacteriological
method).
A. A. E.
Clinical manifestations of nicotinic acid and riboflavin
deficiency (pellagra). V. P . Sydenstricker (A nn. int. Med.,
1941, 14, 1499— 1517).— A lecture and discussion.
A. S.
Effect of pyrazine acids and quinolinic acid on the K-factor
content of human blood and on canine blacktongue. W . J.
Dann, H . I. K ohn, and P . H andler ( /. N utrition, 1940, 20,
477—490).— Oral adm inistratio n of quinolinic acid and
pyrazine-mono- or -2 : 3-di-carboxylic acids did n o t increase
the F -factor level in hum an blood cells. None of the acids
caused synthesis of F -factor when incubated w ith sterile
defibrinated blood. Quinolinic acid (20 mg. daily) prevented
blacktongue in dogs b u t w as ineffective a t the rate of 5 mg.
daily. Pyrazine-m ono- (10 mg.) and -2 : 3-di-carboxylic
acid (5 mg.) did n o t afford protection. Complete protection
was given by nicotinic acid (0-15 mg. daily).
A. G. P.
Determination of nicotinic acid in animaltissues. W . J.
Dann and P. H andler (J. Biol. Chem., 1941,140, 201— 213).—
Metol is th e m ost satisfactory am ine to use in carrying out
the König reaction. The technique described is th e m ost
satisfactory so far devised, b u t com plete dccolorisation of
extracts is essential, and it can n o t be applied accurately to
products such as caseinogen, w heat, dried leaves, e tc ., extracts
of which are intensely coloured.
P . G. if.
Vitamin-/?, deficiency in dogs. H . R. Street, G. R. Cowgill,
and H. M. Zim m erm an (J. Nutrition, 1941, 21, 275—290).—
On a diet containing thiam in, riboflavin, and filtrate factor
but not vitam in-/?0 dogs developed severe anajmia in 120—
320 days. T reatm en t w ith -B 0 caused a rapid increase in
haemoglobin and erythrocyte levels. A dm inistration of
FeS04 had no effect. In the la te r stages of the ancemia there
was evidence of cardiac em barrassm ent. In -/?„ deficiency
there m ay be a dim inution in th e vol. of gastric juice and in
the am ount of acid secreted.
A. G. P.
Nutritional dermatoses in rat gangrene and spontaneous
amputation of digits produced by combined deficiency of vitaminBc and filtrate components. M. Sullivan and J.N ic h o lls(/. invest.
Dermat., 1941,4,123— 133).— R a ts were fed a basal vitam in-Bfree diet supplem ented w ith thiam in and riboflavin. A fter 7— 8
weeks peripheral derm atitis of th e paw s and nose appeared
of the -/J6 deficiency type. The onset and severity of these
signs were variable and remissions were frequent. There was
a high % of derm atitis of the ears. D igital lesion developed
in 60% of the anim als late in th e experim ent, and was in­
dependent of th e severity of th e peripheral derm atitis. The
implicated digits suddenly becam e (E dem atous and erythem ­
atous; haemorrhage occurred in th e skin and was followed
by gangrene and spontaneous am putations of th e affected
digit. H istologically there were intraderm al vesiculation,
bulla form ation, and oedema of th e corium, followed by th e
appearance of closely aggregated, dilated and hyperaemic
blood vessels and la te r by necrobiosis. No endarteritis was
found.
C. J. C. B.
Cure for signs of egg-white disease by corn-oil fatty acids and
Vltamin-B,. E . M. M acK ay and R. H . B arnes (Proc. Soc. Exp.
778
Biol. Med., 1941, 46, 353— 357).— O nset of derm atitis from
egg-white feeding in rats was much delayed if 10% of dietary
fa t was replaced b y com oil (Mazola), and was practically
cured by injection of v itam in -/!, in addition.
V. J. W.
Tautomerism of vitamin-/},.— See A., 1941, II , 268.
Relation of pantothenic acid to the filtrate fraction of the
vitamin-/i complex. M. K. Dimick and A. Lepp (J. N utrition,
1940, 20, 413—426).— Synthetic pantothenic acid prevented
or cured nutritional derm atitis produced in chicks by feeding
n atu ral foodstuffs previously heated a t 120° for 24 hr. The
grow th response, however, was sm aller th a n th a t obtained
w ith rice bran concentrate. The la tte r yielded an eluate
which contained a factor, other th an pantothenic acid,
necessary for chick growth on th e heated diet. Pantothenic
acid does n o t replace completely th e “ r a t filtrate ” factor.
Rice bran concentrate contains an unidentified factor necessary
for th e rat.
A. G. P.
Adrenal injury and pantothenic acid. S. Ugami, Y. Y am ao,
K . Michi, S. Funahashi, S. Em oto, and A. Ichiba (Sci. Papers
Inst. Phys. Chem. Res. Tokyo, 1941, 38, 312— 315).— Observ­
ations on th e nutritional role of pantothenic acid are in
agreem ent w ith those of U nna and of Mills cl al. (A., 1941,
I I I , 286, 573).
J . L. D.
Vitamin-C in cell physiology. G. Bourne ( / . Physiol., 1941,
99, 9— 10p ).—Many cells, including osteoblasts, during activ ity
absorb vitam in-C in th e region of th e Golgi apparatus,
w hich is recognised as a synthetic centre of the cell. -C is
dem onstrated histologically by the use of A gN 03 in 10%
acetic acid (cf. A., 1941, III, 156).
J. A. C.
Vitamin-C metabolism in eastern cotton rats. A. R. Clark
and C. W. Jungeblut (J. Nutrition, 1940, 20, 427—432).—
The ascorbic acid content of th e liver, spleen, and brain
of the cotton ra t is sim ilar to, b u t th a t of th e adrenal is much
lower th an , the corresponding val. for albino rats. The
cotton ra t is able to synthesise vitam in-C and m aintains a
threshold level of -C in all tissues when fed a -C-deficient
diet. The -C level of cotton ra t adrenals approaches th a t of
guinea-pigs.
A. G. P.
Effect of ascorbic acid on oxidation-reduction processes in
central nervous system, n . Intensity of oxidation-reduction
processes in guinea-pig brain after saturation of the organism
with ascorbic acid. E. V. Lachno (Ukrain. Biochem. J ., 1940,
15, 115— 124; cf. A., 1940, II I, 52).—The intensity of the
redox processes in guinea-pig brain increases 30—35% after
satu ratin g th e organism w ith ascorbic acid. The am ount
of the la tte r in th e brain increases approx. 112% a fter sa tu ra t­
ing th e organism w ith vitam in-C. The activ ity of catalase
in brain increases w ith increase of -C in the brain. I t is
concluded th a t the mechanism of the action of ascorbic acid
on redox processes depends on the sta te of the anim al—
w hether it is norm al o r avitam inotic, or satu rate d w ith -C.
J. N. A.
Vitamin-C excretion of healthy and sick children. H . L iithi
(Z . Vitaminforsch., 1941, 11, 132— 153).— Children were
examined for vitam in-C retention during daily adm inistration
of 200 mg. of -C for 5 days. 75% showed a cum ulative
deficit of 0— 400 mg. (normal vals.), 21% 400— 800 mg.
(slight C-hypovitaminosis), 4% over 800 mg. (severe Chypovitaminosis). The average deficit in April was 555 mg.,
in Aug. 155 mg. A fter 2 or more m onths' country holiday
the excretion of -C w as increased, b u t n o t a fte r 1 month.
In children suffering from tuberculosis or extensive dental
caries th e deficit was higher.
J . H . B.
Scurvy. J. P. Tollm an and R. L. Spradling (Nebraska Sta.
Med. J ., 1941, 26, 184— 185).—Case rep o rt.
E . M. J.
Lack of vitamin-C in the army. M. Demole (Z. V itam in­
forsch., 1941, 11, 121— 128).— Soldiers of 8—9 m onths'
service show a greater vitam in-C deficiency th a n recruits.
The d iet theoretically contains enough -C b u t in practice
th e am ount is insufficient owing to prolonged cooking and
th e high -C requirem ent of men under arms.
J. H. B.
Vitamin-C deficiency and the potato. R- W . H . T avenner
(Brit. Dent. / . , 1941, 70, 398—402).—The greater incidence
of gingival disease due to lack of vitam in-C can be countered
b y increased consum ption of potatoes.
J. H . B.
Manganese and vitamin-C. J. B. H ester (Science, 1941,
93, 401).—The ascorbic acid con ten t of tom ato fru it grown
on 12 soils know n to be low in Mn averaged 0-200 g. per 1.
779
A., III.—xix, METABOLISM, GENERAL AND SPECIAL.
of pulp as ag ain st 0-267 g. p er 1. for th a t grown on soils con­
taining more available Mn. In p o t culture, th e application
of 1 g. of M nS04,4H 20 , in a localised area, to 15 x 103 g.
of Sassafras sandy loam (pa 7-1) increased tlie ascorbic acid
content of th e pulp from 0-142 to 0-243 g. per 1.
L. S. T.
Cutaneous application of vitamin-D in treatment of rickets.
E . A. W agner an d D. V. Jones (Ohio Sta. Med. J ., 1941, 37,
249— 254).— 8 cases of rickets were successfully treated by
tw ice daily inunction of the whole body w ith an oil containing
975 U .S.P. units of vitam in-D (irradiated ergosterol) p er g.
over a prolonged period. 10,000— 30,000 u n its were used
per application of w hich 70% were th o u g h t to be absorbed.
The first signs of healing were observed as early as th e 14th
day in some cases.
E. M. J.
Effect of solvent on the antirachitic activity of vitamin-!».
J. Lobl (Z . Vitaminforsch., 1941, 11, 153— 172).— The curative
power of vitam in-D for rickets in ra ts does n o t depend on
the solvent (sesam i oil or propylene glycol) in which it is
adm inistered.
J. H . B.
Chick method for the assay of vitamin-X». II. Modified
basal ration. H . W . Loy, ju n ., J. B. De W itt, and L. F.
K nudsen (J. Assoc. Off. Agric. Client., 1941, 24, 432— 440).—
A basal ration consisting of ground yellow corn 54, ground
whole w heat 20, ground rolled oats 10, crude dom estic acidp ptd. casein 11-5, non-irradiated y e ast (7% min. N) 2,
Ca3(P 0 4)2 (pptd.) 0-5, CaC03 (pptd.) 1, NaCl (0-02% KI)
1%, w ith 0-2 g. of M nS04,4H 20 per kg. of m ixture, is preferred
to th e A.O.A.C. ration. As measured b y % bone ash,
sensitivity and reproducibility are increased, th e influence of
chick body-w t. is dim inished, and the variation betw een th e
individual and group ashing procedures is reduced.
A. A. E.
Preparation of permanent records of biological vitamin-I»
assays. A. D. Holmes, M. G. P ig o tt, and A. N . T erry (J.
Am er. Pharm. Assoc., 1941, 30, 153— 150).—A pparatus and
m ethods for Ag staining and subsequent photographing of
rachitic tibiaj (rat) are described.
F. O. H .
Placental and mammary transfer of vitamin-E in the rat.
K. E. Mason and W . L. B ryan (J. Nutrition, 1940, 20, 501—
517).—T ransfer of vitam in-E from female ra ts to th eir young
occurs principally through th e milk. P lacental transm ission
is very lim ited. M am m ary tran sfer to male offspring other­
wise deprived of -E w as sufficient to cause considerable delay
in th e onset of testis degeneratio n ; placental tran sfer was no t
dem onstrable b y this means. P lacental an d m am m ary
transfer to female offspring n o t receiving o th er sources of -E
failed to prevent resorption during th e first pregnancy.
A. G. P.
Uncomplicated vitamin-E deficiency in rabbit; relation to
toxicity of cod-liver oil. C, G. Mackenzie, J . B. Mackenzie,
and E. V. McCollum (J. N utrition, 1941, 21, 225— 234).— On a
purified low-fat diet vitam in-E-deficient rab b its developed
severe lesions of voluntary muscles. S ynthetic a-tocopherol
prevented the lesions. The action of a-tocopherol was
rendered ineffective b y oral ad m inistration of cod-liver oil
w ithin a few min. of feeding or b y feeding th e oil w ith the
basal diet. Fresh lard did n o t have th is effect. A. G. P.
Behaviour of different tocopherols in the colour reaction with
nitric acid.— See A., 1941, II , 266.
Manufacture of esters of tocopherols.— See B ., 1941, I I I ,
218.
Synthesis of homoisophytol and of an isoprene homologue of
a-tocopherol.— See A., 1941, II, 300.
Identity of vitam in -// with biotin. P. Gyorgy, C. S. Rose,
K. H ofm ann, 1). B. Melville, and V. du Y igneaud (Science,
1940, 92, 609; cf. A., 1940, I I I , 820).— Cryst. bio tin m ethyl
ester from a liver concentrate, purified to const, m .p., 166—
167° (uncorr.), b y repeated crystallisation (m ethyl alcohol +
ether) an d to const, biotin activity, possesses such a high
v ita m in -// activ ity th a t it m u st bo regarded as identical
w ith -H . The crystals also possess m ax. co-enzyme R
activ ity [D. B urk], confirming th e id en tity of co-enzyme R
and biotin, and prom ote [D. W. Woolley] the grow th of
Clostridium butylicum strain 21.
L. S. T.
[Determination of] vitamin-E. H . J . A lm quist (J. Assoc.
Off- Agric. Chem., 1941, 24, 405— 413)—T he potency of th e
substance is com pared w ith th a t of a pure, stan d ard an ti-
780
liaemorrhagic com pound in controlling th e blood-protlirombin
level of chicks fed on a basal d iet free from vitamin-/«’. If
a fa t solvent is required, ethyl lau rate is recommended.
M easurem ent of Quick’s prothrom bin tim e is preferred, for
reasons given, to th a t of blood clo ttin g tim e. The merits
of 2-m ethyl-l : 4-naplithaquinone and 2 -m e th y l-l: 4-naphthaquinol diacetate as stan d ard s of activ ity are considered.
A. A. E.
Distribution of the “ grass-juice factor ” in plant and
animal materials. S. B. R andle, H . A. Sober, and G. O.
K ohler (J. N utrition, 1940, 20, 459—466)— The occurrence
of th e facto r in num erous p la n t and anim al foodstuffs is
e x a m in e d ; th e proportion in anim al tissues is small. In
p la n t m aterial young rapidly-grow ing tissues contain more
of th e facto r th a n do m ature tissues. Careful drying and lowtem p. storage perm its reten tio n of m uch of th e factor in
p la n t m atter. The factor is readily oxidisable. Glucuronic
acid, narcotine, citrin, an d Ca eriodictate do n o t possess the
a ctiv ity of th e grass juice factor.
A. G. P.
X IX .-M ETA B O LIS M , GENERAL AND SPECIAL.
Metabolism, pulse rate, and blood pressure of Europeans in
tropics. R. G. S. MacGregor and G. L. Loh ( / . Physiol., 1941,
99, 496— 509).— In some norm al individuals th ere is a gradual
fall in th e basal m etabolic rate, pulse rate, systolic and
diastolic blood pressures. The depression reaches its max.
before the end of th e first y e a r in th e tropics and is main­
tained a fte r 2 years. M ilitary train in g docs n o t affect the
changes, w hich ap p ear to be clim atic.
J. A. C.
Effect of various amounts of caffeine on gaseous exchange
and respiratory quotient in man. J. H aldi, G. B achm ann, C.
Ensor, and W . W ynn (J. N utrition, 1941, 21, 307— 320).—
A dm inistration of 3— 6 mg. of caffeine p er kg. body-wt.
produced, in th e first 30 min., an increase in R .Q., tid al vol.,
0 2 consum ption, and C 0 2 elim ination. Subsequently the
R.Q. fell to a val. below th e initial level. T he respiratory
ra te w as n o t greatly affected. T he early rise in R.Q. was
p robably caused b y expulsion of preform ed CO.. Hyper­
v entilation in th e first 30 m in. resulted in a compensatory
reten tio n of C 0 2 which w as com pleted in 1— 75 hr. Increased
m etabolism due to larger doses of caffeine w as n o t associated
w ith an increase in th e proportion of food oxidised.
A. G. P.
Specific dynamic effects of amino-acids : bearing on causes
of specific dynamic effects of proteins. M. K riss (J. Nutritioii,
1941, 21, 257— 274).—D eterm inations of th e sp. dynamic
effects of glutam ic acid, glycine, alanine, tyrosine, aspartic
acid, and asparagine are based on th e additio n al h eat pro­
duced on feeding th e acids as a supplem ent to a maintenance
ration. Positive vals. were obtained in all cases. The meta­
bolism of C is p robably a m ore im p o rta n t factor in th e pro­
duction of sp. dynam ic effects th a n is th e m etabolism of N.
The dynam ic effect and th e m etabolisable energy of th e acids
are closely related. No evidence was obtained th a t certain
am ino-acids o r p roducts a c t as special m etabolic stimulants
in th e pharm acodynam ic sense. D a ta obtained accord with
th e view th a t th e sp. dynam ic effect results from intermediary
reactions (oxidation and synthesis) an d energy changes.
A. G. P.
Effect of lead acetate on oxygen uptake of rat liver slices.
H . D. B aernstein an d J . A. G rand (J. Biol. Chem., 1941, 140,
285— 291).— The O, u p tak e of liver slices, previously im­
mersed in 0-002u-Pb acetate a t p a 5-3 (b u t n o t O-OOIm.), is
decreased b y 13-8%, b u t it is unlikely th a t such conditions
prevail in th e in ta c t anim al.
P . G. M.
Action of cyanide on eggs and embryos of grasshopper.
W . A. R obbie (J. Cell. Comp. Physiol., 1941, 17, 369—384).—
R espiration of grasshopper eggs is depressed b y HCN down
to a min. of 0-02 cu.m m . of 0 2 per egg p er hr. T o x i c effect
increases w ith tem p., an d recovery is slower th a n from CO
o r anoxia. Toxic effect is proportional to exposure tim e X
concn. E m bryos rem oved from eggs are much more sensitive
to low H CN concn. b u t th e ir recovery is quicker, and it is
suggested th a t th eir respiration depends on a different enzyme
system .
V. J. W.
Oxidation mechanism of malic, citric, and glutamic acids in
rabbit muscle pulp. O. P . Tschepinoga (U krain. Biochem. J.,
1940, 15, 57— 67).—T he " e x t r a Q0 l " w hich results when
/-malic, citric, and glutam ic acid are added to minced rabbit
781
A., III.—xix, METABOLISM, GENERAL AND SPECIAL.
muscle in M eyerhof’s m edium varies from 1 to 2. Glutamic
acid gives th e least " e x tra Qo,-” W hen /-malic acid is
added there is an im m ediate inhibition of respiration which
is followed in 10— 20 min. by an increase in Q0,. The respir­
ation then parallels spontaneous respiration while preserving
the catalytic val. T his is p robably due to form ation of
oxaloacetic acid, which is partially decarboxylated, and the
excess of C 0 2 which is n o t im m ediately absorbed a t first masks
the 0 2 consum ption. A ddition of malic acid to a system in
which respiration is inhibited b y CN' shows th a t oxidation
of the acid occurs in tw o w ays—p a rt of th e acid which acts
catalytically on respiration is oxidised by th e Fe system of
W arburg-Keilin, w hilst th e excess, w hich is n o t needed for
catalysis, is oxidised elsewhere. I t is considered th a t the
results do n o t support th e “ citrate cycle " theory of Krebs.
They confirm th e d a ta of Breusch (A., 1938, II I, 146, 221)
but a different explanation is suggested.
J. N. A.
Dehydrogenases of strained and fatigued muscle tissues,
m . Ability of minced strained and fatigued muscle3 to
oxidise malic, citric, and glutamic acid. O. P. Tschepinoga
(Uhrain. Biochem. J ., 1940, 15, 45— 56; cf. A., 1940, II I,
567).—The relative activities of malic, citric, and glutamic
dehydrogenases are determ ined indirectly by increasing th e
demands on th e enzyme system b y addition of th e ap p ro ­
priate donator to minced ra b b it muscle. In all cases there is
an increase in 0 2 consum ption (" e x tra Q0, ” ) as compared
with th a t of spontaneous respiration. R elative changes in
the activity of the given dehydrogenase system can be deter­
mined, because sim ultaneous addition of two donators to
minced muscle gives an " ex tra Q0, ” w’hich is higher th an
that given b y each donator separately. No changes are
observed in th e capacity of minced muscle to oxidise added
malic and citric acids com pared w ith th a t of norm al muscles.
Addition of glutam ic acid results in m ost cases in decrease of
" extra Qo, " in strained as com pared w ith control muscle.
In fatigue th ere is no change in th e ab ility of minced muscle
to oxidise th e above three acids. The observed tendency
towards an increase of “ ex tra Qo, ” is explained by the
increased perm eability of th e cell m em branes of fatigued
muscle.
J. N. A.
Mechanism of the Pasteur reaction. I. Experimental
testing of Szent-Gyorgyi’s theory. E . T. Soreni (Uhrain.
Biochem. J ., 1940, 15, 5— 44). —Theories of th e mechanism of
the reaction are discussed. The theo ry of Szent-Gyorgyi is
tested by th ree m ethods : (a) th e effect of oxaloacetic acid
on lactic acid form ation in M eyerhof’s e x tra c t and minced
muscle, (b) w hether th e reaction occurs in tissues in which C4
dicarboxylic acid catalysis is absent, and (e) w hether, and in
what way, inhibition of th e C4 dicarboxylic acid catalysis by
sp. poisons such as malonic and maleic acid affects th e P asteu r
reaction. 3-8 X 10_=M -oxaloacetic acid has no effect on lactic
acid form ation in M eyerhof's ex tra ct and minced ra b b it
muscle. L ung tissue, from which C4 dicarboxylic acid ca ta ­
lysis is absent, shows a typical P asteu r reaction. The fibres
of the pectoralis m ajor muscle of th e pigeon and th e diaphragm
of the ra t b o th show a typical P asteu r reaction in P O / "
buffer and in R inger solution. O-OSM-malonate produces 80%
inhibition of respiration in P O / " buffer, and slightly less
inhibition in R inger solution. Ferm entation is also inhibited
in both solutions, b u t th e effect is g reatest in R inger solution.
In P O /" buffer although respiration is strongly inhibited
there is practically no difference between aerobic and anaerobic
glycolysis, and th e results show th a t th e reaction can occur
in muscle in which C4 dicarboxylic acid catalysis is inhibited.
Maleic acid inhibits respiration an d anaerobic glycolysis of
muscle w hilst it increases aerobic glycolysis up to alm ost the
anaerobic val., and there is no P asteu r reaction. Since maleic
acid inhibits reactions involving thiol com pounds th e result
does not confirm th e theory, b u t points to th e role of thiol
compounds in th e reaction. I t is concluded th a t none of the
tests confirms th e theory. Since th e P asteu r reaction occurs
in systems in w hich C4 dicarboxylic acid catalysis is inhibited
or absent, the la tte r can play no p a rt in th e reaction, and as
carbohydrate oxidation occurs in m ost anim al cells w ith th e
aid of this catalysis it is concluded th a t “ triosc " oxidation
and the P asteu r reaction are com pletely independent processes.
Transformation of carnosine in the organism . Fate of
parenterally adm inistered carnosine. N. P. Meschkova (Bio-
chimia, 1940, 5, 151— 161).— Carnosine, p arenterally adm inis­
tered to rats, is only p a rtly metabolised, 30— 50% being
n (a ., i i i .)
782
excreted unchanged in th e urine. H istidine, sim ilarly a d ­
ministered, is com pletely metabolised. W ith b o th substances,
the N con ten t is completely excreted in th e urine w ithin 48
hr. Carnosine and leucylglycine are hydrolysed by pulp and
glycerol extracts of various anim al tissues; r a t’s liver, b u t
n o t bird's liver, hydrolyses carnosine.
F. O. H.
Biological relationships of choline, ethanolamine, and
related compounds. De W. S tetten, ju n . ( j . Biol. Chon.,
1941, 140, 143— 152; cf. A., 1941, II I, 524).—W hen cthanolamine, choline, glycine, betaine, and N H 3, all containing 16N,
are fed to ra ts on a stan d ard diet, b o th th e ethanolam ine
and choline of th e body-phosphatides are rapidly replaced by
d ietary ethanolam ine and choline. W ith th e latter, liver is
th e most active and brain th e least active tissue in this p ro ­
cess of replacm ent. E thanolam ine can serve as a biological
precursor of choline, w hilst glycine is one of th e substances
from which th e organism can synthesise ethanolam ine. The
principal route of metabolism of betaine is dem ethylation to
glycine and th e lipotropic activ ity of th e form er is probably
due merely to its role as donor of m ethyl groups. A fter
feeding isotopic ethanolam ine and choline, considerable
am ounts of isotopic urea and N H , are present in th e urine,
b u t th e route of this degradation is unknown. E thanolam ine
is no t appreciably oxidised to glycine b y th e organism.
J. N. A.
Role of ascorbic acid in phenylalanine and tyrosine meta­
bolism. R. R. Sealock, J . D. Perkinson, jun., and D. H .
Basinski ( / . Biol. Chem., 1941, 140, 153— 160; cf. A., 1940,
II I, 313, 819).—W hen /-phenylalanine is fed to vitam in-Cdeficient guinea-pigs, the urine contains tyrosine m etabolites
together w ith homogentisic acid and an a-keto-acid, and th e
am ount of tyrosine derivatives corresponds w ith a consider­
able portion of th e added phenylalanine. Most of th e
" tyrosyl " val. is due to /»-hydroxy phenyl pyruvic acid. The
excretion of all these m etabolic substances ceases as soon as
an adequate supply of -C is adm inistered. Similar results
are obtained when phenylpyruvic acid is used instead of
phenylalanine, w hilst w ith p-hydroxy phenyl pyruvic acid, the
excretion of th e m etabolites is only slightly affected by
adm inistration of -C. The results are discussed in relation
to th e inter-relationship of phenylalanine and tyrosine in the
catabolism of th e former, and to th e effect of -C on m etabolism
of th e amino-acids.
J. N. A.
Lipotropic action of sulphur-containing amino-acids and
related substances. S. A. Singal and H . C. Eckstein (J . Biol.
Chem., 1941, 140, 27— 34).—D eterm inations of th e lipin
contents of th e livers of w hite mice on a diet low in protein
and high in fa t show th a t cystine betaine, methionine sulphoxide, and dithiodiglycollic acid are lipotropic. Cystine disulphoxide resembles cystine in increasing th e lipin content
of th e liver b u t cysteic acid, pento- and hexo-cystine, djenkolic
acid, ¿/-valine, ¿/-leucine, an d ¿/-isoleucine have no effect on
th e content. The m ethyl, ethyl, n- and iso-propyl derivatives
of cysteine differ from it in causing no accum ulation of lipin
in th e liver and these derivatives resemble m ethionine rath er
th a n cysteine in th eir relation to th e d ietary production of
fa tty liver.
W . McC.
Sterol metabolism in young white rats. IV. Effect of
dietary fat on cholesterol metabolism of four generations.
C. R. Treadwell and H . C. E ckstein ( /. Biol. Chem., 1941,140,
35 — 42; cf. A., 1938, II I, 932).—The free an d to ta l chole­
sterol contents of th e fasting whole blood and serum and the
neu tral fat, to ta l phospholipin, and cholesterol contents of
th e liver are n o t significantly affected b y increasing th e fat
con ten t of an adequate diet from 6 to 28% b u t th e m agnitude
of th e negative cholesterol balance is increased.
W . McC.
Glycogen content in tissues of hibernating animals. P. D.
Dvornikova (Ukrain. Biochem. J ., 1940, 15, 85— 91).—During
hibernation th e glycogen co n ten t of th e liver and muscles of
susliks decreases, w hilst th a t of cardiac muscle and lungs
increases. I t is suggested th a t in th e la tte r cases glycogen
accum ulation creates a favourable condition for th e activity
of th e h e a rt and lungs when th e anim al wakes.
J. N. A.
Influence of increased environmental temperature on bloodsugar, liver-glycogen, and absorption in rats following adminis­
tration of glucose and starch. M. A. R afferty and P . L. MacLachlan (J- Biol. Chem., 1941, 140, 167— 170; cf. A., 1941,
II I, 558).— A fter adm inistration of glucose o r starch, th e
blood-sugar of ra ts w ith an environm ental tem p, of 35-5—
783
A., III.—xx, PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY.
36-5° and " hum idity 35% ” is consistently higher th a n in
controls, w hilst the liver-glycogen and am ount of carbo­
h y d rate absorbed from the intestine are consistently lower.
S tatistically th e differences are significant only w ith respect
to liver-glycogen following adm inistration of b o th glucose
and starch, and to th e blood-sugar level a fte r feeding starch.
J. N. A.
Sodium chloride and peritoneal absorption and renal excre­
tion of glucose in normal and diabetic rats. G. Sayers and
J. M. O rten (Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 1941, 46, 287— 289).—
A ddition of NaCl to intraperitoneaily injected glucose solution
has no effect on glucose absorption b u t increases glycosuria
in norm al, pancreatectom ised, or h ereditary diabetic rats.
V. J. W.
Symptomatology of diabetes. J. H. B arach (Penn. Med. / . ,
1941, 44, 722— 724).— P olyuria was seen in only 18% of a
group of 150 diabetics. The com m onest sym ptom s in a
group of 355 cases were dry m outh (thirst), pollakiuria, and
weakness, seen in 75% of cases.
E . M. J.
Biliary cirrhosis with diabetes mellitus simulating hsemochromatosis. M. Campbell, S. S. Adler, and J . F . H a rt
(N .Y . S ta .J . M ed., 1938, 38. 1342— 1343).— Case report.
E . M. J.
Diabetic coma (ketosis). G. G. D uncan (Penn. M e d .J ., 1941,
44, 725— 727).
E . M. J.
Excretion of ketonic acids. H . W aelsch (J . Biol. Chcni.,
1941, 140, 313—314)— The ketonic acid excretion of fasting
ra ts is 0-5—0-8 mg. of pyruvic acid equiv. per day. A ddi­
tion of certain amino-acids, e.g., glycine, /-alanine, to a
protein-free d iet does n o t affect the excretion, w hilst /-lysine
produces a slight increase and /-tyrosine and (-//-phenylalanine
a considerable increase. Such increased excretion ceases
im m ediately th e feeding of th e amino-acid is stopped.
P. G. M.
Participation of carbon dioxide in the carbohydrate cycle.
A. K. Solomon, B. V ennesland, F. W . K lem perer, J. M.
B uchanan, and A. B. H astings (J. Biol. Chein., 1941, 140,
171— 182).— R adioactive X aH C 0 3 is injected intraperitoneaily
in to fasting ra ts following adm inistration of lac ta te b y
stom ach tu b e ; the liver-glycogen formed contains 0-3— 1T %
of the UC adm inistered. COa com bines w ith pyruvic acid to
form oxaloacetic acid, w hich readily gives rise to fum aric
acid, an d th is finally yields phosphopyruvic acid, which con­
denses to form glycogen. E ach p air of phosphopyruvate
mols. w hich condense contain 1 n C atom , which corresponds
w ith a m ax. of 6 such atom s in 1 mol. of glycogen. Only
a b o u t 60% of n C injected has been accounted for, a large
p roportion of the rem ainder being p robably present in org.
com bination in the tissues.
P. G. M.
Penetration of radioactive sodium and phosphorus into
extra- and intra-cellular phases of tissues. J . F . M anery and
W . F . B ale (Amer. J . Physiol., 1941, 132, 215— 231).—D istri­
bu tion of adm inistered 2*Na th ro u g h o u t m am m alian tissues
was com pared w ith th a t of norm ally occurring N a and Cl.
If sufficient tim e elapsed (up to 12 hr.) “ N a distribution
w’as identical w ith N a distribution. Tissues differed in th e
rates a t w hich *‘N a entered th e N a phase. I t p en etrated
th e extracellular phases rapidly an d th e N a-containing
intracellular phases more slowly, penetratio n of th e la tte r
being clearly shown in dog erythrocytes. E n tran ce proceeded
rapidly in the N a phase of skin, kidney, liver, an d muscle,
b u t w as delayed in testis, femur, and brain. !4X a slowly
entered dog erythrocytes w hich contain N a b u t n o t ra b b it
or ra t red cells which have a low N a concn. M any of th e
diSerences betw een the 21Na distribution and a2P illustrate
th e fact th a t N a is essentially an extracellular ion while P is
conc. in the cells. The slow p en etratio n of b o th into
nervous tissues indicates th a t certain barriers m ay be imposed
betw een th e blood and the extracellular phase of tissues, and
th a t th e position of a substance as intra- or extra-cellular is
n o t th e sole determ ining factor.
M.\V. G.
Entrance of radioactive phosphorus into sphingomyelin of
various tissues of cat. F . E. H u n te r (Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol.
M ed., 1941, 46, 281— 282).— R adioactive P is com bined into
sphingom yelin m ost in liver, lung, an d in testinal mucosa.
In lung more is com bined into sphingomyelin th a n into other
phospholipins. In other tissues th e proportion is th e same.
R adioactivity reaches a m ax. in 2 days. T h a t of to ta l
phospholipins of liver is m uch g reater th a n th a t of liversphingomyelin.
V.J. W .
784
Secretion of orally administered radio-iron in milk of cows.
L. A. E rf (Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 2S4— 287).—
A fter ad m inistration to 2 cows of 115 c.c. of 0-4% solution
of FeClj made from radioactive Fe (.'¡¡Fe), 1-5% and 2-5%
of th e F e w as secreted in th e milk during 78 hr.
V. J. W
Metabolic aspects of rheumatoid diseases.
'(P enn. Med. J ., 1941, 44, 1286— 1291).
C. W . Scull
E . M. J.
Roentgen changes in cranial vault accompanying diseases
resulting from metabolic disturbances. H . F. H are (Radiology,
1941, 36, 706— 710).
E. M. J.
E . L. T uohy (Minnesota Med., 1941, 24, 215— 219).
E. M. J.
Detoxication. X. Conjugation and oxidation of p-hydroxybenzenesulphonamide in the rabbit. Characterisation of
/;-sulphonamidophenylglycuronide.
H . G. Sammons, J.
Slielswell, and R. T. W illiams (Biochem. J ., 1941, 35, 557—
563).— W hen given to ra b b its in a dose of 0-75 g. per kg.,
approx. 50% of th e am ide is excreted as glycuronide, 30% as
ethereal sulphate, and a sm all % is oxidised to pyrocatechol4-sulphonam ide. The % conjugated w ith H 2S 0 4 falls from
53% a t a dose level of 100 mg. p er kg. to 27% a t a dose level
of 750 ■mg. p er kg. No free sulphonam ide derivative is
execreted w hilst phenol-/>-sulphonic acid etc. are excreted
unchanged (see also A., 1941, II , 284).
H . W.
Gout.
Metabolism of steroid hormones. I. Conversion of a-cestradiol into oestrone by guinea-pig. W. R. Fish and R. I. D orfm an
(J. Biol. Chem., 1941, 140, 83— 88; cf. A., 1940, I I I , 736).—
A fter oral adm inistration of a-oestradiol dipropionate to
norm al m atu re female guinea-pigs, oestrone is present in
th e urine. The sam e conversion occurs in ovariectom ised
females and in norm al males, and hence th e u terus and ovaries
can n o t be essential to th e reaction, b u t th e possibility th a t
these organs are involved in th e conversion in norm al females
is n o t excluded. T he mechanism of conversion is n o t affected
by th e ro u te of ad m inistration o r b y th e m agnitude of the
dose of oestrogen.
J. N. A.
X X .-P H A R M A C O LO G Y AND TO XIC O LO G Y.
Chemotherapy.
Sulphones.— See A., 1941, II, 288.
Volatility of ¿V'-acylsulphanilamides with steam. W . C.
Tobie, R. D. W illiams, and E. J. R obinson (Science, 1941, 93,
349— 350).— Sulphanilam ide and its A'1-acetyl, -butyrvl,
-heptoyl, and -octoyl derivatives are n o t m easurably volatile
in steam . A ^-Acylsulphanilamides w ith 10— 18 C atom s in
th e su b stitu en t group are sufficiently volatile in steam to
cause serious losses when e x tracts containing small am ounts
of these are heated in open vessels. On th e oth er hand,
it is possible th a t sm all am ounts m ay be recovered completely
by steam -distillation. jV'-Dodecoylsulphanilamide has been
separated from th e faeces of dogs b y this m ethod when ex­
tractio n b y solvents failed.
L. S. T.
Estimation of sulphanilamide by Pulfrich-Zeiss photometer.
E. H ug (Rev. Soc. argent. Biol., 1941, 16, 651— 657).—
Coloured solutions w e re obtained by diazotisation of sulph­
anilam ide or its derivatives present in blood or body fluids
and th e extinction coeff. in th e p h o to m eter was determ ined.
I t is n o t necessary to prepare a stan d ard solution each time,
since th e const, for th e ap p a ra tu s can be finally established.
j . T. I
Clinical method for approximate determination of sulphamlamide in blood. E . H ug (Rev. Soc. argent. Biol., 1941, 16,
658— 661).— D eproteinisation is effected w ith trichloroacetic
a c id ; to tw o 0-5-c.c. sam ples of th e filtrate 0-4 c.c. of N-HCl
is added. One is boiled for 30 m in ; after cooling one drop
of 1% N aN O , and alcohol up to 3-6 c.c. are added to each, and
0-4 c.c. of alcoholic solution of ethyl-a-naphthylam ine hydro­
chloride; th e tu b es are well shaken. The colour is compared
w ith a stan d ard series m ade up w ith phenolsulphonephthalein
in a P 0 4'" buffer solution. T o tal an d free sulphanilam ide
or sulphapyridine can be determ ined w ith an error of ± 2
m g -%’
J- T. L.
Solubility of sulphapyridine and acetylsulphapyridine. E.
H ug (Rev. Soc. argent. Biol., 1940, 16, 662— 666).— Solubility
in w ater was slight, in norm al urine som ew hat greater. A t
pn above 8-5 a n d below 3-0 solubility increased, b u t these
figures fall outside th e range of urin ary p a .
J. T. L.
A ., III.—x x , PHARMACOLOGY A ND TOXICOLOGY.
785
Absorption, excretion, diffusion, and acetylation of sulphadiazine in man. J. F . Sadusk an d J. B. T redw ay (Yale J . Biol.
Med., 1941,13, 539— 550).— Sulphadiazine is readily absorbed,
slowly excreted, and readily diffuses in to pleural and ascitic
fluids, less readily in to c.s.f. A cetylation in th e blood rarely
exceeds 20% .
F . S.
Promin in treatment of some acute infections. J . A.
Xoomey and F . E . R oach (J. Pediat., 1941, 18, 1— 5).—
Prom in (prepared by boiling />/>'-diaminodiphcnyl sulphone
with glucose and aq. N a H S 0 3; cf. B .P . 532,893; B., 1941,
II, 108) w as less toxic th a n o th er sulphanilam ide drugs and
was effective in hremolytic streptococcal infections.
C. J. C. B.
Treatment of pneumonia in rats. S. H . Spitz, E . H . Loughlin, an d R. H . B en n ett (J. Lab. clin. M ed., 1941, 26, 1284—
1288).— T ype I pneumococcal infection (positive blood
cultures) w as produced in 56 albino ra ts. Sulphapyridine
alone, ty p e I ra b b it antipneum ococcus serum alone, or sulpha­
pyridine + serum was adm inistered to 42 anim als, tre atm e n t
having been started a t G or 24 hr. after inoculation. Typesp. serum w as m ore efficacious th a n sulphapyridine a lo n e ;
serum + sulphapyridine in h alf th e dosage of eith er used
separately gave no b e tte r results th a n scrum w ith o u t
sulphapyridine.
C. J. C. B.
Recognition of sulphapyridine-fast pneumococci. H . Y.
Cotler, M. T. K irchner, and M. R om ano (Proc. Soc. E xp .
Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 241— 244).— Inoculations are m ade on
b lood-agar p lates containing 0, 5, and 10 m g.-% of sulpha­
pyridine, and grow ths com pared after 24 hr. G rowth was
correlated w ith resistance to sulphapyridine th e rap y in vivo.
V. J. W.
Sodium sulphathiazole in chronic sinusitis. F . M. T u rn ­
bull (J. A m er. M ed. Assoc., 1941, 116, 1899— 1900).— 10 o u t
of 47 p atien ts w ith chronic sinusitis were m uch relieved b y
nasal sprays of 5% N a sulphathiazole solution.
C. A. K.
[Treatment of] meningococcus meningitis [with serum and
sulphanilamides]. J. H. McLeod (J. Pediat., 1941, 18, 210—
216).— In a sm all series of cases meningococcus antitoxin,
antim eningococcic serum , an d sulphanilam ide were all useful
in meningococcal meningitis. The following m ethod of tr e a t­
m ent is advised : an tito x in an d sulphanilam ide are used
im m ediately u n til th e meningococcus is grouped; should
there be no clinical im provem ent a fte r 1— 2 days, a serum is
used w ith th e highest protective action in mice against th e
group found an d the sulphanilam ide continued. C. J . C. B.
Treatment of meningitis due to Htemophilus influenza.
J. W. L indsay, E . C. Rice, an d M. A. Selinger (J. Pediat., 1940,
17, 220— 228).—T reatm en t w ith sp. serum an d h um an com­
plem ent intrathecally, intravenous serum , transfusions,
fluid, and vitam ins reduced m o rtality % from 97 to 83. By
adding sulphanilam ide and sulphapyridine to th e above,
the m ortality in 13 cases w as fu rth e r reduced to 54%.
C. J . C. B.
Influenzal meningitis [treatment and sulphapyridine].
E. M. Sirlin and A. H . London (J. Pediat., 1940, 17, 228—
229).— A case was cured by sulphapyridine 0-5 g. every 4 hr.
C. J. C. B.
Diphtheria treated w ith sulphanilam ide. H . D. Bowman
(J. Pediat., 1940, 17, 218— 219).—A case of diphtheria is
described w hich w as com pletely controlled b y sulphanilam ide
in th e usual dosage.
C. J . C. B.
Action of sulphanilamidothiazole on B. murisepticus in­
fections. G. P eyer (Schweiz, med. Wschr., 1941, 71, 159).—
Sulphanilam idothiazole rapidly cured 4 p a tien ts suffering
from B . murisepticus, K och, or erysipelalis suis "infections.
A. S.
Effect of sulphapyridine on staphylococcus toxin. R. H .
Rigdon, A. H aynes, and A. Lipscom b (J. Lab. clin. M ed.,
1941, 26, 1111— 1115).— Sulphapyridine does n o t inhibit
the lethal action of staphylococcus to x in in th e rabbit.
R abbits given an intravenous injection of 50% glucose and
30 min. la te r staphylococcus tox in survive longer th a n
anim als given only staphylococcus toxin.
C. J . C. B.
Sulphanilamide per rectum . E . H . W ood (Canad. Med.
Assoc. J ., 1941, 44, 592— 594).— 60, 200, and 260 grains of
sulphanilam ide were given p e r rectum 4-hourly in 5 oz. of fluid
for 3 d ay s; th e blood concns. were 2-3, 9-0, and 12-5 m g.-% ;
th e u rinary o u tp u t was 2-1-—48 m g.-% .
C. J . C. B.
N 2 (a .. III.)
786
Sulphapyridine overdosage ; antidotal action of hypnotics
in animals. R . K . R ichards (J. Lab. clin. M ed., 1941, 26,
1256— 1261).— D eath from intravenous leth al doses of N a
sulphapyridine in rab b its an d dogs occurs during or after
violent tonic or clonic convulsions. Small doses of hypnotics,
such as urethane or nem butal, in h ib it th e convulsions and
save life. Sub-hypnotic doses of urethane or nem b u tal are
m ost effective; larger doses m ay cause d eath b y adding to
th e secondary depressant action of sulphapyridine. Picroto x in can overcome th e effect of this sum m ation.
C. J. C. B.
Photosensitivity due to sulphanilamide. H . F. Blum (J.
invest. Dermat., 1941, 4, 159— 173).— Sulphanilam ide in
high concn. sensitises h um an skin to ultra-violet radiation
of A shorter th a n 320 m/i., producing a response sim ilar to
severe sunburn. Porphyrins are n o t concerned in th is
response, which probably represents an increased sensitivity
of th e sunburn mechanism of norm al skin. In some individuals
a a inflam m atory reaction follows repeated intraderm al
injection of th e drug accom panied b y irradiation. P atien ts
should n o t be exposed to d irect sunlight or to H g or C arcs
during trea tm e n t w ith sulphonamides, since some individuals
m ay develop untow ard reactions or become sensitised in the
course of trea tm e n t.
C. J . C. B.
Synthesis of new acridine anti-malarials.— See A., 1941, II,
303.
Sulphanylguanidine : chemotherapeutic agent for intestinal
infections. E . K. M arshall, jun., A. C. B ratto n , H . J. W hite,
and J . T. Litchfield, jun. (Johns H opkins Hosp. B ull., 1940,
67, 163— 188).—The prep, and properties of sulphanyl­
guanidine are described. I t is less toxic b y m outh and passes
into th e c.s.f. m ore slowly th a n sulphapyridine; its p ro ­
perties suggest th a t it m ay prove effective in tre a tm e n t of
bacterial infections w hich are localised m ainly or entirely
in th e intestine.
T . F . D.
Effect of certain antiseptics on respiration of brain tissues
in vitro. M. C. Manifold (Brit. J . exp. Path., 1941, 22, 111—
126).— The to x icity of certain antiseptics w as m easured by
th e ir inhibiting effect on respiration in glucose and p y ru v ate
oxidation system s of brain tissue. The effects on undialysed
mashed pigeon brain gave relative toxicities for acriflavine,
proflavine, and 2 : 7-diam inoacridine of 300 : 3 : 1 w ith N a
p y ru v ate added, and 30 : 2 : 1 w ith o u t p y ru v ate. These
results agree closely w ith those obtained b y other m ethods
and w arran t th e use of the enzyme m ethod for stu d y of
to x icity of antiseptics.
F. S.
Effects of atropine,pilocarpine, prostigmine,eserine,mecholyl,
and ephedrine on urinary bladder. H . A. T eitelbaum and
O. R. L angw orthy (J. Pharm. E xp . Ther., 1941, 72, 152—
163).— Pilocarpine, prostigm ine, eserine, and mecholyl
produce increase of tonus an d c o n tractility of c a t’s bladder
u nder nem butal anaesthesia. A tropine can lower a high state
of to n e an d abolish rhythm ic activity, w hether these states
are present norm ally or are due to stim ulating drug activity.
A tropine inhibits bladder contractions due to drug action
b u t only slightly inhibits bladder contractions th a t are
norm ally present. Large doses of ephedrine have no effect
on bladder.
H . H . K.
Modifications produced by cocaine on effect of sympathicomimetic amines on blood pressure and retractor penis in dog.
F . P. L udueiia (Rev. Soc. argent. Biol., 1940, 16, 701-—736).—
P ith ed anim als (artificial respiration) received 0-5— 4-5
mg. of cocaine p er kg. The hypertensive effect of epinine,
jS-sympathol, and indolylethylam ine w as in creased ; th a t of
tyram ine, j3-hydroxy-/3-phenylethylamine, and 0-phenylethylam ine w as decreased. The m otor effect on th e re trac to r
penis w as increased for epinine, indolylethylam ine, and
j>-sym pathol; th e effect for tyram ine v a rie d ; th a t for
)3-hydroxy-jS-phenylethylamine and /3-phenylethyIamine w as
decreased. Pyrogallol-cocaine p o ten tiated j^-sym pathol and
epinine. U rethane antagonises potentiation b y pyrogallol or
cocaine. [B.]
J- T. L.
Status of bio-assay of the digitalis group. H . Gold and M.
C attell (Science, 1941, 93, 197—201).— Comparison of preps,
of digitalis b y different m ethods or in different anim als
gives different results. The final evaluation of potency m ust
be based on assay in h um an beings.
L. S. T.
Quantitative effect of fifteen chemically related glycosides
and genins on embryonic chick heart. A. C. De Graff, G. H .
787
A., III.—xx, PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY.
Paff, and R. A. Lehm an ( /. Pharm. E xp. Ther., 1941,
72, 11, 211— 225)..—D osage-response curves were obtained
for ft-strophanthoside, lanatoside-y4, -B, and -C, convallatoxin, and oleandrin and th eir hydrolysis products, as well
as digitoxigenin, gitoxigenin, digoxigenin, and strophanthidin,
on em bryo chick heart. Log dose was a linear function of
log reciprocal tim e and th e m ethods of Bliss et al. (cf. A.,
1939, II I, 734) were used for determ ining th e m ost probable
val. for th e relative potency of each of th e drugs w ith respect
to digitoxin. Progenins were m any tim es as p o te n t as the
genins and slightly more p o te n t th a n th e corresponding
“ genuine ” glycosides. The n atu re and position of the
su b stitu en t groups on the steroid nucleus are im p o rtan t in
determ ining activ ity whereas th e n atu re of th e deoxy-sugar
conjugated w ith the progenins is no t significant.
H. H. K.
Ya tan tze (kho-sam) in intestinal amcebiasis. H . C Liu
(Chinese M ed. J ., 1941, 59, 263— 277).— Seeds of Brucea
sumatrana, B. amarissima, or B. javanica are effective in
75% of cases of intestinal amcebiasis and amoebic dysentery
when 2— 3 seeds per kg. are given.
E. B.
Pharmacology of Ya-tan-tze, Brucea javanica.
S. S.
Y ou and T. M. Chu (Chinese J . Physiol., 1941, 16, 13— 29).—•
Only the b itte r water-sol. p a rt of th e kernel is toxic orally
to dogs and rabbits, causing vom iting and diarrhoea. Some
constituents are toxic to free-living protozoa. Alcohol- and
water-sol. constituents cause a fall of arterial pressure due
to direct action on the h eart and increase th e am plitude, and
decrease th e rate, of intestinal m ovem ents.
N. H.
Use of intravenous anaesthesia [“ narconumal ” ] in gynaeco­
logy. T. Koller and N. Schanker (Schweiz. med. Wschr., 1941,
71, 129— 131, 131— 137).— N arconum al-Roche (Na 1-methyl5-z'sopropyl-o-allylbarbiturate) was intravenously injected in
a 10% solution in 1138 gynaecological operations. The best
results were obtained a fter prelim inary adm inistration of
pan topon-atropine. The rate of injection was 1 c.c. in 30
sec. The average dose required for satisfactory anaesthesia
was 13-5 c.c. (11-4 c.c. after previous adm inistration of
p a n topon-atropine). The ratio of narcotic to an e sth e tic dose
was 1 : 1-58. The average duration of anaesthesia was 60
min. Good anaesthesia w as obtained in 96-3%. There were
no untow ard effects. The blood pressure was lowered by
10— 20 mm. Hg. Post-operative vom iting was observed in
11%, hiccough in 8%, excitem ent in 7%. In operations of
long duration, anaesthesia was m aintained w ith ether.
A. S.
Comnarison of three methods of general anaesthesia in
schor
’"at is try including administration of cye/opropane.
R.BVi
ion and R. B radbury (Brit. Dent. J ., 1941, 70, 395—SOSjl^^il'he N aO, 0 2, and vinyl eth er m ethod is n o t easy b u t
th e operating period is not lim ited and recovery is excellent.
Vinyl ether by single adm inistration gives 1J min. operating
period and only slight after-effects. eycZoPropane b y single
ad m inistration gives rem arkable jaw relaxation and tim e for
straightforw ard extractions b u t after-effects are more pro­
nounced.
J. H. B.
1-Alkyl 2-dialkyIaminoalkyl 3-aminophthalates as local
anaesthetics.— See A., 1941, II, 291.
Esters of 4-methoxywophthalic acid.— See A., 1941, II, 255.
Preparation of amino-ketones and amino-alcohol.— See
A., 1941, II, 288.
Protective action of mercury and lead salts against procaine
convulsions. V. G. H au ry (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. Med., 1941,
46, 309— 310).-—HgCl2 or Pb(N O a)2, mixed w ith procaine
before injection into guinea-pigs, protects against convulsions
as well as does salyrgan (cf. B eutner et al., A., 1940, III, 759).
In each case the effect is due to p p tn . of th e alkaloid.
V. J. W.
Effect of repeated administration of “ delvinal-sodium ”
(sodium 5-ethyl-5-a-methyl-A“-butenylbarbiturate) to guineapigs. E . H . Carmichael and W . D. Thom pson (Proc. Soc.
E xp. Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 233—-235).—Guinea-pigs which
received large doses tw ice weekly developed considerable
tolerance after 4 weeks, so th a t length of induced sleep fell
from 127 to 48 min. They increased in wt. b y over 50%.
V. J. W.
Pharmacodynamic study of trasentin. O. Carusi (Rev. Fac.
Cienc. Quim., L a Plata, 1940, 15, 229— 238).—Intravenous
adm inistration of trasentin (Ciba) has a toxic action, th e
788
min. lethal dose being 20— 25 mg. per kg. (rabbit, c a t);
higher doses are tolerated if rate of injection is reduced or a
different route of adm inistration used. The anti-spasmodic
action on various organs is described.
F. R. G.
Effects of morphine and carbon tetrachloride on rate of dis­
appearance of ethyl/.soamylbarbituric acid. H . J. Tatum ,
D. E . Nelson, and F. L. Kozelka (J. Pharm. Exp. Ther., 1941,
72, 123— 129).— R ate of disappearance of am ytal from the
tissues was studied in norm al rabbits, rabbits premedicated
w ith morphine, and rabbits prem edicated w ith CC14. Mor­
phine decreases ra te of disappearance of am ytal from the
blood stream by altering th e blood supply to th e liver, whilst
th e effect of CC14 is due to th e production of liver injury.
H. H ' K.
Excretion of combined morphine in the tolerant and nontolerant dog. V. Thompson and E. G. Gross (J. Pharm. Exp.
Ther., 1941, 72, 138— 145).—Morphinised dogs excrete
morphine in a combined form. The combined morphine in
urine can be separated into “ easily- ” and “ difficultlyhydrolysable ” fractions. Tolerant dogs excrete more “ easily
hydrolysable ” of th e combined morphine th an non-tolerant
dogs. Urine of toleran t dogs contains m ostly free morphine
7— 24 hr. after morphine adm inistration. During this same
period, non-tolerant dogs excrete more of th e “ difftcultlyhydrolysable ” morphine fraction. Tolerant dogs reach a
peak in ra te of morphine excretion more quickly th a n nonto leran t anim als.
H. H. K.
Effect of barbiturates on pyloric sphincter and stomach in
unanaesthetised dogs. C. M. G ruber and C. M. Gruber, jun.
( J . Pharm. Exp. Ther., 1941, 72, 18— 19, 176— 183).—
Anaesthetic doses of Na salts of am ytal, ortal, pentobarbital,
evipal, p en to th al (thiopentobarbital), and thioetham yl were
injected intravenously into unanaesthetised dogs. B arbitur­
ates produced complete inhibition of pyloric sphincter or
decreased th e contractions. General tonus and muscular
activ ity of th e stom ach are decreased. Thiobarbiturates
produced variable results. In some experim ents th e general
tonus of th e stom ach and pyloric sphincter increased, in
others th ey were decreased. The height of contractions of
bo th was always tem porarily decreased and in some experi­
m ents th e y were com pletely inhibited.
H. H. K.
Hypothermia and toxicity of drugs. J. B. H errm ann (/.
Pharm. E xp. Ther., 1941, 72, 130— 137).—Morphine, p ar­
aldehyde, and nem butal produce a tem porary fall in body
tem p, of ra ts exposed to cold (3°) which does n o t occur in
anim als w ithout the drug. The to x icity of the drugs for
ra ts is increased a t low environm ental tem p. MgCl2 in non­
depressant doses produces m oderate hypotherm ia in rats
exposed to cold. Aspirin, in doses m arkedly antipyretic for
fevered rats, causes no hypotherm ia.
H. H. K.
Action of “ maté ” on heart rate and blood pressure. E.
Moisset de E spanés (Rev. Soc. argent. Biol., 1940, 16, 747—754).—An infusion m ade b y boiling 5 g. of m até leaves in
100 c.c. of w ater was given to 357 medical stu d en ts; 100
others served as controls. No significant circulatory changes
occurred.
J. T. L.
New organic arsenical in treatment of tropical sleeping sick­
ness. E. A. H . Friedheim (Schweiz, med. Wschr., 1941, 71,
116— 119).—The d ry N a2 salt of 2 : 4-diamino-6-arsinoanilinotriazine contains 20-2% As. The m ortality rate in
mice on intravenous injection of 0-75 and 1-0 g. per kg. is
10% and 2 0 % ; oral adm inistration of 10 g. per kg. was
tolerated w ithout untow ard effects; rab b its tolerated 0-75 g.
intravenously, dogs received 0-2 g . p er kg. The drug (prep.
4289) is 8 tim es more active and has a 3 tim es larger th era­
peutic margin th a n tryparsam ide against experim ental mouse
infection w ith Trypanosoma equiperdum. Subcutaneous or
intravenous injections of 0-03—0-05 g. per kg. are recom­
mended in patien ts suffering from th e first stage of sleeping
sickness. 10 injections were given over a period of 30 days.
Subcutaneous injection of a 20% solution produced no local
reactions. P atien ts in th e second stage of th e disease received
a t first 0-01 g. p er kg. subcutaneously, followed b y doses up
to 0-04 g., w ith intervals of 2— 3 days between injections;
th e to ta l dose was 2 g. per kg. In 76 p atients treated in this
w ay blood specimens were negative in 32 cases 24 hr. after
th e first injection. C.s.f. cell and protein contents returned
to norm al; some of th e cases had previously received large
doses of tryparsam ide. Headache, sleepiness, and m otor
disturbances disappear after 2 Weeks; Parkinsonian symp-
789
A., III.—xxi, PHYSIOLOGY OF WORK AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE.
tom s show only little im provem ent, and the body-w t. of the
p atients rem ains const. 9 patien ts in the first and 4 in the
second stage of th e disease received 0-07— 0T g. per kg. by
m outh (total dose 3 g.). 10 p atien ts tolerated th e drug well;
3 patien ts had some diarrhoea betw een th e 10th and 13th
d ay of treatm en t. The trypanocidal effect on oral adm inis­
tra tio n is only slightly delayed com pared w ith th e sub­
cutaneous route. There w as no dam age to kidney or optic
nerve. The dry substance and aq. solution are stable under
tropical conditions.
A. S.
Neoarsphenamine in anthrax. P . F . Lucchesi and N.
Gildersleeve {/. Amer. M ed. Assoc., 1941, 116, 1500— 1508).—
48 cases of a n th ra x recovered a fte r tre a tm en t w ith serum
alone, neoarsphenam ine alone, neoarsphenam ine + serum, or
sulphanilam ide (4 cases). N eoarsphenam ine alone w as con­
sidered best.
C. A. K.
Attempted sensitisation of guinea-pigs to quinine, acetylsalicylic acid, and barbital, with and without preceding or
concomitant arsphenamine sensitisation. W . F rei ( /. invest.
Dermat., 1941, 4, 111— 121).— 3 different m ethods were used :
repeated intracutaneous injections of each of th e three drugs
into anim als whose skins had first been specifically sensitised
to old arsphenam ine, repeated intracutaneous injections of
in-vitro m ixtures of each of these drugs and of old arsphen­
am ine, and repeated intracutaneous injections into th e same
area. None of these m ethods gave positive results, and no
synergistic or p o ten tiatin g action was found.
C. J. C. B.
Prevention oi bismuth gingivitis by use of sodium hexametaphosphate. I. M. Felsher and K . K . Jones (J. invest. Dermat.,
1941, 4, 135— 142).—The use of a pow der consisting of 15%
(N aP 0 3)6 and 85% talc as a dentifrice and oral cleanser in
100 p atien ts receiving intram uscular Bi th erap y for syphilis
reduced or prevented the incidence of " bism uth line” in the
gums.
C. J. C. B.
Lead poisoning. M. R apo p o rt and M. I. R ubin (Amer. J .
D is. Child., 1941, 61, 245—255).— P b encephalopathy in
infants and children has its g reatest incidence in th e spring
and sum m er m onths. T his seasonal incidence seems depend­
e n t on the vitamin-jD-producing action of sunlight, which
increases th e absorption of ingested Pb. The sensitisation
by sunlight of th e increased am ounts of porphyrin present in
persons w ith plum bism m ay contribute to th is seasonal
incidence. Feeding experim ents in ra ts confirm these results.
C. J. C. B.
Influence of gold sodium thiomalate (myocrysin) on preven­
tion of hsemolytic streptococcus arthritis in rats. S. R othbard,
D. M. Angevine, and R. L. Cecil ( /. Pharm. E xp . Ther., 1941,
72, 164— 175).— Subcutaneous injection of m yocrysin protects
rats against ha:m olytic streptococcus a rth ritis. Its effective­
ness is less against a more virulent strain of the same culture.
Sulphanilam ide and sulphathiazole are more effective in the
prevention of a rth ritis th a n Au. N either Au nor sulphonamides cure arth ritis once it is established. Large doses of
m yocrysin produce severe renal injury. The drug is bac­
tericidal in vitro under anaerobic conditions.
H. H. K.
Effect of gold sodium thiomalate administration on bacterio­
static properties of serum in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
E. F. H artu n g an d J . C otter ( / . Lab. d in . M ed., 1941, 26,
1274— 1284).— Subcutaneous injections of Au Na thiom alate
adm inistered to patien ts w ith rheum atoid a rth ritis (in divided
doses, to ta l 60— 921 mg.) were followed b y a m arked increase
in the bacteriostatic power of th e serum against hiemolytic
streptococcus, strain G reere. The bacteriostatic effects were
in proportion to the to ta l am ount of drug given, the max.
effect being attain ed a fter 147—-155 mg. The bacteriostasis
disappeared after stopping th e adm inistration for 3— 6
months. The injections did n o t alte r th e agglutinin titres
for the streptococcus. Colloidal Au or Bi subsalicylate injec­
tions did not produce bacteriostasis. Au Na thiom alate was
bactericidal in vitro against th e streptococcus in dilutions of
0-000001%, and bacteriostatic in higher dilutions. O ther
common laboratory organisms were similarly, though n o t
markedly, affected. The in-vitro bacteriostasis was roughly
proportional to Au salt concn. The addition of whole blood
to the e x ten t of 50% of the final dilutions in these in-vitro
studies destroyed the bacteriostatic effect.
,C. J . C. B.
Toxicity of orally-ingested tungsten compounds in the rat.
F . W. K inard and J. v an de E rv e (J. Pharm. E xp . Ther., 1941,
72, 196— 201).— R ats were fed w ith a diet containing W oxide
790
(99-8% \VOa), N a tu n g state (56% W), or N H 4 tu n g sta te
(91% WOj) and grow th and m o rtality exam ined. The N Ii4
salt was th e least toxic.
H . H. K.
Toxicity of optically inactive, d- and /-seleniumcystine.
A. L. Moxon, K. P. Du Bois, and R. L. P o tte r ( / . Pharm. E xp .
Ther., 1941, 72, 184— 195; cf. A., 1938, III, 1041; 1940,
II I, 762).—Toxicities of seleniferous w heat, iW-seleniumcystine,
and N a2SeOa were compared b y oral adm inistration to rats.
G rowth curves, daily food intake, macroscopical exam ination
of various organs, and Se analysis showed th a t th e to xicity
was sim ilar in all 3. A ddition of 10 p.p.m . As to drinking
w ater protected the anim als against th e toxicity of Sc in
selenium cystine. ¿-Selenium cystine was m oderately toxic;
th e /-isomeride w as th e m ost toxic org. Se compound y et
tested.
H. H. K.
Dermatitis from dextrins used as stamp adhesive. J . D.
W alters and E. C. Stern (J. Amer. Med. Assoc., 1941, 116,
1518).— 2 cases are reported.
C, A. K.
Hydrogen sulphide poisoning. A. H.Bruce, F . P. Parker,
and G. T. Lewis ( / . Amer. Med.Assoc., 1941, 116, 1515—1517).— A bsorption of N H 4HS from a heatless perm anent
wave solution applied to the scalp produced fatal poisoning
in a healthy woman.
C. A. K.
Quinine hypersensitivity in guinea-pigj. K. Landsteiner
and M. W. Chase (Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 1941, 46, 223).—
Application of quinine to guinea-pigs’ skin, inflamed by action
of cantharidin or o th er irritan ts, caused sensitisation after
2— 3 applications, so th a t a 5% solution caused redness and
swelling.
V. J. W.
Absorption of nicotine from cigarette smoke. I. H . Pierce
(J. Lab. clin. Med., 1941, 26, 1322— 1325).— W hen cigarette
smoke is inhaled deeply, over 90% of th e nicotine in the
smoke is retained in th e respiratory tract. If the smoke is
n o t inhaled, bu t is draw n only into the m outh and expelled,
ab o u t 77% is retained. The to ta l solids of the smoke are
retained to th e ex ten t of 68%.
C. J. C. B.
Effect of massive intravenous infusions in narcotic poisoning.
T. K oppanyi and R. A. C utting ( /. Lab. d in . M ed., 1941,
26, 1140— 1143).—Dogs were given various drugs by m outh
or intravenously and then 3— 6 1. of 1% NaCl intravenously.
Recovery in th e te s t anim als from fatal doses of the drugs
was found from m ethanol, ethanol, chloral h y d rate, and
N aBr, b u t n o t w ith K arsenitc.
C.J . C. B.
Toxicity of Sartwellia /Javeriie to goats. F. P. Mathews (J.
Agric. Res., 1940, 61, 287—-292).— Prolonged and continuous
feeding of S. flaverice to goats causes death associn ‘O- with
necrosis of liver. In te rm itte n t feeding m ay also c,
.h
associated w ith pulm onary oedema and hydrothorax uu. n o t
w ith liver necrosis.
A.G. P.
Toxicity of phosphorus to cockroaches. T. H . Cheng and
F. L. Campbell (/. Econ. Entom., 1940, 33, 193— 199).— The
m edian lethal doses of P paste for German and American
cockroaches are determ ined. The to xicity of the paste much
exceeded th a t of N a3A s03 or N aF. Injection of diluted paste
w as less effective th a n adm inistration by m outh. Effects of
exposure to fumes of P paste are examined.
A.G. P.
Treatment of tetanus. H. I. Vencr and A. G. Bower (/.
Amer. Med. Assoc., 1941, 116, 1627— 1631).— 100 consecutive
cases of te ta n u s showed a gross m ortality ra te of .29% (19%
excluding those dying w ithin 24 hr.). The tre a tm e n t in­
cludes sedation w ith chloral h y d rate and CaBra, 200,000 units
(or more) of antitoxin, and intravenous hexamine. C. A. K.
Mescaline hallucinations in artists. W . S. M aclay and E.
G u ttm ann (Arch. Neurol. Psychiat., Chicago, 1941, 45, 130—
137).— H allucinations in mescaline intoxication cannot be
explained in either physiological or psychological term s alone.
Some formal characters m ay be determ ined by physiological
phenomena, e.g., w avy lines m ay originate in th e p a tte rn of
th e retinal artery , b u t psychological experiences determ ine
the contents of the hallucination.
W. M. H.
X X I.-P H Y S IO LO G Y O F W ORK AND INDUSTRIAL
HYGIENE.
Effects of short rest pauses in standing and sitting position on
efficiency of muscular work. E. Simonson and N. E nzer (J.
Ind. Hyg., 1941, 23, 106— 111).— In tw o subjects lifting
791
792
A., III.—x x ii, RADIATIONS.
dum b-bells the m echanical efficiency w as increased when th e
w ork w as in terru p ted regularly b y pauses of 1 min. A
fu rth er increase w as observed when th e subjects s a t during
th e pause. W hen th e pause w as introduced a ste ad y sta te
of 0 2 consum ption w as atta in e d and th e subjects could
continue indefinitely. The g reater m echanical efficiency was
probably due to th e absence of th e circulatory effects of 0 2
debt.
E. Mi K.
Clinical and physiological investigation of air conditioning.
M. B. Ferderber (Penn. M ed. J ., 1940, 44, 2S3— 288).
E . M. J .
Dust and pulmonary disease. A. J. Vorwald (N .Y . Sta. J .
M ed., 1938, 38, 1103— 1108).— A review.
E . M. J.
Grain dust as occupational hazard. S. S. P in to (Nebraska
Sta. M ed. J ., 1941, 26, GO— G2).— A review.
E . M. J.
Recovery following exposure to benzene. L. J . Gold w ater
and M. P. T ew skbury (J. In d . H yg., 1941, 23, 217— 231).—
The blood of 3 groups of p rin ters w as re-exam ined 2, 14, and
24 m onths a fter exposure to benzene had ceased. Im prove­
m ent was only slight a t 2 m onths b u t more definite a fter
14 m onths, though 11 out of 49 cases were unim proved,
or worse. A t th e end of 24 m onths alm ost all showed norm al
b lo o d ; th e com m onest abnorm alities were low red cell and
leucocyte count, w ith a raised m ean corpuscular vol. D uring
recovery there Was a tendency to high red cell counts w ith
lym phopenia. A t no stage was th ere correlation betw een
haematology and sym ptom s.
E. M. K.
Effects of inhalation of benzene vapour on the red blood
cells of rabbits. E . J . R obinson and D. R. Climenko (J. In d .
H yg., 1941, 23, 232— 238).— R ab b its exposed for 2 hr. to
10,000 p.p.m . of benzene had 25— 30 m g.-% of benzene in
th eir b lo o d ; th e y were com pletely narcotised, w ith ' clonic
tw itchings, m arked dyspnoea, an d hypcrsalivation. The
exposure caused a rapid decrease in red cells, th e min. being
reached 1— 11 days afte rw a rd s; th e count retu rn ed to norm al
in 21 days. T he rap id ity of th e fall and th e reticulocytosis
during recovery indicated th a t th e fall w as due to accelerated
destruction and n o t to hypoplastic marrow . In some cases
th ere was an increased resistance to s;y)onin haemolysis after
exposure. A second exposure 24 hr. a fte r th e first had little
effect on th e blood changes.
E . M. K.
P b exposure gave com parable results, and it is concluded
th a t either will give a reliable estim ate of th e P b hazard.
E. M. K.
Inhalation of filtered carbon arc fumes and oxides of nitrogen.
J. P. Tollman, E. L. MacQuiddy, and S. Schonberger (J. In d .
H yg., 1941, 23, 269— 275).—The fum es were filtered to rem ove
dust, an d contained 72— 147 p.p.m . of NOa. Continuous
inhalation of these fumes caused th e d eath of mice, rats,
guinea-pigs, and rab b its w ithin 22 hr. D aily exposure for 4
hr. caused th e d eath of 66% of th e guinea-pigs in 7 m onths ;
auto p sy showed necrosis and desquam ation of th e bronchial
epithelium , w ith p atch y atelectasis and pneum onia. A fter
th e sam e tre a tm e n t ra ts were all dead in 7 m on th s; p ost­
m ortem changes were sim ilar w ith pulm onary oedema and
broncho-pneum onia. Some Ieucocytosis was usual in all
anim als, probably associated w ith th e pneum onia. E xposure
of ra ts and guinea-pigs to pure NO., under sim ilar conditions
produced alm ost identical results, and it w as concluded th a t
th e toxic effect of th e C arc fumes w as due en tirely to
oxides of N.
E . M. K.
Acute and chronic intoxications with sodium pentachlorophenoxide in rabbits. T. H . McGavack, L. J. Boyd, F . V.
Piccione, an d R. T erranova (J. Ind. H yg., 1941, 23, 239—
251).—The m .l.d. w as ascertained for rab b its an d dogs when
N a pentachlorophenoxide w as adm inistered cutaneously, subcutaneously, intrapcritoneally, and orally. Toxic signs were
pyrexia, increased bowel activ ity , decreased urin ary secretion,
and raised blood-sugar; paresis and stu p o r preceded con­
vulsions and d ea th w ith fatal doses. The central nervous
system showed slight capillary congestion w ith some degener­
ative changes in m otor neurons. There w as severe local
reaction a fte r p aren teral injection. D aily injections of subleth al doses showed th a t th e drug w as slowly destroyed or
excreted and is therefore capable of cum ulative action.
D uring chronic poisoning secondary anæ m ia developed.
A utopsy showed general toxic changes. R epeated applic­
ation to th e skin caused severe necrotic and ulcerative
lesions.
E. M. K.
X XII.—RADIATIONS.
Regulation of body temperature. H . L aurens (New
Orleans Med. J ., 1940, 93, 283— 288).— A review.
E . M. J.
(A) Benzene. (B) Hydrogen sulphide. Toxicity and potential
Effects of high environmental temperature on human body.
dangers. Division of In d u stria l H ygiene, U.S. P ubl. H ealth
P . H . Jones (New Orleans M ed. J ., 1940, 93, 288-—293).— A
Service (U .S. Publ. Health Repts., 1941, 56, 519—-527, 684—
review.
E . M. J.
692).—Sources of exposure to th e gases are described, together
“ Solar bronchitis ” in adults ? P . Schm idt (Dtscli. Tuberk.w ith m ethods for the determ ination of th e gases in air.
B l., 1939, 13, 235— 236).— T he causation of bronchitis after
Concns. of th e gases found in a ir u n d er in dustrial conditions
exposure to th e sun b y reflex action from th e irradiated skin
are listed. R elation betw een concns. of th e gases in a ir and
is discussed.
E . M. J.
to x icity are reviewed and sym ptom s of acu te poisoning by
Theoretical considerations and clinical use of Grenz rays in
th e gases are described, togeth er w ith measures for preven­
dermatology. F . K alz (Arch. Dermat. Syphilol., 1941, 43,
tion. T reatm ent for poisoning is outlined.
C. G. W.
447— 472).— A general review w ith descriptions of technique
of irradiations.
C. J. C. B.
Hazard of mercury vapour in scientific laboratories. I.
Mercury vapour in air of scientific laboratories. M. Shepherd
Irradiation in dermatology. A. C. Cipollaro (Radiology,
and S. Schuhm ann. H. Medical examination of 38 workers.
1941, 36, 684— 693).
E . M. J.
R. H . Flinn, J. W. H ough, and P . A. N eal (J. Res. N at. B ur.
Low-voltage contact Roentgen therapy. L. S. Goin, J . W.
Stand., 1941, 26, 357— 371, 371— 375).— I. T he use of th e
Crossan, and J . Jellen (Radiology, 1941, 36, 583— 587).
optical detector (Woodson, A., 1940, I, 42) in determ ining
E . M. J.
th e concn. of H g vapour in labo rato ry atm . is described.
Comparative experimental studies of 200-kilovolt and 1000Local sources of H g vapour found in various laboratories are
kilovolt Rœntgen rays. E . A. Gall, J . R. Lingley, an d J . A.
discussed. The concn. of H g in th e a ir in laboratories
H ilcken (Amer. J . Path., 1941, 17, 319— 331).— H igh dosages
exam ined varied from below 4 to 70 fig. p e r cu.m. Im proved
of 200-kv. rays (1800— 3000 r.) caused severe and perm anent
ventilation, rem oval of local sources, cleaning, and circulation
in ju ry to th e skin and its appendages. E qual doses of super­
of th e a ir over iodised C all co ntribute to th e reduction of
voltage rays, however, caused only mild tra n sien t m orpho­
H g vapour in th e air. A large proportion of th e H g inhaled
logical changes. B y encasing th e lim b in a coating of bees­
is retained b y the lungs. Hg was detected in th e urine of 3
w ax and paraffin th e skin was artificially transform ed into a
m en who had been exposed to low concns. of H g for prolonged
“ subcutaneous ” stru ctu re. T hen an am o u n t of supervoltage
periods.
II.
No medical evidence of m ercurialism w as shown b y rays w hich would cause only min. dam age to th e skin under
ordinary circum stances would, when applied through the
w orkers who had been exposed to atm . containing below 4
m edium of a layer of paraffin, produce a lesion sim ilar to
to 70 fig. of H g p er cu.m.
J . W . S.
th a t found a fter like dosages of 200-kv. irradiation. The
Evaluation of the lead hazard. H . B. E lkins, J. F . Ege,
discrepancy in skin dam age caused b y th e 2 types of rays th u s
ju n ., and B. P . R uotolo (J. In d . H yg., 1941, 23, 250—258).—
cannot be th e resu lt of an inherent resistance of th e epithelium
The [Pb] in th e a ir of 19 plants was determ ined b y collecting
to supervolijige rays and is considered due to th e fa ct th a t
d u st w ith a modified G reenburg-Sm ith im pinger, and analys­
th e ionisation to w hich th e skin is subjected when irradiated
ing it by F airh all’s m ethod. The P b content of th e urine of
b y entering supervoltage rays is different from th e ionisation
119 workers a t these p lan ts w as determ ined b y th e dithizone
which these rays produce some distance below , th e surface.
m ethod. W ith few exceptions th e tw o m ethods of m easuring
B eneath th e surface th e ionisation is probably more intense
793
A., III.—x x iii , PHYSICAL AND COLLOIDAL CHEMISTRY.
and contains relatively more low-energy secondary radiations.
This is probably due to th e fact th a t th e " secondaries ”
produced b y supervoltage rays are scattered predom inantly
in a forward direction so th a t a considerable thickness of
tissue will be traversed before an equilibrium of prim ary and
secondary ionisation exists. In th e case of th e 200-kv. rad i­
ation th is equilibrium is reached a t a p o in t m uch closer to
th e surface. (8 photom icrographs.)
C. J. C. B.
Evolution of X-ray tube.
1941, 34, 280— 284).
F. E . H oecker (Sth. Med. J .,
E. M. J.
Radiation treatment o£ salivary fistulee. A. M. P o p u ra
(Norlhw. M ed., 1941, 40, 20).— Closure w as obtained in a m an
of 60 years a fte r a to ta l skin dose of 2400 r. over 2 areas
and in a girl of 11 years a fte r 2 applications of 243 r. A
boy of 18 years received a to ta l of 676 r. in 3 doses a fte r a
deep laceration of the paro tid had been sown over and no
fistula resulted. All p atien ts were trea ted a t 200 kv.
E . M. J.
Radiation sickness. IT. [Effect of vitam in-5j and -C.]
W . S. W allace (Sth. Med. J ., 1941, 34, 170— 173).— 5 cases of
carcinom a cervicis u teri while undergoing routine -Y-irradia tio n of th e pelvis were given daily in tram u scu lar injections
of 10 mg. of thiam in (3000 i.u.) and a n o th er 5 cases CO mg. of
N a ascorbate (1000 i.u.). T hey were more com fortable and
showed less nausea th a n controls, b u t severe diarrhoea
occurred more frequently. The ileum (Ba meal) showed
flattening of mucosal p attern , hypom otility, and narrowing
of the lum en.
E . M. J.
Value of body section roentgenography(planigraphy) in neck
and chest. B. R. Y oung (Penn. Med. J ., 1941, 44, 713— 717).
E. M. J.
Apparatus for electrical bombardment of biological materials.
— See A., 1941, I, 391.
Ultra-violet transmission by the vitelline membrane of the
hen’s egg. F. M. U ber, T. H ayashi, and V. R. Ells (Science,
1941, 93, 22— 23).— The % transmission-A curve for th e
region 2300 — 3800 A. is reproduced. I t shows selective
absorption near 2800 A.
L. S. T.
Relation between secretomotor reaction and action current
of frog skin by direct and indirect stimulation. K . M otokam a
(Japan. J . M ed. Sci., 1940, I I I , 7, 97— 113).— The secretom otor
a c tiv ity (S.M.A.) of frog skin a fte r stim ulation is determ ined
b y an osm ometer. The action cu rren t on direct stim ulation
is produced b y the epiderm al glands of th e skin and is an
expression of th e S.M.A. The action cu rren t on indirect
stim ulation is dependent on gland secretion and th e S.M.A.
is a function of th e skin glands.
T. F. D.
Interference between secretion and electro-osmosis in frog
skin on stimulation by direct current. K . M otokam a J a p a n .
J . Med. Sci., 1940, I I I , 7, 115— 128).—T h e m ovem ent of
fluid through th e frog skin b y d.c. stim ulation is inhibited
b y atropine and follows th e all-or-none law.
T.»F. D.
XXIII.—PHYSICAL AND C OLLOID AL CHEMISTRY.
Bio-electricity. J. B. T hom as (Naiuitrwelensch. Tijds.
N ed.-Indie, 1941, 101, 164— 170).— A review of th e various
origins of bio-electrical potentials.
S. C.
Aids for optical analysis of electrophoretic diagrams. K . G.
S tern and D. D e Bois (Yale J . Biol. M ed., 1941, 13, 509—
512).— D escription of a modified Tiselius electrophoresis cell
m ade in one piece w ith rectangular cham bers for observation
of protein boundaries.
F. S.
Cytochrome-c. I. Electrophoretic purification of cytochrome-c and its amino-acid composition, n . Optical proper­
ties of pure cytochrome-c and its derivatives. III. Titration
curves. H . Theorell and A. Akesson. IV. Magnetic proper­
ties of ferrous and ferric cytochrome-c. H . Theorell (J. Amer.
Chem. Soc., 1941, 63, 1804— 1811, 1812— 1818, 1818— 1820,
1820— 1827).— I. D etails are given for purification b y electro­
phoresis of Keilin and H a rtre e ’s prep. (A., 1937, II I, 200;
Fe 0-34%) of cytochrome-c to a prep. (A) (Fe 0-43%) believed
from its electrophoretic behaviour to be a pure substance
(cf. A., 1939, I I I , 939). The ionic m obility curve, determ ined
794
for p n 2— about 10-7 has a plateau a t p a 6— 9 due to low
histidine content, which appears even lower th a n it is owing
to co-ordination w ith Fe (cf. below). M any of K eilin and
H artre e’s results do n o t apply to prep. A . The isoelectric
po in t is a t p a 10 (cf. haEmoglobin, p a abouf 7). The p urest
preps, contained 1— 4% of th eir Fe as non-haemin Fe and
this proportion is n o t exactly related to th e general p u rity .
The absorption coeff.
m/x. Fe++ is n o t proportional to
Fe content, b u t is to S content. The S co n ten t is therefore
used to determ ine th e mol. w t. (13,000). A nalysis then gives
th e following nos. of mols. per mol. of prep. A : histidine 3,
arginine 2, lysine 22, tyrosine 4, and try p to p h a n 1. Cystine,
lysine, tyrosine, glutam ic and asp artic acids, and leucine are
isolated pure. The N content determ ines 143 N atom s per
mol., which w ith allowances determ ined above indicates 96
N H 2-acids p er mol. ( = 25 x 31; cf. B ergm ann cl al., A .,
1938, II I, 210). However, this relation does n o t hold for the
22 mols. of lysine (nearest no. 24). The mol. w t. of prep. A ,
less“th e haomin portion, =12,350. Prep. A is th u s th e first
m em ber of a new w t.-class of proteins, approx. 35,000/3.
Preps. A from cow’s and horse’s h e a rt are identical in all
respects. The mode of linkage of cysteine to th e vinyl group
of haemin is discussed. D uring electrophoresis th e direction
and ra te of m ovem ent of prep. A depend m arkedly on th e
p u rity ; th e m ax. yield is 88%.
II. A bsorption spectra (2000—-7000 A.) are determ ined for
prep. A a t pa —0-48 to 13-80. Five types, I—V, are observed
and m ethods of determ ining th e am ounts of each present are
detailed. Type I (at p a below 1-5) resembles hacmin-e in acid
solution and th u s contains Fe bound only to th e four pyrrole
N. Types I I I and IV give no compounds w ith CN' or F ';
th e Fe is th u s linked also to N of tw o N H j-acids. T ype II
(at pa ab o u t 3) adds F ' and ty p e V (a t p a n o t below 13)
adds C N '; in these types, N of one N H 2-acid is linked to
Fe. R eduction of any ty p e gives haemochromogen ban d s a t
550 and 520 m¡i. CO (1 mol. p er mol.) is added rap id ly in
alkaline and slowly in acid solution, b u t n o t a t p a 7.
II I . The acid- and base-combining pro p erty of ferro- and
ferri-cytochrom e is determ ined a t 20° and from pn 5-5 to
p a 8-5 a t 0°. Two hxm -linked acid groups w ith p K ' 9— 10
are present, b u t v ariation in Q shows th a t oth er groups
besides histidine are concerned. P robably only one histidine
is free, th e other tw o being bound to Fe a t this pn- A no. of
CO ,II and N H 2 occur free, suggesting th a t th e mol. contains
several separate chains of N H 2-acids.
IV. M agnetic properties of types I—V of prep. A and of
F ', CN', and CO compounds are in harm ony w ith th e views
m aintained above. The results obtained are sum marised.
Prep. A differs from haemoglobin in th a t tw o glyoxaline rings
(of histidine) are sterically favourably placed for co-ordination
w ith Fe, giving a very stable complex, these Fe-glyoxaline
linkings being broken only in strong acid or strong alkali.
The haem of prep. A is built into th e protein by thio -eth er
linkings of side-chains to th e protein as well as to th e two
glyoxaline N ; th e in ability of prep. A to autoxidise or
combine w ith CO, CN', or F ' has th u s steric origin.
R. S. C.
Electrolytic splitting of liver-albumin. J . M. Luck, C.
Nimm o, an d C. A lvarez-Tostado (Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol. Med.,
1941, 46, 151— 153).— A lbumin from w ashed dog liver shows
on electrophoresis a band, m oving to th e positive electrode,
w hich is stable in a medium of 0-1 mol. NaCl w ith 0-02 mol.
P 0 4'" or acetate. I t is isoelectric a t p a 5-6— 5-8. If N a is
replaced b y K th e band separates a fter 3— 4 hr. electro­
phoresis into several sm aller bands, th e separation being
related to th e n u tritio n al sta te of th e dog.
V. J . W.
Inter-relationships in the reactions of horse haemoglobin. J.
W ym an, ju n ., and E. N . Ingalls (J. Biol. Chem., 1941, 139,
S77 — 895).—T itratio n curves of oxy- and ferri-ha:moglobin,
prepared from horse haemoglobin, have been determ ined
directly w ith a glass electrode, and relations which perm it
th e calculation of th e O-dissociation pressure from the
oxidation-reduction p o ten tial are derived. The results are
in accord w ith those of F erry and Green (A., 1929, 338) and
of T aylor and H astings (A., 1940, I I I , 296), th e sm all dis­
crepancies being a ttrib u ta b le to v ariations in a c tiv ity coeffs.
w ith pa- The dissociation consts. of haemoglobin, oxy- and
ferri-ha:moglobin are evaluated.
J- W . S.
Effect of formaldehyde on the isoelectric points of proteins. See A., 1941, I, 375.
795
A., III.—xxiv, ENZYMES.
XX IV .—ENZYM ES.
Effect o! glutathione on tyrosinase and significance of “ dopa ”
reaction. F. H. J. Figge (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. M ed., 1941, 46,
269—272).— Presence of 0-5— 5% glutathione w ith tyrosinase
delays very slightly th e oxidation of " dopa,” b u t very
considerably th a t of tyrosine. A tm , oxidation of " dopa
is accelerated by presence of certain reversibly oxidisable
substances. Positive " dopa ” reactions m ay therefore be
due to the presence of such substances, or to the presence of
tyrosinase w ith an inhibitor, instead of to th e " dopa oxidase ”
p ostulated by Bloch.
V. J . W .
Enzymes in ontogenesis. XVI. Activation of protyrosinase
by sodium alkyl sulphates. T. H . Allen an d J. H. Bodine
(Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 1941, 27, 269— 276; cf. A., 1941, I I I ,
226, 623).-—-The protyrosinase in pulps from grasshopper
eggs is activated by N a alkyl sulphates w ith 8— 18 (max.
a t 14) C atom s in th e alkyl group.
F. O. H.
Enzymes in iruit and vegetables. V m . Relationship
between peroxidase and storage in some fruit and vetegables.
H. N aito, K. Ishim aru, and Y. H osoda (Bull. In st. Phys.
Chem. Res. Japan, 1941, 20, 277— 280).— The peroxidase
content of parsley, persimm ons, Japanese leeks, and turnips
stored a t 5° increases a t first and la te r dim inishes. Peroxidase,
catalase, and ascorbic acid-oxidase activ ity is unrelated to
th e ascorbic acid content.
J . L. D.
Amperometric measurements of potency of catalase. B. S.
W alker (J. Am er. Chem. Soc., 1941, 63, 2015— 2017).—
Velocity coefis. (K) of the decomp, of H 20 2 b y catalase in
v arying am ounts have been determ ined b y (i) titra tio n and
(ii) a new m ethod utilising a dropping H g electrode w ithout
any autom atic recording device. A t room tem p. vals. of K
determ ined by both m ethods agree well b u t a t 0° vals. of K
determ ined by (i) are higher th a n those determ ined b y (ii),
an d suggest the form ation in m easurable concn. of an in ter­
m ediate enzym e-substrate com pound a t 0°.
W . R. A.
Carbonic anhydrase in fishes and invertebrates. H . Sobotka
and S. K ann (J. Cell. Comp. Physiol., 1941, 17, 341— 348).—
Carbonic anhydrase was determ ined in tissues of 30 fishes and
invertebrates. H ighest vals. were obtained for fish gills.
I t was present in tentacles of sea anemones and o th er species
b u t in th e crustacea exam ined it was only found in th e
gastric mucosa.
V. J. W.
Inhibition of lipase activity in raw milk. N. P. T arassuk and
G. A. R ichardson (Science, 1941, 93, 310— 311).— Lipase is
activated by cooling m ilk after it is draw n from th e udder.
W hen m ilk is m aintained a t or near body tem p., th e enzyme
rem ains relatively inactive. The crit. cooling tem p, lies
betw een 20° and 15°, and the ra te of lipase action increases
w ith progressive cooling to lower tem p. Once m ilk has been
cooled, th e activ ity of lipase is unaffected by ageing in the
cold or by rew arm ing to 20— 37°. The acceleration by
cooling is due probably to th e effect of' cooling on th e p er­
m eability to lipase of th e adsorption " m em brane ” surround­
ing the fa t globules Mild, churning-like ag itatio n of m ilk
w ithout cooling activates the enzyme, and th e addition of
form aldehyde and ageing, also w ithout cooling, increases
th e ra te of lipase action. P reservation of milk a t 32— 37°
for 1— 3 hr. im m ediately after it leaves th e udder re tard s
m arkedly th e a c tiv ity of lipase a fte r cooling.
L. S. T.
Improved method for recrystallising urease. A. L. D ounce
(J. Biol. Chem., 1941, 140, 307— 308).—-Jack bean m eal is
extracted w ith 31-6% acetone and th e filtrate, a fte r keeping
overnight a t 0°, is centrifuged. The p p t. is trea ted w ith
3 c.c. of w ater per 100 g. of meal, and clarified. To each
20 c.c. is now added 1 c.c. of 0-OM-citrate buffer a t p u 6-0,
followed by | vol. of acetone. C rystallisation is alm ost
com plete in £ hr., and th e yield can be increased by gradually
adding acetone to a concn. of 20% (vol.).
P. G. M.
Stable trypsin solution. K. L. B urdon (Science, 1941, 93,
91— 92).— Glycerol is added to an equal vol. of a boric acidborax buffer (pa 7-3), and 2 w t.-% of powdered trypsin
(Fairchild's) is stirred in gradually. A fter shaking a t room
tem p, for 15 min., the solution is filtered into a sterile flask.
E x tra c ts prepared in th is w ay a t various tim es from different
sam ples of trypsin show practically the sam e original activity.
W hen stored a t 10°, th e y are stable for m ore th a n three
years.
L. S. T.
796
Ultra-violet absorption spectrum of papain. H. H . D arby
(J. Biol. Chem., 1941, 139, 721— 725 ; cf. A„ 1939, I I I , 1007).
— R e-exam ination of th e absorption curve of papain (0-5%
in 0-01n-HC1) shows th a t th e absorption a t a b o u t 2750 A. is
g reater th a n th a t to be expected from try p to p h an alone, and
is a ttrib u te d to th e com bined effects of try p to p h an and
tyrosine. In alkaline solution th e absorption peak is shifted
to longer AA, th u s confirming th e presence of tyrosine.
Analysis of th e absorption curves of cryst. pap ain indicates
th a t th e mol. ratio tyrosine : try p to p h an is n o t less th a n
4 :1 .
J. W. S.
E . W . Flosdorf (Science, 1941, 93
L. S. T.
Purification and chemical nature o! rennin. C. N . B. Rao ,
M. V. L. Rao, M. S. R am asw am y, and V. S ubrahm anyan
(iCurrent Sci., 1941, 10, 215— 219 ; cf. Fenger, A., 1923, i, 401 ;
Liiers and Bader, A., 1928, 203; T au b er and Kleiner, A.,
1932, 881).— G round gastric mucosa when k ep t in contact
w ith 0-04n-HC1 for 18—24 hr. and dialysed against w ater
yields a p p t. from w hich 0-04n-HC1 elutes m uch rennin. If
th e eluate is adjusted to p a 5-4, a p p t. forms which (a) leaves
th e su p ern atan t fluid w ith a lower N con tcn t (down to 1 ¡ig.
of N per enzyme unit) and (6) m ay be re-eluted if an y enzyme
is carried down w ith it. The p u rest enzyme preps, con­
tain in g 1 ¡ig. of N per u n it form no p p t. when heated o r w ith
trichloroacetic acid, b u t on keeping deposit a non-N substance,
rem oval of which does n o t affect th e a c tiv ity of th e prep.,
which contains no S, pepsin, or carbonic anhydrase. The
enzyme is m oderately stable in th e cold and in absence of
air, b u t is rapidly inactivated a t 25— 35°. I t can be separated
from nitrogenous im purities b y adsorption on Celite and
kaolin b u t elution is impossible. P a rtly dried, solid Ca3(P 0 4)2
adsorbs the enzym e to th e exclusion of N substances a t pa
3-0 to give a N-free product in w hich th e tru e w t. of th e
enzyme is ab o u t 10 ng. p er unit. The pure prep, loses 75%
of its activ ity in 24 hr. I t is irreversibly in activated above
p a 8 and reversibly a t pa 7-0— 7-4; it is stable a t p a 2-0.
Boiled enzyme or autolysed m ucosa (therm ostable com­
ponent) or ZnCl2 (1 drop of 1%) reactiv ates p a rtly in activated
enzyme. The therm ostable com ponent w ithstands prolonged
boiling, is rem oved b y dialysis, and its action is inhibited by
high concns. of NaCl. All rennin concentrates contained a
sm all am ount (about 0-1 /xg. per unit) of vitam in-C.
J . L. D.
Effect of ascorbic acid on invertase. K. I. S tratschitzki
(Biochimia, 1940, 5, 180— 187).— In v ertase is inactivated by
ascorbic acid th a t is undergoing oxidation catalysed by Cu
b u t n o t when th e oxidation is by I or ascorbinase. The in ­
activation, w hich could n o t be reversed, is inhibited by sm all
am ounts of cysteine, S20 4", thioglycollic acid, H 2S, quinol,
o r FeSOj. R educing substances o th er th a n ascorbic acid
failed to in activ ate invertase.
F . O. H.
Synthesis of plastein.
157).— A discussion.
Enzymic conversion of glucose 6-phosphate into glycogen.
E. W. Sutherland, S. P. Colowick, and C. F. Cori (J. Biol.
Chem.,* 1941, 140, 309— 310).-—-The reversibility of th e
reaction glucose 1-p h o sp h ate-> glucose 6-phosphate has been
dem onstrated. The enzym e responsible, phosphoglycom utase, has been separated from phosphorylase and isomerase, which together catalyse th e form ation of glucose
6-phosphate from glycogen; actin g on pure glucose 6phosphate it produces an equilibrium a t 6% of glucose
1-phosphate. F u rth e r addition of phosphorylase, its c.oenzymes, and B a " gives rise to form ation of glycogen; 33%
of glucose 6-phosphate is converted in to glycogen in 3 hr.
a t 25°.
P. G. M.
X-Ray diffraction studies of synthetic polysaccharides. R. S.
B ear an d C. F . Cori (J. Biol. Chem., 1941, 140, 111— 118).—
The polysaccharide svnthesised in vitro w ith muscle-phosphorylase resembles in solubility, I coloration, and A'-ray
diffraction p a tte rn s th e p lan t starches, w hilst th e polysac­
charides synthesised w ith h e a rt and liver enzym es resemble
n a tu ra l glycogen.
D. F . R.
Association of phosphatase with a material in kidney sedi­
mentable at high speed, and its liberation by autolysis. E. A.
K a b a t (Science, 1941, 93, 43— 44).—P hosphatase in ex tracts
of mouse kidney is associated w ith th e m aterial sedimented
a t 27,000 r.p.m . for 1 hr. Autolysis decreases th e am o u n t of
th is fraction, and liberates phosphatase; th e tissue sp. and
heterogenetic com ponents are destroyed.
L. S. T.
797
A., III.—xxv, MICROBIOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY.
Adenosinetriphosphatase. A. Szent-Gyorgyi and
(Science, 1941, 93, 158).— A denosinetriphosphatase
to myosin (cf. A., 1939, II I, 1097). The enzyme is
b y Ca", which can be substitu ted by o th er bivalent
X. B anga
is bound
activ ated
m etals.
L. S. T.
XXV .-M IC R O B IO LO G IC A L AND IM MUNOLOGICAL
CHEMISTRY. ALLERGY.
ALLERGY.
79S
Response of Phymatotrichum omnivorum to certain trace
elements. L. M. B lank (/. Agric. Res., 1941, 62, 129— 159).—
Fe, Mn, Zn, and, possibly Cu are essential to th e grow th of
P. omnivorum. Al, B, Cd, Co, F, Si, Mo, Ni, I, Li, and H g
are non-essential. The combined effects of Zn, Mn, and Fe
exceed th e sum m ation of effects due to each elem ent singly.
A suitable balance in th e proportion of these 3 elem ents is an
im p o rtan t facto r in the grow th of th e organism. R epeated
labo rato ry culture of P. omnivorum results in modifications
in grow th ra te and in ab ility to utilise Fe, Mn, and Zn.
A. G. P.
Factors affecting virulence of artificial inoculum of H elmintliosporium sativum, P. K. and B., and of Fusarium culmorum (W. G. Sm.), Sacc. L. E. T yner (Canad. J . Res., 1941,
19, C, 42— 48).—The virulence of cultures of th e organism s
is influenced by th e n ature of th e medium and in genera!
increases w ith increase in th e carbohydrate supply. I t is
also affected b y environm ental conditions.
A. G. P.
Morphology and physiology of Actinomyces. O. von
P lotho (Arch. Mikrobiol., 1940, 11, 33— 72).-—R elations
betw een R .H . and the growth and sporulation of 15 strain s
of Actinomyces are exam ined. Sporulation is favoured by
dim inution in th e w ater con ten t of th e atm . and of the
substrate. The organisms utilise N 0 2' as N source and one
strain assim ilated atm . N 2. Two different grow th ty p es arc
distinguished according as to w hether the medium is rendered
increasingly acid or alkaline during growth. V olutin occurred
in all species; it is progressively replaced b y fa t in older
cultures. Some strain s stored much fa t in young mycelium.
No glycogen, chitin, or cellulose was detected in any culture.
Acid-forming cultures produced lactic acid. Actinomyces
liquefied gelatin and, in some cases, hydrolysed fat, b u t did
n o t decompose cellulose. M ilk-coagulating enzymes and
tyrosinase did n o t occur in th e cultures. Pigm entation was
largely influenced b y the reaction of th e n u trien t and was
related to hum in production. U ltra-violet light was bac­
tericidal and also increased pigm entation.
A. G. P.
Respiration of bakers’ yeast at low oxygen tension. R. J.
W inzler ( /. Cell. Comp. Physiol., 1941, 17, 263— 276).— 0 2
consum ption was determ ined b y th e dropping H ç electrode.
W ith reduced 0 2 tension, 0 2 consum ption rem ained const,
u ntil a crit. tension w as reached, which varied w ith tem p.,
being 6 mm. H g a t 34“, 2-5 mm. a t 20°, an d 0-6 m m . a t 5°.
F rom curves relating 0 2 consum ption to tension, in presence
and absence of CO, it is deduced th a t respiration ra te is n o t
lim ited by 0 2 diffusion into th e cell, b u t b y th e com bination
of 0 2 w ith 0 2-transferring enzyme.
V. J. W.
Effect oî selective poisons on utilisation oî glucose by yeast.
M. J. P ick ett and C. E. Clifton (Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol. Med.,
1941, 46, 443— 445).— Synthesis of cell m aterial from glucose
by y east is com pletely inhibited b y 0-00lM-dinitrophenol.
F erm entation is stim ulated and respiration n o t affected.
O-OOOlM^NaN, inhibits b o th synthesis and respiration, b u t
p a rt of th e alcohol is oxidised later. H igher concns. inhibit
th is oxidation also and cause accum ulation of alcohol.
V. J. W.
Growth-depressant substance from yeast. E . S. Cook,
C. W . Kreke, M. C. Giersch, and M. P . Schroeder (Science,
1941, 93, 616— 617).— F ractio n al p p tn . (acetone) of an
alcoholic e x tra c t of baker’s y east gives in th e acetone-sol.
portion a concentrate active in depressing th e grow th of
Aspergillus niger and Pénicillium glabrum (cf. A., 1941, III,
228). The rate of grow th of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus
aureus is m arkedly depressed b y addition of 2% of th e con­
centrate. The type of grow th of b o th m oulds and bacteria
Bacteriostatic and bactericidal substances produced by a soil
is altered.
L. S. T.
actinomyces. S. A. W aksm an and H . B. W oodruff (Proc.
Effect of sodium carbonate on solutions of amino-acids at
Soc. E xp . Biol. M ed., 1940, 45, 609— 614).— The substance
high temperatures and pressures. N. V. Sadikova (Biochimia,
previously isolated ( / . B a d ., 1940, 40, 581) consists of 2
1940, 5, 169— 173).— H ydrolysis of y east pro tein in an a u to ­ com pounds, A w hich is sol. in w ater b u t n o t in light petro l­
clave a t 20 atm . and 210° for 3 hr. 20 min. by 2 % aq. N a2C 0 3 eum, and B w hich is sol. in light petroleum b u t n o t in water.
yields a cycZotetrapeptide, isoleucylisovalyltsoleucyl-leucyl.
A is pow erfully bacteriostatic, especially against GramA m ixture of the corresponding amino-acids, tre a te d in the
positive bacteria, while B is more actively bactericidal.
sam e way, does n o t yield this cyeiotetrapeptide and lienee it
V. J. W.
m ust be considered, to be a tru e interm ediate p roduct of the
Biotin synthesis by micro-organisms. M. L an d y and D. M.
degradation of the protein.
F. O. H.
Dicken (Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol. Med., 1941, 46, 449— 452).— A
large no. of b acteria an d moulds, grown in biotin-free media,
Aneurin and riboflavin during autolysis of yeast. A. V.
produced biotin as determ ined by th e m ethod of Snell et al.
T rufanov and V. A. K irsanova (Biochimia, 1940, 5, 234—
(A., 1940, II I, 449).
V. J. W.
239).— D uring autolysis of y east (pa 4-8— 5-0, 35— 45°),
aneurin and, less rapidly, riboflavin are liberated from th eir
Cultural characteristics of Pityrosporum ovale, a lipophilic
(unphosphorylated) complexes. Hence, th e levels of the
fungus. Nutrient and growth requirements. R . W . Benham
tw o vitam ins reach a m ax. (a 3-fold increase, atta in e d in
(Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol. Med., 1941, 46, 176— 178; cf. A., 1939,
6— 10 a nd 12—24 hr., respectively) and then steadily dim inish
II I, 1098).— G rowth tak es place in a medium containing
owing to decomp.
F . O. H .
glucose, salts, and oleic acid. A sparagine, thiam in, and
pyridoxine accelerate grow th b u t th e presence of fa tty acid
Behaviour of microscopic soil fungi towards naturally occur­
is essential.
V. J. W.
ring growth-promoting substances. A. N ietham m er (Arch.
M ikrobiol., 1940, 11, 73— 79).—M any microscopic soil fungi
Isolation of montagnetol from Roccella montagnei.— See A.,
from fruits and seeds develop poorly in sugar solutions.
1941, II, 265.
A ddition to th e m edium of sm all slices of fruits o r seeds
Histoplasmosis. P. H . Rhodes, N. F . C onant, an d L. R. B.
results in increased production of mycelium and fructification
Glesne (J. Pediat., 1941, 18, 235— 241).— R ep o rt of a case in
in m any b u t n o t in all species. Such stim ulation m ay be
an in fa n t 3 m onths of age.
C. J. C. B.
due to grow th-prom oting substances present in th e seeds.
Org. acids and trace elem ents occurring in seeds produce
Biotin-like substance produced by Diplodia zece. N. E.
sim ilar effects in some cases. All species exam ined showed
Stevens and W . E. W ilson (Science, 1941, 93, 458—459).—
norm al grow th and fructification in soil.
A. G. P.
D. zea produces in culture a substance th a t is necessary for
th e grow th of D. zeas and D. macrospora, E arle. This sub­
Effect of potato extracts on growth of Phycomyces. W . J .
stance is sim ilar to and probably identical w ith biotin obtained
R obbins and K. C. H am m er (B ot. Gaz., 1940, 101, 912— 927).
from egg yolks.
L. S. T.
—W ithin.certain lim its increasing am ounts of p o tato e x tract
in the m edium increased th e grow th an d reproduction of
Growth of Trichomonas fcetus and T. vaginalis in chick
Phycomyces', large am ounts restricted grow th and zygote
embryos. S. H . M cN utt and R. E . Trussell (Proc. Soc. E xp.
form ation. P o tato ex tracts contained a t least tw o substances
B iol. M ed., 1941, 46, 489— 492).— These organism s were
w hich regulate the grow th of the fungus. One of these
grown successfully for 14 and 24 subcultures in em bryos, b u t
(factor Z j) m ay be adsorbed on C and eluted w ith am m oniacal
grew equally well in culture m edia consisting of em bryo fluid
acetone. The second factor (Z 2) is n o t adsorbed on C. Each
over liver infusion ag ar slopes.
V. J. W.
facto r stim ulates grow th b u t a com bination of th e tw o is far
Effect of age of culture on rate of oxygen consumption and
more effective th a n either alone. The anti-grey factor (which
respiratory quotient of Paramecium. J. O. H u tchen s (J. Cell.
contains Z ,) also stim ulated grow th b u t was m uch more
Comp. Physiol., 1941, 17, 321— 332).— Organism s were grown
active in presence of Z 2. Z x resembles biotin.
A. G. P.
799
A., III.—xxv, MICROBIOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY.
in a m edium containing only N a acetate and inorg. salts, in
which th ey m ultiply for 4S hr. and are all dead in 5 days.
0 2 consum ption and R.Q. v ary inversely w ith age of culture,
R.Q. falling from 0-93 a t 24 hr. to 0-74 a t 72 hr. The very
low R.Q. vals. of M ast et al. (Physiol. Abs., 1936, 21, 747)
were probably due to deficient CO„ absorption in th e m ethod
used.
V. J. W.
Respiratory rate and cytochrome content of a ciliate
protozoan, Tetrahymena geleii. E . G. S. B aker and J. P.
B aum berger (J. Cell. Comp. Physiol., 1941, 17, 285— 303).—
A bsorption spectra of th is organism indicate th e presence of
cytochrom es c, b, an d a „ and have a band a t 616— 618 m¡i.
attrib u te d to a2. Oa consum ption is independent of tension
down to 2'52 mm. H g. I t is reversibly blocked b y NaCN,
and large am ounts of CO cause 0 2 consum ption to decrease
w ith tension.
V. J . W.
Evolution of Trypanosoma cruzi. G. Elkeles (Rev. Soc.
argent. Biol., 1940, 16, 763— 776).— O bservations in cultures,
in Trialoma infestans, and in mice infected w ith T. cruzi have
led to th e following in terp retatio n of th e life cycle. T ry p an ­
osoma pass into a leishm aniform sta te , which changes through
leptom ona into crithidia. These can divide longitudinally or
form schizogonia, which in tu rn split into leishm ania of 2nd
o rder; these give place to trypanosom a. Leishm ania of 2nd
order can also be formed b y schizogonia originating in 1storder leishm ania w ithout passing through th e crithidia phase.
Occasionally pairing of trypanosom a was seen, th a t m ight
be interpreted as a sexual phenom enon.
J. T. L.
Growth studies of Colpoda duodenaria in absence of other
living organisms. C. V. T aylor and W . J. v an W agtendonk
(J. Cell. Comp. Physiol., 1941, 17, 349— 353).— This organism
grows norm ally in a sterile m edium containing 5% of yeast
ex tract, and a bacterial plasm optysate m ade b y cytolysis of
a m arine bacterium (Pseudomonas flxiorescens) w ith distilled
w ater.
V. J. W.
Factors influencing the carbon metabolism of the crowngall organism. F . C. M clntire, W . H . Peterson, and A. J.
R iker (J. Agric. Res., 1940, 61, 313— 319).— In th e m edia
em ployed the rates of grow th and sugar ferm entation were
increased b y aeration. The am ount of sugar decomposed
and the n atu re and distribu tio n of m etabolic products were
influenced by the size of the inoculum, th e n atu re and ex ten t
of aeration, and th e am ount of sugar present. The ra tio of
COj produced to other unidentified m etabolic products was
low when the concn. of undecomposed sugar was high and
vice versa. The ratio increased w ith th e age of th e culture.
A. G. P.
Spontaneous recovery from subacute bacterial endocarditis.
F. P . W eber (Lancet, 1941, 240, 630— 631).— Case report.
C. A. K.
Absorption of bacteria, toxins, and snake venoms from
tissues. J . M. B arnes an d J . T ru eta (Lancet, 1941, 240, 023—
626).— E xperim ents on rabbits showed th a t bacteria, bacterial
toxins (including te tan u s toxin), and snake venoms w ith mol.
w t. over 20,000 are absorbed from w ounds via lym phatics.
Cobra venom (mol. w t. 5000) an d strychnine were absorbed
via blood vessels direct. Im m obilisation of a lim b in plaster
reduces lym ph flow alm ost to zero, even w hen th e muscles
are electrically stim ulated.
C. A. K.
Bacterial inhibition by aminosulphonic analogues of some
natural aminocarboxylic acids. H . M clhvain (Brit. J . E xp .
Path., 1941, 22, 148— 155).— a-Aminosulphonic acids (e.g., of
m ethane, ethane, ¿sobutane, isopentane) delay o r prevent
grow th in chem ically defined m edia of a no. of organisms.
The inhibition can be reduced o r rem oved b y th e fu rther
addition of a-am inocarboxylic acids. W hen staphylococcus
is m ade independent of m ost added am inocarboxylic acids
b y training, a-am inosulphonic acids are no longer inhibitory.
The results are fu rth er instances of th e blocking of enzyme
reactions, essential to grow th, b y inhibitors w hich a c t on
account of th eir stru ctu ral sim ilarity to th e norm al substrate
(cf. ^-am inobenzoic acid and sulphanilam ide. W oods, A.,
1940,111,611).
F. S.
Saprophytes antagonistic to phytopathogenic and other
micro-organisms. P. A. A rk and M. L. H u n t (Science, 1941,
93, 354— 355).—-Two soil bacteria, one Bacillus vulgatus and
th e other unidentified, show strong antagonism b o th to
bacteria (Gram-positive and -negative) and to certain fungi
(listed). The bactericides produced by th e antagonists are
ALLERGY.
800
water-sol., and active in v ery sm all am ounts. T hey are n o t
destroyed b y boiling for 60 min. The stro n g est antagonism
is observed in m edia containing glucose an d fructose, b u t
none could be obtained on a peptone sugar-free m edium, or
in a n u trie n t m edium containing m altose. A ctivity is u n ­
affected b y p a 4— 10. A ttem p ts to p p t. th e active principle
b y m eans of inorg. acids, (N H JjS O j, A12(S 04)3, A1(N03)3,
alcohols, an d eth e r were unsuccessful.
L. S. T.
Effect of irradiation of air in ward on incidence of infections
of respiratory tract. D. Greene, L. H . Barenberg, and B.
Greenberg (Amer. J . D is. Child., 1941, 61, 273— 275).— 59
infections occurred in 15 infants placed in th e irradiated
w ard ; 101 infections occurred am ong 19 control infants.
C. J. C. B.
Laboratory aids in diagnosis and control of enteric diseases.
A. H . H arris and M. B. Coleman (N .Y . Sta. J . M ed., 1941,
41, 1444— 1449).— A review.
E . M. J.
Glucose-yeast extract medium for isolation of fungi from
sputum. D. Yegian and J . M. K urung (J. Lab. clin. Med.,
1941, 26, 1195— 1197).—The m edium is ad ju sted to p a 4-0
and th ereb y inhibits m ost bacteria.
C. J. C. B.
Re-utilisation of used agar-agar as an emergency culture
medium. Y. W . H uang, T. H . Shen, and F. F. T ang (Chinese
Med. J ., 1941, 59, 176— 178).— The agar is c u t in to th in slices
and placed in a b ask et w hich is th en immersed in running
w ater for 24— 4S h r . ; in th is w ay grow th-inhibiting substances
are rem oved. F or use 2 p a rts of th e w ashed ag ar are mixed
w ith 1 p a rt of fresh agar.
W.
J. G.
Simple and inexpensive micro-titration apparatus, expecially
useful for titrating culture media. E . S. K ing and L. L.
C hastain (J. Lab. clin. M ed., 1941, 26, 1375).
C. J . C. B.
Technique for continuous microscopical observations. S.
T hom as (Science, 1941, 93, 577— 578).—-A technique for th e
continuous observation of th e developm ent of organisms in a
drop of sterile oil a t 37° is described.
L. S. T.
Physiology of Rhizobium meliloti, with special reference to
the effectiveness of strains isolated in Kansas. J . T. K roulik
and P . L. Gainey (J. Agric. Res., 1941, 62, 359— 369).—A
m ethod for determ ining th e nodulation and N-fixing capacity
of rhizobia of lucerne roots is described. Comparison of 217
cultures is recorded. An association betw een high nodulation
and low efficiency of N fixation, an d vice versa, is established.
A. G. P.
(A) Growth of halophilic bacteria in concentrations of sodium
chloride above 3 x molar. (B) Effect of protein concentration
and cysteine on halophilic bacteria. L. S. S tu a rt (J. Agric. Res.,
1940, 61, 259— 265, 267— 275).— (a ) Aq. solutions of com­
m ercial NaCl m ay ionise to become more acid or alkaline as
th e [NaCl] increases from 3 to 5m. A erobically m easured E h
in photogenous sa lt m edia decreases as th e concn. is increased ;
anaerobically m easured vals. are lower and rem ain const, a t
all concns. The stim ulating effect on b acterial grow th of
increased [NaCl] exceeding 3m. a t const, p a is correlated
w ith decrease in aerobic E h. U nder certain conditions halo­
philic bacteria prefer relatively low [0 2] for optim um growth.
(b )
B acterial grow th on ag ar or n u trien t b ro th m edia con­
tain in g over 3M-NaCl is affected b y th e protein content of
th e n u trien t. Increased concn. of protein increases grow th
in m edia containing 3— 3-8M-NaCl, has little effect on th a t
containing 4M-NaCl, and inhibits grow th on 5M-NaCl media.
Increase in p rotein concn. counteracts th e adverse effect of
low p n when [NaCl] is n o t above 3-8 m .A ddition of cysteine
to media containing 3-0— 3-8M-NaCl a t pa 6-6— 7-2 stim ulates
grow th of th e organism s; it also counteracts th e influence
of low pa- The significance of th e observations on th e prep,
of n u trie n t m edia is indicated.
A. G. P.
Manganese and growth of lactic acid bacteria. D. W.
W oolley (J. Biol. Chem., 1941, 140, 311— 312).— Certain
factors, n o tab ly m a lt sprouts or th eir aq. e x tract, produce
more rapid grow th of L . casei th a n do optim al quan tities of
pan to th en ic acid. The ash of m a lt sprouts is also active,
b u t activ ity is removed b y H 2S. Mn is th e facto r concerned;
it affects only th e ra te and n o t th e e x te n t of grow th, and is
w ith o u t effect on E . coli and haim olytic streptococci (groups
A and D ). Growth in hexose diphosphate is stim ulated by
Mn, and takes place in p y ru v ate o r p y ru v ate + acetaldehyde
only in th e presence of Mn.
P . G. M.
801
A., III.—xxv, MICROBIOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY.
Position oi carbon dioxide-carbon in propionic acid syn­
thesised by Propionibacterium. H . G. W ood, C. H . W erkm an,
A. H em ingw ay, and A. O. N ier (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. Med.,
1941, 46, 313— 316).— The m ethod previously used for
succinic acid (A., 1940, II I, 933) was used for propionic acid,
apd it is confirmed th a t all th e fixed C is in th e carboxyl
group, con trary to th e report of Carson ct al. (A., 1941, III,
537), who found it in th e a and jS groups as well as in the
carboxyl group.
V. J. W.
Experimentally produced wounds as route oi fatal infection
caused by B. violaceus. H . J. S chattenberg and D . V an
Brow n (Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 478— 482).—
Injuries to. skin of feet of mice and rabbits, when infected
w ith this organism, causc generalised infection an d death.
V. J. W.
Synthesis of ¿//-citrulline from non-biological precursors.—
See A., 1941, II, 244.
Certain aspects of the chemistry of infectious diseases. M. L.
Crossley (Science, 1941, 93, 409— 412).— An address.
L. S. T.
Application of human serum opacity reaction for evaluating
antitoxin-binding power (LB) of Clostridium perfringens
(type A) toxoid. S. C. Seal and S. E . S tew art (U .S. Publ.
Health Repts., 1941, 56, 792— 798).—T he hum an serum
opacity reaction proposed b y N agler for titra tin g perfringens
toxins and antitoxins has been successfully applied for
estim ating th e antitoxin-binding pow er of Cl. perfringens
ty p e A toxoids.
C. G. W.
Infection of normal and passively immunised chick embryos
with Corynebacterium diphtheria:. W : J . C rom artie (Anier.
J . Path., 1941, 17, 411-—418).—T he developing chick em bryo
is susceptible to infection w ith C. diphtheria when th e m outh
an d nasopharynx serve as a p o rtal of entry, and th e infection
of chick em bryos can be carried on in serial passage when the
infection is induced by subam niotic inoculation. (8 p h o to ­
micrographs.)
C. J . C. B.
Body build aspect of immunity to diphtheria. H . B. P ryor,
M. Schmeclcebier, and H . E . T helander (Amer. J . V is. Child.,
1941, 61, 276—279):— The d istribution of im m unity to
diphtheria by age and sex shows higher im m unity for older
children th a n for younger ones, w ith no sex difference.
B road-built children had fewer units of a n tito x in th a n
slender-built ones. The correlation betw een relative w idth
of th e body and u nits of an tito x in present a fte r im m unisation
was -0 '3 7 8 ± 0 -0 3 2 for 84 children.
C. J . C. B.
Diphtheria susceptibility in well-immunised community.
C. H . Maxwell, B. L. Cullen, and R. J. T hom as (N .Y . Sta. J .
Med., 1938, 38, 1227— 1231).— Only 2 carriers who were no t
known contacts w ith a preceding case of diphtheria were
found over a period of 8 years in which 4625 th ro a t cultures
were tak en w ith 197 (42%) positive. In 2 schools over 80%
of those who had received preventive injections were
Schick-negative. The proportions were reversed in th e
few non-inoculated. 33% of 69 nurses were Schick-positive;
only 5 of these had n o t previously been inoculated. 2 doses
of fluid toxoid were given to all th e 23 positives and 18
m onths la te r 5 were still Schick-positive.
E. M. J.
Administration of toxoid and results of Schick testing in
Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, 1938—1939. C. J . W . B eckw ith
(Canad. Publ. Health J ., 1941, 32, 103— 112).—A dm inistration
of plain diphtheria toxoid in 3 doses a t intervals of 3 weeks
on the mass im m unisation plan is a safe procedure. More
a tte n tio n m ust be given to children of preschool age to assure
th a t th ey receive th e 3 doses required for im m unisation.
5399 children who received 1— 3 doses of toxoid were offered
th e Schick te s t to ascertain th e ir im m unity statu s. 4546
(78-6%) received th e test. In addition, 799 children who had
n o t received an y toxoid were tested. Of 5345 Schick tests
done, 5097 (95-4%) were read. 3 doses of plain diphtheria
toxoid produce im m unity to dip h th eria as gauged b y th e
Schick test. This is evidenced b y negative reactions ranging
from 18-8% in those w ith no toxoid to 89% in those w ith
3 doses, or, conversely, 74-5% positive in those who did not
receive toxoid to 3-8% in those w ith 3 doses.
C. G. W.
“ Substance B ” of diphtheria toxin and diffusing factor. D.
McClean (Lancet, 1941, 240, 595— 596).— T here was no
evidence of an y association between diffusing factor (or
hyaluronidase) and substance B postulated b y O'M eara
(A., 1941, III, 473) to exist in toxic diphtheria filtrates.
ALLERGY.
802
The enzyme only occurs in sm all am ounts and can be produced
b y interm ediate and m itis as well as gravis strains.
C. A. K .
Diphtheritic membrane. S. S. B ozarth an d L. J. W olf
(Northw. M ed., 1941, 40, 96).— A m em brane w hich h ad
ap paren tly extended from th e lary n x down into th e bronchi
was coughed up b y a woman of 54 years, 3 weeks a fte r th e
onset of th e illness and w ithout previous respiratory em bar­
rassm ent.
E. M, J.
Composition of diphtheria antitoxic sera. R. A. Kekwick,
B. C. J . K night, M. G. Macfarlane, an d B. R. R ecord (Lancet,
1941, 240, 571— 572).—E lectrophoretic analysis of diphtheria
antitoxic horse sera shows 3 separable globulin com ponents,
a, 0, and y fractions, th e last tw o having an tito x ic activity.
The relative and abs. am ounts of jS and y antito x in s alter
during th e course of im m unisation of horses; these changes
m ay influence th erapeutic efficiency.
C. A. K.
Purification of diphtheria antitoxin. J. H . N o rth ru p
(Science, 1941, 93, 92).— The prep, from equine an ti-dip h th eria
plasm a of a highly antitoxic (7 x 105 units p er g. of proteinN) protein which satisfies th e criteria for a pure protein
is described. The m aterial is p p td . com pletely b y diphtheria
toxin, and is prepared by pptg. th e to x in -a n tito x in com ­
plex, dissolving it in acid, destroying th e toxin by digestion
w ith trypsin, and purifying it by fractionation w ith (N H 4)„S04.
L. S. T.
Reduction of potassium tellurite by C. diphtheria. H . E.
M orton and T. F. Anderson (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. Med., 1941,
46, 272— 276).— Organisms grown on a medium containing
K ,T e 0 3 have w ithin them needle-shaped crystals of high
density which are sol. in Br, and presum ably consist of Te
which has passed through th e cell wall.
V. J. W.
Tellurite test in diagnosis of diphtheria. M. S. S tern and
M. B. B rahdy (N .Y . Sta. J . Med., 1941, 41, 588— 589).—-A
23% negative and a 50% positive error were observed in
30 diphtheritic and 20 non-diphtheritic cases respectively.
Specific polysaccharide as cutaneous test for evaluation of
serum therapy in influenza bacillus meningitis. J. H . Dingle
an d L. R . Seidm an (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. Med., 1941, 46,
34-—36).— In tracu tan eo u s injection of polysaccharide from
th e bacillus gives positive results in persons who have received
an ad equate injection of anti-influenza ra b b it serum b u t n o t
of anti-influenza horse serum.
V. J. W.
Typing of meningococci. N. Silverthorne (Canad. Publ.
Health J ., 1941, 32, 120— 121).—Pathogenic strains of
meningococci can be differentiated according to th eir ability
to survive in sam ples of blood from norm al guinea-pigs.
Group I strain s (in higher dilution) do n o t survive in norm al
guinea-pig blood and ty p e I I strains do survive. Strains
showing cross-agglutination in group I and type I I sera are
clearly differentiated as group I or ty p e I I strain s b y th eir
ab ility to survive in th e blood of norm al guinea-pigs.
C. G. W.
Isolation and identification of meningococci and gonococci.
P. L. B oisvert and M. D. Eousek (Amer. J . V is. Child., 1941,
01, 710— 716).— The addition of th e differentiating carbo­
h y d rates to the blood agar afforded a satisfactory m ethod
for further identification of th e organisms by ferm entation
tests.
C. J. C. B.
Recurrence in pneumonia. J. M. Ruegsegger an d S. L.
Cockerell (J. Lab. clin. Med., 1941, 26, 1262— 1265).—A case
of recurrent pneum onia due to homologous ty p e of pneum o­
coccus is reported, w ith th e im plication th a t it probably
represents a self-infection.
C. J . C. B.
Nasal flora of children in a day nursery. H. S. Y ang (Amer.
J . V is. Child., 1941, 61, 262— 272).— 38 of 40 children in th e
nursery were carriers of pneumococci a t one tim e or another,
11 were tran sie n t carriers, 15 were periodic carriers, and 12
were chronic carriers. The ty p es of pneumococci found
comm only in th e series were V I, X IX , X X II, and X X III.
A fter pneumococcus, H . influenzce w as th e n e x t m ost comm on
p o ten tial pathogen found.
C. J . C. B.
Simple non-traumatising method of inducing pneumococcic
infection in albino rats. E . H . Loughlin, S. fi. Spitz, and
R. H . B en n ett (J. Lab. clin. Med., 1941, 26, 1180—1183).—
Pneumococcic ex u d ate from th e peritoneal cavity of th e
mouse is sprayed in to th e nasopharynx of rats. This is
effective owing to th e increased virulence of pneumococci
803
A., III.—xxv, MICROBIOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY.
recently in contact w ith an anim al h ost and th e n atu ral
m ucin content of th e exudate.
C. J. C. B.
Balance between capsular polysaccharide and antibody in
relation to prognosis and therapy of pneumococcal pneumonia.
J. G. M. Bullowa, S. C. B ukantz, an d P . F. de G ara (Ann. int.
M ed., 1941, 14, 1348— 1359).— F ree capsular polysaccharide
in the blood was found in 5 o u t of 20 p atien ts suffering from
pneumococcal lobar pneum onia; 4 of these p atien ts died.
10 patien ts were bacten em ic; 4 of these p atien ts h ad capsular
polysaccharide in th e b lo o d ; 3 died. 6 p atien ts w ith bac­
te re m ia did n o t have capsular polysaccharide in th e b lo o d ;
2 died. In bactersemic p a tie n ts w ith capsular polysac­
charide in the blood combined antipneum ococcal serum and
sulphapyridine tre a tm e n t should be employed. C apsular
polysaccharide can be detected in th e blood stream 12— 20
hr, earlier th a n b acte rem ia. 2 ou t of 21 cases w ith o u t
polysaccharide in the blood d ie d ; one of these p atien ts had
a ty p e IV endocarditis and m eningitis and h ad been treated
w ith serum ; th e o th er case had suffered from a ty p o V II
lobar pneum onia w ith b acte rem ia, w as treated w ith serum
an d sulphapyridine, and had an ad equate sulphapyridine
level in blood and considerable antibody concn. Several
p atien ts recovered w ithout antibodies in th e b lo o d ; others
died despite a high antib o d y titre an d blood-sulphapyridine
concns. of 2— 6 m g.-% .
A. S.
Treatment of type I pneumococcal pneumonia with specific
serum. E . S. Rogers and M. E. Gooch (N .Y . Sta. J . M ed.,
193S, 38, 1369— 1375).— A fa ta lity ra te of 17-1% is reported
from a series of 2027 cases collected during 25 m onths.
T reatm ent was m ost effective during th e first five days of
th e illness. Sensitivity to horse serum w as determ ined by
an intraderm al te s t in 956 cases, 7-3% of which were p o sitiv e ;
31'4% of these and 11-4 of th e negatives showed subsequent
evidence of an ap h y lax is; an ophthalm ic te s t (instillation of
a drop of a 1 : 10 dilution of norm al horse serum) in 624
cases gave 3-2% of positive resu lts; 25% of these and 13-4%
of negatives showed subsequent evidence of anaphylaxis.
E. M. J.
Effect of variation in dosage of antigenic polysaccharide on
serum antibody titre in human beings. L. D. Felton, W . R.
Cameron, an d P . F . P ra th e r (U .S. Publ. Health Repts., 1941,
56, 822— 836).— A ttem p ts were m ade to establish th e optim um
dose for hum an beings of one prep, of antigenic polysac­
charide of pneumococci, polyvalent ty p es I and II. W ith
this antigen, 0-5 c.c. of 1 : 106 dilution of w hich p ro tects mice
ag ainst 50,000 lethal doses of ty p e I pneumococci, and a
slight am ount of type II , te sts were m ade in a group of 533
individuals to determ ine the optim um dose as measured b y
serum protective antibody titre. Doses ranged from 0-01 to
1-0 mg. of b o th ty p es I and II. F o r ty p e I 0-5 mg. was as
effective as 1-0 mg. and more effective th a n 0-3 mg. W ith
ty p e II it is difficult to determ ine the ex act a m o u n t; it
would app ear th a t 0-3 mg. is as effective as a larger dose.
In th is group of 533 subjects, 21 who failed to respond to
ty p e I responded well to typ e II antigen, and 3 who were
negative to ty p e I I responded to ty p e I. Two injections of
0-1 and 0-2 mg. respectively, a t an interval of 14 days, did
n o t result in a significant increase of serum an tibody titre
eith er for ty p e I or for type II.
C. G. W.
Quantitative experiments with antibodies to specific precipit­
ate. I. J: P. Treffers and M. H eidelberger (J. E xp . Med.,
1941, 73, 125— 140).-—From th e q u an t, serological experi­
m ents w ith sp. ppts. from various anti-pneum ococcal sera,
it is concluded th a t the only antigenic specificity dem onstrable
for th e antibodies investigated was th a t due to th e ir common
origin, and th a t the groupings responsible for th e ir antibody
function either constitute a sm all p a rt of th e to ta l protein
mol., or else are non-antigenic.
A. C. F.
Nature of antibacterial agents present in Pseudomonas
pyocyanea cultures. R. Schoental (Brit. J . E xp . Path., 1941,
22, 137— 147).— The substances responsible for th e a n ti­
bacterial a c tiv ity of Ps. pyocyanea cultures are heat-stable,
resistan t to the action of pepsin, sol. in alcohol, and can be
e x tracted q u an titativ ely by CHC13 from cultures dried by
th e iyophilic m ethod. H ence th e y are n o t enzymic in
n ature. Three antibacterial substances isolated from CHC13
e x tracts were pyocyanine, 2-hydroxyphenazine, and an
alm ost colourless bacteriolytic substance, possibly related to
H e ttch e’s " pyocyanic acid.”
F. S.
ALLERGY.
804
Serum antistaphylolysin titres during antitoxic therapy of
staphylococcal infections. C. Weiss (Amer. J . clin. Path.,
1941, 11, 329— 343).—T he daily titra tio n of th e p a tie n t’s
serum for antistaphylolysin concn. is a guide to dosage of
antitoxin and prognosis. A level of 15— 25 u n its per c.c. is
desirable.
C. J. C. B .^
Schultz-Charlton and Dick tests in scarlet fever. E. Press
and A. M. L itv ak (Arch. Pediat., 1941, 58, 194— 197).— '78%
of 1384 p atien ts w ith scarlet fever had negative Dick and
Schultz-C harlton te sts in th e first 2— 3 days of th eir illness.
In tram u scu lar injection of scarlet fever a n tito x in a t th e sam e
tim e as th e Dick tests arc done decreases th e no. of positive
reactions obtained.
C. J. C. B.
Scarlatinoid erythema of unknown ætiology. A. L. H oyne
and L. R. L eviton (Arch. Pediat., 1941, 58, 69— 72).— 6 cases
are described in w hich a scarlatinoid eruption w as present.
R epeated blood ag ar cultures for liæmolytic streptococci
and blanching te sts for scarlet fever were negative. AU
patien ts h ad fever, leucocytosis, and p haryngitis and all
infants a profuse nasal discharge.
C. J. C. B.
Polysaccharides synthesised by Streptococcus salivarius
and S. bovis. C. F . N iven, ju n ., K. L. Smiley, an d J . M.
Sherm an (J. Biol. Chem., 1941, 140, 105— 109).— Many
strain s of 5. salivarius synthesise large am ounts of a sol.
lævan, [a]jJ approx. —45°, from sucrose an d raffinose. This
is easily hydrolysed to fructose by m-HCI a t 20° for 5 hr.
or a t 70° for S min. A few strain s of S. salivarius synthesise
also an insol. polysaccharide, w hich is less easily hydrolysed
and appears to consist m ainly of a d ex tran. Some strain s
of S. bovis form an insol. carb o h y d rate from sucrose and
raffinose. This has [a]55 approx. +180°, is probably a
dextran, and consists essentially of glucose. One culture
only of S. bovis synthesises sm all am ounts of a lævan from
sucrose and raffinose, which appears to be identical w ith
th a t formed by S. salivarius.
J . N. A.
Comparison of cutaneous sensitisation and antibody form­
ation in rabbits immunised by intravenous or intradermal
injections of indifferent or hæmolytic streptococci and pneumo­
cocci. D. M. Angevine (J. E xp . M ed., 1941, 73, 57— 66).—
R ab b its intravenously injected w ith heat-killed streptococci
can be m ade skin-sensitive b y intracu tan eo u s injection.
A ntibody form ation occurs more rapidly w ith intravenous
th a n intracutaneous injection, b u t if long continued, equal
am ounts of circulating antibody are formed. A fter in tra v e n ­
ous or intracutaneous injection of pneumococcus ty p e I
vaccine, species-sp. agglutinins are formed equally, b u t typesp. agglutinins form twice as quickly in th e form er case.
A. C. F.
Cytological response of rats and mice to strain of Greening
streptococci. P. Gross, F . B. Cooper, an d J . D. Phillips
(Amer. J . Path., 1941, 17, 377— 382).— The cytological
response in th e ra t to intracard iac injections of living cultures
of G reening streptococci w as predom inantly monocytic,
preceded, however, b y a tra n sie n t leucocytic reaction. In the
m yocardium of m any anim als, stru ctu res resembling Aschoff
bodies were seen. A sim ilar response, b u t m uch m ilder in
degree, was observed in mice subjected to repeated intravenous
injections of th e sam e organism. (4 photom icrographs.)
C. J . C. B.
Case of rat-bite fever. A. P ackclianian and L. K. Sweet
(Med. A n n . Columbia, 1941, 10, 95— 97).— A 7-m onths-old
child had been b itte n b y a r a t and developed fever, a local
swelling, regional adenitis, a characteristic tem p, curve, and
a well-defined rash. No organism s were seen on dark-field
observation of th e p a tie n t’s own blood, b u t Spirochceta morsus
m uris was seen in th e blood of mice inoculated intraperitoneally 8— 17 days previously w ith 0-25 c.c. of defibrinated
blood w ithdraw n during a b o u t of fever 5 weeks a fte r th e
bite. 5 oth er species of rodents, nam ely desert deer mice
(Peromyscus eremictis eremicus), forest deer mice (P. leucopus
novoboracensis), albino deer mice (P. maniculatus gambelii), a
rice ra t (Oryzomys paluslris), and a cotton ra t (Sigmodon
hispidus ciencgae), were successfully infected a fte r passage
through a w hite mouse (M us muscidus) an d a w hite ra t
(Rattus norvégiens) ; th e infection ra n a chronic and non-fatal
course in these anim als.
E. M. J.
Chick embyro as culture medium for Spirochœta pallida.
U. J. W ile an d J. S. Snow (J. invest. Dermat., 1941, 4, 103—■
109).— Sp. pallida w as successfully grow n on chorio-allantoic
805
A., III.—xxv, MICROBIOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY.
m em brane and in the em bryo of developing h en ’s egg. The
infectiousness of these tissues was determ ined b y intratesticular ra b b it inoculation. In th e successful experiments,
th e inoculated eggs -were incubated a t 35°; inoculations a t
37° or over failed.
C. J. C. B.
Serodiagnosis of syphilis. A. B. W adsw orth (N .Y . Sta. J .
M ed., 1938, 38, 1383— 1385).— A review.
E . M. J.
Serology of syphilis and its evaluation. F. R y tz (Minnesota
M ed., 1941, 24, 321— 320).— A review, including th e result of
th e differential te s t (cf. A., 1938, II I, 1058) on 32 routine
positive cases o u t of 3100 exam ined. 25 were differential
positive of whom th e m ajority gave a h istory of prim ary or
secondary syphilis; the rem aining 7 w ith negative differential
te sts were w ithout syphititic history.
E . M. J.
Toxin-antitoxin reactions in experimental tetanus. H. B.
Shumaclcer, jun., W . M. Firor, and A. L am o n t (Johns H opkins
Hosp. B ull., 1940, 67, 92— 106).— A given am ount of tetan u s
a n tito x in injected intravenously into guinea-pigs, mice, dogs,
and cats does n o t neutralise th e sam e no. of guinea-pig
m edian lethal doses in each species. Regardless of species
th ere are differences in the potency pow er of intravenously
injected an tito x in against to x in subsequently introduced by
various routes.
T. F. D.
Stability of tetanus antitoxin. C. R. Amies (Brit. M ed. J .,
1941, I, 709—710).—T etanus an tito x in loses 10% of its
a c tiv ity per annum w hen stored a t room tem p, and less th a n
50% of its a ctiv ity when k ep t a t 37°.
C. A. K.
Trichopliytin. S. M. Peck an d A. Glick (Arch. V ennat.
Syphilol., 1941, 43, 839— 845).-—The skin-reactive factor
w hich is responsible for the elicitation of a positive cutaneous
reaction w ith trichophytin is found in b o th th e bouillon and
th e pellicle of a culture of T. gypscum in S abouraud’s bouillon.
The skin-reactive facto r can bo d em onstrated in th e pellicle
as soon as th is appears. In th e bouillon, however, th e concn.
of th e skin-reactive factor increased w ith th e age of th e
culture.
C. J. C. B.
Experimental tuberculosis in animals. A. A. D ay (Quart.
B ull. Northwest. Univ. M ed. School, 1941, 15, 39—45).—
T uberculous lesions were produced in 150 dogs b y in trabronchial injection of virulen t tubercle bacilli of a hum an
strain. The outcom e of th e disease depended on th e initial
dose. Doses of 1 mg. produced lesions recognisable b y X -ray
b u t rarely produced death. L arger doses caused fa ta l tu b e r­
culosis in 30% of the dogs; th ere was pneum onia and central
caseous necrosis, cav ity form ation, and evacuation of necrotic
m aterial into other bronchi. There w as alw ays involvem ent
of the regional lym ph glands. Free fluid in th e thoracic
c av ity occurred in m ost fatal infections. M any dogs re­
sponded to intracutaneous injection of tuberculin, skin sensi­
tiv ity developing 7— 12 days a fte r intrabronchial inoculation
w ith viru len t tubcrcle bacilli. The an tib o d y titre was in­
creased in all cases, especially in th e first 40— 00 days.
A. S.
Pulmonary tuberculosis and pregnancy. F. K oester
(V tsch. Tuberk.-Bl., 1939, 13, 309— 317).— A review.
E. M. J.
Supervision of children in contact with tuberculosis. A. B.
R obins (Amer. J . V is. Child., 1941, 61, 721— 726).— In more
th a n 32,000 exam inations of 17,000 children, over 7000 of
whom were seen for the first tim e, only 5 cases of th e rein­
fection type of tuberculosis were found am ong children under
10 years of age. Among an equal no. of children 10— 15
years of age, 34 cases of chronic pulm onary tuberculosis
were discovered.
C. J. C. B.
Detection of B. tuberculosis in sputa. K. E . G erdts
(Dtsch. Tuberk.-Bl., 1939, 13, 9— 12).— Special m ethods
were necessary only in strongly suspicious negative sp u ta
w hen Ju n g m an n ’s (cf. K lin . Woch., 1938, 17, 238) acid F e - 0 2 m ethod was inferior to th e antiform in enrichm ent
m ethod especially in view of th e ease of preparing a culture
directly from th e sedim ent.
E. M. J.
Fate of moro-positive [tuberculosis test] children and
adolescents. F . Geiger (Vtsch. Tuberk.-Bl., 1939, 13, 29—
41).— The 409 cases in th is group (215 originally showed no
X -ra y abnorm ality, 131 an inactive h ilar tuberculosis, and
63 a p rim ary complex) were observed for 8— 20 years, m ostly
10— 15 years. 199 rem ained free thro u g h o u t th is period, in
101 cases th e p rim ary complex was revealed only later, and
ALLERGY.
806
78 developed a secondary pulm onary tuberculosis, m ost of
them between the ages of 15 and 25 years. Cases in which
constitutional (hereditary) factors and co n tact came together
were m ost frequent.
E . M. J .
Quantitative studies of tuberculin reaction. M. I. Furcolow,
B. Hewell, W. E. Nelson, and C. E. P alm er (U .S. Publ. Health
R pts., 1941, 56, 1082— 1100).— A q u an t, m ethod of titra tin g
sensitivity to tuberculin (which is presented) was applied to
various population groups and th e resu lta n t curves of sensi­
tiv ity to tuberculin are com pared. C ontact w ith th e tubercle
bacillus m arkedly increases sensitivity to tuberculin. The
tuberculin sensitivity of patien ts suffering from active tu b e r­
culosis is so extrem e th a t these persons m ay be detected by
th e use of sm all doses of tuberculin (1/10,000 mg.) of th e
particu lar P P D employed in th is study. Almost all persons
tested will react if sufficiently large doses of tuberculin are
given. P a tie n ts w ith active tuberculosis, b o th adults and
children, who are anergic to tuberculin were n o t encountered
in th is study. Slight depression of tuberculin sensitivity
occurred in only 2 o u t of 528 cases.
C. G. W.
Culture of tubercle bacilli in gastric juice. F . O yana
(T o h o ku J. exp. Med., 1941, 39, 505— 522).— IS c.c. of fasting
gastric juice and 5— 10 c.c. of 2% N aO H plus 2 c.c. of 2-5%
ZnSO., were centrifuged; th e p p t. was mixed w ith 10 c.c. of
2 % I-I2S 0 4, centrifuged and th e p p t. cultured using th e
O k a -K ata k u ra H 3P 0 4-egg medium. Positive cultures were
o btained in 63-1% of 320 tuberculous patien ts. The cultures
w eje negative in 150 non-tuberculous subjects w ith positive,
and in 200 subjects w ith negative, tuberculin reaction. Cul­
tu res were positive in 59% of 173 tuberculous p atien ts
w ithout sputum , in 44-6% of p atien ts w ith negative and in
97-8% w ith positive cultures of sputum .
A. S.
Culture of tubercle bacilli from laryngeal swabs. E. N assau
(Proc. Roy. Soc. Med., 1941, 34, 397— 400).—A laryngeal
swab, made up from a piece of wire w ith cotton-w ool w rapped
around its end, is passed down th e lary n x and th e p atien t
asked to cough. Two swabs are ta k e n from each p atien t.
The swabs are passed through sterile test-tu b es containing
10% H 2S 0 4 and 2% N aO H solutions, 5 min. in each, and
tw o P etrag n an i m edia inoculated w ith each swab. The
cultures are exam ined a fte r 5 days for contam ination, and
a fte r 28 days for macroscopical colonies of tubercle bacilli.
The results obtained in tw o groups of cases of 166 and 107
p a tien ts were 38% and 54% positive cultures respectively.
The highest positive figures were obtained in female p atients.
T hus tubercle bacilli were dem onstrated in a considerable p ro ­
portion of cases previously regarded as sputum -negative or
having no sputum .
H . H . K.
Technique for demonstrating antibodies against tuberculin
in experimental animals with sensitised collodion pellets.
J. M. W eir (Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol. Med., 1941, 46, 47— 51).-—
Collodion pellets are allowed to rem ain overnight in a 5%
tuberculin solution. A fter washing th ey are agglutinated by
serum of anim als which have been injected w ith tubercle
bacilli. The te s t can be used before complement-fixing a n ti­
bodies, and before skin sensitivity to tuberculin, are dem on­
strable.
V. J. W.
Rapid cultivation of tubercle bacilli. J. Oliver and L.
L indberg (Amer. J . clin. Path., Tech. Suppl., 1941, 5, 23— 26).
— A modified Gueanon medium (Amer. Rev. Tuberc., 1934, 30,
510) is used.
C. J. C. B.
Staining of acid-fast tubercle bacteria. O. W . R ichards
(Science, 1941, 93, 190).—-Evidence suggesting th a t acid-fast
staining of tubercle bacilli is due to mycolic acid is presented.
T he firmer com bination of mycolic acid w ith carbol-auram in
th a n w ith carbol-fuchsin explains w hy more b acteria are
revealed b y fluorescence technique th a n b y th e Ziehl-Neelsen
method.
L. S. T.
Isolation of the polysaccharides and nucleic acid from
tuberculin. F . B. Seibert an d D. W . W atson (J. Biol. Chem.,
1941, 140, 55— 69).— A m ethod of separating th e crude
protein, nucleic acid, and polysaccharide of large am ounts of
tuberculin is described. Electrophoresis perm its isolation of
nucleic acid an d of tw o ty p es of polysaccharide. One type,
which does n o t m igrate in th e electric field, contains only
approx. 0-2% of N. The other, which is present in much
larger proportion, has low m obility and contains 0-85% of N
807
A., III.—xxv, MICROBIOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY.
n o t capable of being removed b y prolonged electrophoresis.
T he polysaccharides are also isolated by th e chemical method.
W . McC.
Lipins of tubercle bacilli. Phleimycolic acid.— See A., 1941,
I I , 300.
Typhoid typing [and health officer]. W . Levin (Northw.
M ed., 1941, 40, 77— 81).—-Association of 20 cases w ith a
comm on carrier or vehicle of infection could be proved by
typing. 12 cases were found to be isolated infections and 8
others had insufficient epidemiological d a ta.
E . M. J.
Paratyphoid fever with negative bacterial findings. A. C.
Reed {Northuj. Med.., 1941, 40, 46—47).— Diagnosis was m ade
on the typical clinical course an d supported by positive
agglutination for B . paratyphosus B .
E . M. J.
Typhoid tularaemia. J. H . Tillisch (Proc. S ta ff M ayo Clin.,
1941, 16, 205— 208).— R eport of a case.
H. H. K.
Recent advances in diagnosis and treatment of tularsemia.
E . S. Moss and J . O. W eilbacher, jun. ISth. Med. J ., 1941, 34,
512— 516.
E . M. J.
Tularsemia. A. S. R ubnitz and A. M. H arris (Nebraska Sta.
Med. J ., 1941, 26, 104— 169).—A review an d rep o rt of 3 cases.
E. M. J.
New phage and susceptible W form of S . typhi isolated from
typhoid fever case. C. E . Dolm an, D. E . K err, and D. E.
H elm er (Canad. Publ. Health J ., 1941, 32, 113— 119).— Of
94 V form cultures of S. typhi isolated in B ritish Columbia,
11 (11-7%) were of type M . This type is alm ost resistan t to
Craigie's Vi phage I - IV m ixture, b u t is readily lysed by* Vi
phage I I I . A W form of S. typhi was isolated from th e blood
stream on the 10th d ay a fter onset of a clinically-severe case
of typhoid fever, and also from stool specimens sen t from
10 to 43 days a fter receipt of blood specimen. No V form
colonies were found on a n y occasion, and th e p a tie n t developed
no circulating V agglutinins. This W form of S. typhi was
susceptible to a phage provisionally designated X , found to
be concurrently present in certain of th e stool specimens
received from th e p atien t. This phage exhibited a wide
range of selective action when its lysogenic powers were
tested against cultures representative of all th e known types
of th e V form of S. typhi an d against th e ir derivative IV
forms. Phage X displayed Vi-£F ly tic propensities, w hich
were type-sp. ra th e r th a n form-sp.
C. G. W.
Thermal inhibition of phage production in mixture of phage
and growing susceptible bacteria. A. P . K rueger and H.
Pucheu (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 210— 213).—
In a m ixture of phage and susceptible staphylococci, k ep t a t
42-3°, no increase in phage occurred though active grow th
took place in the bacteria. Control solutions of phage k ep t
a t this tem p, showed no drop in phage content.
V. J. W.
Chemical, medical, and philosophical aspects of viruses.
W . M. Stanley (Science, 1941, 93, 145— 151).— An address.
L. S. T
Virus diseases in childhood. F. H . W right (N .Y . Sta. J .
M ed., 1941, 41, 559— 563).— A review.
E. M. J.
Herpes simplex [treatment with auto-serotherapy]. C. C.
Thom as (Arch. Vermat. Syphilol., 1941, 43, 817— 821).— A
case of an unusually extensive, recu rren t type, app aren tly
cured a fter autoserotherapy.
C. J. C. B.
Repeated attacks of influenza. T. P. Magill (Proc. Soc. E xp.
Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 316—-318).— Sera of 2 p atien ts were
exam ined a t regular intervals over 3 years during w hich th e y
had 2— 3 a tta c k s of influenza. Antibodies were developed
to T M virus in 2 attack s, to P R S virus in 2 a tta c k ;, an d in
2 attack s to neither of these strains.
V. J. W.
Two outbreaks of influenza caused by antigenically different
viruses. T. P. Magill and M. T yndall (Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol.
M ed., 1941, 46, 371— 374).— 19 o u t of 20 p a tien ts in a 1939
epidem ic showed an increase in protective and complementfixing antibodies to th e P R 8 virus, w hilst 19 p atien ts in a
1940 epidemic in th e sam e institu tio n showed no increase in
P R 8 antibodies, b u t m ost of them had g reatly increased
th e ir antibodies to the T M strain .
V. J. W.
Antigenic potency of epidemic influenza virus following
inactivation by ultra-violet radiation. T. E. Salk, G. I. Lavin,
an d T. Francis, jun. (J. E xp. M ed., 1940, 72, 729— 746).—
Influenza virus inactivated b y ultra-violet radiation still
ALLERGY.
808
functions as an im m unising agent when injected intraperitoneally in mice.
A. C. F.
Experimental infection with influenza A virus in mice.
Increase in intrapulmonary virus after inoculation and in­
fluence of various factors thereon. R . M. T aylor (J. E xp.
M ed., 1941, 73, 43— 56).— Influenza A virus, injected in tranasally in mice, reaches a m ax. concn. in th e lungs in 24— 48
hr. L ethal effects occur alw ays a t th e sam e concn. In tra ­
nasal instillation of sterile fluid following a sub-lethal dose of
virus causes death in 3— 8 days, unless th e fluid contains
min. serum . I t is suggested th a t tliis fluid facilitates th e
spread of th e infection.
A. C. F.
Electrophoresis of influenzal A virus. J. Bourdillon (Proc.
Soc. E xp . Biol. M ed., 1940, 45, 679— 681).—M obility is
- 5 - 5 x 10~5 sq. cm. p er v. per sec. a t^ n 7— 9 a t ionic strength
0T, I t is th e sam e as th a t previously found for complementfixing antigen (A., 1941, II I, 55).
V. J. W.
Soluble antigen in lymphogranuloma venereum. G. R ake,
M. F . Shaffer, H . P. Jones, and C. M. McKee (Proc. Soc. E xp.
Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 300— 303).— B y suitable filtration a
conc. virus suspension can be rendered practically noninfective, while it retain s A — I of its complement-fixing
capacity.
V. J . W.
Influence of hibernation on virulence of virus of lympho­
granulomatosis inguinale. T. A kiyam a (J. Orient. M ed.,
1939, 30, 177— 178).—V irulence of lym phogranulom atosis
inguinale virus becam e gradually w eaker during hibernation
of its h ost (squirrel) u n til pathogenicity disappeared. The
loss of virulence is a ttrib u te d n o t m erely to th e low tem p, of
th e torpid host, b u t also to endocrine factors.
M. K.
Molecular size, shape, and homogeneity of rabbit papilloma
virus protein. H. N eurath, G. R . Cooper, D. G. Sharp, A. R.
T aylor, D. B eard, and J . W . B eard (J. Biol. Chem., 1941, 140,
293— 306).— The prep, of th e virus pro tein from n atu rally
occurring w arts in W estern co tto n tail ra b b its is described.
Q uant, sedim entation, diffusion, and viscosity d a ta indicate
hom ogeneity of th e preps., and show th a t th e virus is monodisperse. E lectrophoretic m easurem ents also indicate elec­
trical hom ogeneity, and th e p rotein is biologically uniform.
T he mol. w t. calc, from sedim entation an d diffusion consts.
is 47-1 x 10°. The shape of th e mol. resembles an oblate
ellipsoid of revolution w ith axial ratios of 11 when h ydration
is neglected, and 7 assum ing 33% h ydration.
P. G. M.
Primary virus pneumonitis with cytoplasmic inclusion
bodies. J. M. A dam s (J. Amer. M ed. Assoc., 1941, 116,
925— 933).— 32 cases of a p rim ary virus pneum onitis in
p rem atu re and full-term in fan ts are described. The m or­
ta lity ra te w as 28% . C haracteristic cytoplasm ic inclusion
bodies were found in th e bronchial epithelial cells in all
cases.
C. A. K.
Cultivation of virus of equine encephalomyelitis in serum
ultrafiltrate and bufferedsalt solution (Simms). M. Sanders
an d E. Molloy (Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol. M ed., 1940, 45, 327—
332).— B y a technique sim ilar to th a t used for lym pho­
granulom a virus (J. E xp . Med., 1940, 71, 113) E astern and
W estern strain s were grown w ith high dilution activ ity (10~7),
and a vaccine w as prepared w hich pro tected guinea-pigs
against 1000— 10,000 lethal doses.
V. J. W.
Lymphocytic chorio-meningitis with isolation of virus.
J . E. Brown, ju n . (Ohio Sta. M ed. J ., 1941, 37, 146— 148).—
Case report.
E. M. J.
Relation of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy to incidence of
poliomyelitis, with special reference to bulbar form. A. E.
Fischer, M. Stillerm an, H . H . M arks (Amer. J . V is. Child.,
1941, 61, 305— 321)..—Among children betw een th e ages of
3 an d 12 years in th e T oronto epidem ic of 1937, acu te polio­
m yelitis developed m ore often in those recently tonsillectom ised th a n in others. T he increased incidence was due entirely
to th e excess of cases of th e b u lb ar form, w hich w as more
th a n tw ice as g reat in those whose tonsils h ad been rem oved
a t an y tim e previously as in those w ith tonsils in tact.
C. j . C. B.
Attempted adaptation of virus of poliomyelitis to wild rodents.
B. F . H o w itt and W . v an H erick (Proc. E xp . Biol. M ed., 1941,
46, 431— 435).— Inoculation of 2 species of c o tto n -ra t and 2
species of mice failed to cause poliom yelitis, th o u g h th e virus
survived in th e brain of th e mouse for 3— 4 days and could
thence be transferred to monkeys.
V. J. W.
809
A., III.—xxv, MICROBIOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY.
Factors influencing efficacy of phenolised rabies vaccine. K.
H abel (U .S. Publ. Health Repts., 1941, 56, 641— 049).—W ith
an y one strain of fixed rabies virus th e a m o u n t of virus
injected in mice, in th e form of live or phenolised vaccine,
will, in p a rt, determ ine th e degree of im m u n ity produced.
In th e clinical use of rabies vaccine in m an th e am o u n t of
virus injected can be increased b y using a larger dose (usual
dose 2 c.c.), more doses (usual no. 14 or 21), or a heavier
emulsion (usual emulsion 2— 8%). The a m o u n t of increase
b y these procedures is lim ited thro u g h physical considerations
and th e degree of local reaction to th e subcutaneous injection
of so m uch foreign m aterial. Therefore, it is m ore desirable
to increase the titre of th e anim al brains supplying th e virus
so th a t th e am o u n t of virus p er u n it w t. of b rain m aterial
will be greater.
C. G. W .
Tissue factors in antirabies immunity o£ experimental
animals. K . H abel (U .S. Publ. Health Repts., 1941, 56, 092—
702).— In norm al mice and guinea-pigs peripherally in tro ­
duced street virus rem ained viable in th e muscle for a t least
4 d ays and invaded th e nervous system w ithin 24—-48 hr.
In vaccinated mice and in guinea-pigs being vaccinated th e
peripherally introduced stree t virus rem ained viable in th e
muscle b u t did n o t invade th e nervous system . In mice
receiving a vaccine of low potency th e spread of peripherally
introduced stre e t virus appeared to be increased. T here was
no relationship betw een the developm ent of serum neu tralis­
ing antibodies and im m unity to actu a l infection.
C. G. W.
Complement fixation in endemic typhus fever. I. A.
B engtson (U .S. Publ. Health Repts., 1941, 56, 649— 653).—
R esults obtained in th e te sts described indicate th e usefulness
of com plem ent fixation in d etecting recen t an d also p a st
infection w ith endemic ty p h u s fever. T he sensitivity of th e
te s t is indicated b y th e results w ith sera from cases in w hich
infection occurred as long as 9 y ears ago an d as recen tly as
7 days.
C. G. W .
Constituents of elementary bodies of vaccinia, m . Effect
of purified enzymes on elementary bodies of vaccinia. C. L.
H oadland, S. M. W ard, J. E . Smadel, and T. M. R ivers (J.
E xp. Med.., 1940, 72, 685— 696; cf. A., 1941, III, 55).—
P ap ain and pepsin, a t p K 2, w hich in activates th e virus,
cause dissolution an d rapid release of am ino-N . Cryst.
try psin, chym otrypsin, an d carboxypeptidase, ribonuclease,
ficin, an d cathepsin are w ith o u t effect. The loss of stru ctu ral
integrity, staining properties, an d in fectivity is coincident
w ith th e hydrolysis of the elem entary bodies.
A. C. F.
Quantitative studies on serological reactions of some plant
viruses and of pea nodule bacterium (Rhizobium leguminosaruni). A. Kleczkowski (Brit. J . E x p . Path., 1941, 22, 44—
58).—The p pts. form ed w ith varying proportions of tobacco
mosaic, aucuba mosaic, and b u shy s tu n t viruses, an d th e ir
homologous antisera were weighed. T he an tib o d y /an tig en
ratios in th e ppts. form ed a t equivalence p o in t b y th e viruses
were interm ediate betw een ratio s for b acterial agglutination
an d for th e p p tn . of protein antigens.
F . S.
Acetyl and pheuylureido-derivatives of tobacco mosaic virus.
G. L. Miller and W. M. Stanley (Science, 1941, 93, 428—
429).— A cetylation (keten) of tobacco mosaic virus followed
by te sts of biological a ctiv ity indicates th a t th e propagation
of norm al virus does n o t arise from unchanged v iru s present
in th e preps, of th e derivatives, an d dem onstrates th a t a
large portion of certain functional groups of th e virus mol.
m ay be altered w ith o u t interfering w ith th e basic reaction
of virus reproduction.
L. S. T.
Immunisation against infectious diseases in United States
Army. J. S. Sim mons (Sth. M ed. J ., 1941, 34, 62— 67).
E . M. J.
Immunisation against disease in plants and children. H . A.
W hite (New Orleans Med. J ., 1940, 93, 237— 239).
E . M. J.
Ideal vaccination technique.
H . M. P age (Nebraska Sta.
Med. J ., 1941, 26, 138).— The m edial aspect of th e arm over
th e biceps is used and th e vaccine introduced b y needle
p uncture.
E . M. J.
Comparison of Pirquet test with Petruschky’s modification.
O. E. B ocker (Z. Kinderheilk., 1938— 39, 60, 091— 698).—
P e tru sch k y ’s modification (the lesion is produced b y simple
scratching of th e skin) w as superior to P irq u e t’s te s t; it is
cheaper, more rapid, and less painful.
reactions were obtained in fewer cases.
ALLERGY.
810
D oubtful or non-sp.
M. Ii.
Polysaccharide scolex antigen for immunological diagnosis
of hydatid disease. H . A. Senekji (Trans. R . Soc. trop. Med.
H yg., 1941, 34, 401— 403).— A sp. polysaccharide is ex tracted
from h y d atid scolices b y 0-25N-trichloroacetic acid. F o r th e
sp. allergy test, 0-25 mg. of th e antigen is recom mended, and
for th e precipitin tests concns. of 1 : 400 and 1 : 4000.
C. J. C. B.
Reagin content of cerebrospinal fluid. M. London (J.
Allergy, 1941, 12, 244— 246).— Reagins were n o t dem onstrated
in th e c.s.f. of atopic individuals, even when these were
present in com paratively high concn. in th e blood.
C. J. C. B.
Comparison of antigens by interfacial and nephelometric
methods. R. J. De Falco (Proc. E xp . Biol. M ed., 1941, 46,
500— 502).— R esults are tab u la te d w ith curves for reactions
betw een a no. of bird sera and anti-sera. Comparison of
results b y th e tw o m ethods indicates th a t th e nephelom eter
is th e more satisfactory.
V. J. W.
Heat of serological reactions. W . C. Boyd, J. B. Conn,
D. C. Gregg, G. B. Kistiakow sky, and R. M. R oberts (Science,
1940, 92, 604— 605).—The h e a t evolved when an antigen
(hasmocyanin of Busycon canaliculatum) reacts w ith an
im m une serum containing th e corresponding a n tib o d y has
been m easured. In th e region of an tibody excess, w here no
p p t. is formed, a val. of approx. 3-0 g.-cal. p er g. of antigen-N
has been obtained. This corresponds w ith a b o u t 3-3 X 106 g.cal. p er g.-mol. of antigen, and 4 X 10* g.-cal. p er g.-mol. of
antibody.
L. S. T.
Liver-histamine in canine anaphylaxis. G. Ojers, C. A.
Holmes, an d C. A. D ragstedt (J. Pharin. E xp. Ther., 1941, 72,
30).— H istam ine of liver was estim ated in horse-serum sensit­
ised dogs before and after th e injection of serum . The
results in 16 anim als indicate th a t th e histam ine lost b y th e
liver is su b stan tially adequate to account for th e degree of
shock experienced in each case.
H . H . K.
Failure of histaminase to prevent anaphylactic or histamine
shock in guinea-pigs. J. S. Y oungner, S. I. Freedm an, and
W . J. N unester (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. Med., 1941,46, 187— 190).
—Injections of histam inase, m ade 15 min. or 24 hr. before
injections of egg-white o r histam ine, did n o t modify sym ptom s
of anaphylactic shock.
V. J. W.
Dangers from non-specific protein therapy. P. M. Lewis
(Sth. M e d .J ., 1941, 34, 660— 063).— A 30-year-old w om an who
h ad n o t reacted to local tre a tm e n t and injections of 5 and 10
c.c. of boiled m ilk for ulcerative k eratitis w as given 50
million ty p h o id -p a ra ty p h o id organisms intravenously. P ra c­
tically no reaction occurred; th e tem p, rose to 100° b u t re ­
tu rn ed to norm al in 4 hr. The n e x t d ay 100 million were
given an d 2 hr. la te r th e tem p, rose to 107-2° and th e p a tie n t
suffered from severe shock. Oliguria set in th e n e x t d a y ;
th e urine contained album in, red blood cells, pus cells, and
renal epithelial cells. The p a tie n t died on th e fourth day.
A review is given.
E . M. J.
Allergy in chilhood. Does heredity determine age of onset ?
B. R atn er, D. E. Silberm an, and J. E. G reenburgh ( /. Allergy,
1941, 12, 272— 276).—A stu d y of 250 cases showed th a t if
p atien ts differ in th e age of onset of allergic syndrom es, it is
m ore likely th a t th is is caused b y variatio n s in th e ty p e of
th e allergen and allergic syndrom e th a n b y genetic differences.
C. J. C. B.
Allergic conjunctivitis. R. Bowen (Sth. M ed. J ., 1941, 34,
184— 189).— A review.
E . M. J .
Allergic sinusitis. M. C. H arris ( N .Y . Sta. J . M ed., 1940,
40, 1020— 1023).—A review.
E . M. J.
Fungus allergies. P . Schonwald (Norlhw. M ed., 1941, 40,
17— 19).
E . Mi J.
Spontaneous allergy (atopy) in lower animal. F . W. W ittich
(J. Allergy, 1941, 12, 247— 251).—T ests in and o u t of season,
including direct skin, passive tran sfer, nasal, an d ophthalm ic,
as well as successful hyposensitisation on a dog having
clinical h a y fever sym ptom s, indicate th a t allergy can develop
spontaneously in th e dog.
C. J. C. B.
F precipitins in sera of patients with clinical allergy. M. B.
Cohen and R. R. W eller (J. Allergy, 1941, 12, 242— 246).—
T he sera of 10 p a tie n ts sensitive to grass' pollen, ragweed
811
A., I I I . —xxv, MICROBIOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY.
ALLERGY.
812
W ittich ( /. Allergy, 1940, 12, 42— 45).— In th e 2 cases
pollen, or fish glue were tested against th e ir specifically
coated antigen particles. The fish- and glue-sensitive p a tie n t
described, sym ptom s occurred while sorting stored peas and
had precipitins against glue in a serum dilution of 1 : 640,
beans, w hich were infested w ith weevils, over a long period
of tim e. An e x tra c t of these weevils gave skin reactions and
b u t 2 o u t of 3 u ntreated p atien ts sensitive to ragweed showed
no precipitin against ragweed. The one u n treated p a tie n t
passive tran sfer tests.
C. J. C. B.
had precipitins only in dilutions up to 1 : 40. In cases
Influence of splenectomy on susceptibility of mice to in­
tre a te d w ith ragweed or grass pollen, or both, precipitins
fection with Tania taniceformis eggs. R. H oeppli (Proc.
ag ain st these antigens could be dem onstrated w ith regularity.
Soc. E xp. Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 29—-31).— Susceptibility to
C. J. C. B.
infection is slightly increased b y splenectom y.
V. J. W.
Experimental reproduction oi respiratory mould allergy.
New treatment for hay-fever. E . J . Elsbach (N .Y . Sta. J .
L. H . H arris (/. Allergy, 1941, 12, 279—289).— H alf of 22
Med., 1941, 41, 1248— 1249).— 75 p atien ts were given 8— 12
p a tien ts reacting to Alternaría developed hay fever or asth m a
when subjected to a m ould room te s t w ith powdered Alter - in tram uscular injections of 2 c.c. of " Coli M etabolin Tosse "
an ex tract of th e m etabolic products of B . coli grown in sp.
maria. 10 of 12 p atien ts whose histories suggested mould
culture media. 71% were cured and 28% im proved. No
allergy gave a positive mould room test, while only one of
allergen tests are necessary and tre a tm e n t can be given
10 doubtful m ould cases developed a positive mould room
while the a tta c k is on.
E. M. J.
te s t w ith A Iternaria.
C. J . C. B.
Electrophoretically
homogeneous
component
of
ragweed
Relationship o£ mould reactions to clinical symptoms. R.
producing hay-fever. H. A. A bram son, D. H . Moore, and
Chobot, H. D undy, and N . Schaffer ( /. Allergy, 1940, 12, 46—
H . H . G ettner (Proc. Soc. E xp. Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 153—53).— Of 244 cases, 66 gave positive skin reactions to Alter­
155).— Sedim entation and diffusion rates indicate th a t the
naría. 12 of 28 selected cases w ith positive skin reactions in
m ajor colourless com ponents of ragweed ex tracts are of low
children and adults were co nstitutionally sensitive. Eye
mol. w t. and are n o t protein.
V. J. W.
te sts were positive when passive tran sfer and insufflation
te s ts were positive. Exposed plates showed th a t 7 of 28
Use of emulsified extract in treatment of ragweed pollinosis.
p a tien ts had moulds in th eir hom es to w hich th e y were skinM. London and Ii. D. D avy (Ohio Sta. M ed. J ., 1941, 37,
sensitive. N eutralisation studies show th a t Alternaría sensi­
446—448).— 10 weekly doses rising from 100 to 60,000 units
tiv ity can be m arked and cross-neutralisation shows it to be
were given and results com pared favourably w ith the use of
sp., as neither tim o th y nor ragweed will neutralise against
aq. ragweed ex tract. Considerable swelling of the whole arm
Alternaría in the sp. serum studied.
C. J . C. B.
was observed w ith doses of 45,000— 60,00 units.
E. M. J.
Preparation of a slowly absorbed pollen antigen.
G. E.
Experimental studies with dermatophytes. Development
Rockwell (Ohio Sta. Med. J ., 1941, 37, 651— 652).— The
and duration oi immunity and hypersensitivity in guinea-pigs.
E . D. D eL am ater (J. invest. Dermat., 1941, 4, 143— 158).— prep, of a relatively insol. pollen antigen w hich consists of
salts of th e pollen substances and contains no foreign m a tte r
H y persensitivity to T. gypseum is developed only during the
is described; a dosage scheme outlined.
E. M. J.
course of an infection. I t rises gradually during th e infec­
tion, reaches its peak 2— 3 weeks a fte r th e lesions are healed,
Time required for production of hay fever by spores of
an d gradually decreases over a period of m onths. Im m unity
newly encountered fungus, Johnson grass smut. E . W.
to reinfection is established concurrently w ith th e allergy
Phillips (J. Allergy, 1940, 12, 24— 27).— Johnson grass sm ut,
d u ring th e course of th e infection, is closely associated w ith
Sphacelothcca sorghi, was first observed in Arizona in 1931.
it, and declines an d loses its ability to p ro te c t th e anim al
E x tra c ts of th is sm ut, used intraderm ally in testing h ay
a fter a period of some m onths. Local phenom ena of com ­
fever p atien ts resident in Arizona, elicited no positive reactions
plete im m unity associated w ith a dim inished allergy can be
in 1935, and none in subsequent years u n til th e au tu m n of
dem onstrated a t th e sites of th e lesions.
C. J . C. B.
1938.
C. J. C. B.
Diagnosis of trichinosis by skin and precipitin tests. J. B.
Dermatitis caused by contact with copperweed (Oxytenia
M cN aught, R. R. Beard, and J. D. M yers (Amer. J . clin. Path.,
acerosa), L. Schw artz and L. H . W arren (J. Allergy, 1940,
1941, 11, 195—-209).— Methods for preparing th e antigen
12, 63— 68).— A severe case of p ersistent d erm atitis caused
an d for perform ing diagnostic skin and precipitin tests in tri­
by copperweed in a sensitised person is reported. P a tc h tests
chinosis are described. There are tw o ty p es of skin reactions,
were positive.
C. J . C. B.
delayed and im m ediate. The delayed tuberculin-like reaction
Allergy
to
digitalis.
R.
V.
Cohen
and
M.
L.
B rodsky (J.
occurs early in the infection and also in long-standing quiescent
Allergy, 1940, 12, 69— 71).— R ep o rt of case.
C. J. C. B.
cases. D uring the 2nd or 3rd week th e reaction is im m ediate
in type, consisting of a w heal w ith a zone of erythem a. Serum
Allergy to insulin, liver, pituitary, pancreas, cestrogens,
precipitins are usually found several days after th e appearance
enzymes, and similar substances. M. H arte n and M. W alzer (J.
of the skin reactions and m ay ap p ear as early as th e 2nd
Allergy, 1940, 12, 72— 108).— A crit. review.
C. J. C. B.
week. B oth skin and precipitin reactions m ay be obtained
Sensitivity
to
gum
acacia;
report
of
10
cases
of asthma in
years after the initial infection. Of 36 persons ill w ith the
printers. C. B. Bohner, J. M. Sheldon, an d J . W . Trenis ( /.
classic findings of trichinosis all b u t one eventually gave
Allergy, 1941, 12, 290— 294).:—Acacia (gum arabic) is an
positive skin reactions of the im m ediate ty p e w ith trichinella
in dustrial hazard, and sensitisation to it is n o t rare. I t is
antigen. The single negative reaction was in a m oribund
suggested th a t glucose be su b stitu ted for acacia in offset
p a tien t. 17 of 36 persons in whom trichinosis w as a possible
sprays. The tim e of gross exposure to th is sp ray m aterial
diagnosis gave positive skin tests. 194 control persons gave
before th e onset of asth m atic sym ptom s varied from 2 weeks
an incidence of 6-7% positive w ith th e im m ediate ty p e of
to 12 m onths.
C. J. C. B.
reaction and 18-1% w ith th e delayed type. P recipitin tests
Cutaneous and systemic reactions observed during oral
when done were in alm ost perfect agreem ent w ith th e skin
poison ivy therapy. B. Shelmire ( /. Allergy, 1941, 12, 252—
reactions.
C. J. C. B.
271).— A person extrem ely sensitive to poison iv y was given
Gastro-intestinal allergy associated with organic disease. G.
varying am ounts of th e oleoresin of th is p la n t orally during
H olm es (Sth. Med. J ., 1941, 34, 634— 637).— A review.
a period of 10 m onths. The oleoresin proved toxic to skin
E, M. J.
and mucous mem branes. Massive oral doses, given experi­
Gastrointestinal allergy. J. W . T hom as and J. Kinell
m entally an d n o t recom m ended for routine oral treatm en t,
(Cleveland Clin. Quart., 1941, 8, 107— 110).— 2 cases are
were otherwise harm less. Oral th erap y resulted in hyporeported.
A. S.
sensitisation b u t n o t desensitisation. R epeated positive skin
tests and 2 clinical exposures failed to rev ert th e reduced
Food sensitivity as factor in aetiology of acne vulgaris. F. E.
Cormia (J. Allergy, 1940, 12, 34— 41).— 20% of 80 p atien ts
skin sensitivity to th e form er high level of allergy to the
w ith acne showed clinical evidence of food sen sitiv ity ; 70%
p lan t.
C. J. C. B.
w ere greatly im proved or cured b y food elim inations. The
Prevention of ivy poisoning. W . H . K err, R. C. D anley,
foods m ost com m only found b y ingestion tests to cause ' L. A. Gaukel, P . L. W olpert, L. S. Pucilek, an d E . Cline
clinical “ flare-ups ” were, in order of frequency, chocolate,
(Nebraska Sta. M ed. / . , 1941, 26, 129— 130).— 93% of suscept­
tom atoes, nuts, spinach, and w heat.
C. J. C. B.
ible individuals obtained benefit and S0% secured im m unity
from 3—4 intram uscular injections of 0-5 c.c. of a poison ivy
Allergic rhinitis and asthma due to sensitisation to the
(Rhus toxicodendron) ex tract.
E. M. J.
Mexican bean weevil (Zabrotes sub/asciatus, Boh.). F. W.
813
A., III.—xxvi, PLANT PHYSIOLOGY.
Persistence of sensitivity o! eczematous type after prolonged
removal from contact with allergen. N. M. K anof and A.
R osetenberg, jun. (J. invest. Dermal., 1941, 4, 175— 180).—
15% of p atch tests w ith poison ivy e x tra c t applied to 06
a d u lts who had been im prisoned for an average period of II
years (min. 5 years), w ith no co n tac t w ith poison ivy during
th a t tim e, were positive. 25% ol a control group of 48
a d u lts were positive. Acquired sp. sensitivity of th e contact
ty p e can th u s persist for m any years w ith o u t exposure to
th e causative allergen, b u t there is some loss of sensitivity
when the sensitised individual is absolutely rem oved from
c o n tac t w ith the causal allergen.
C. J . C. B.
Significance of reactions to intracutaneous tests performed
with extracts of purified house dust. B. G. E fron, C. H.
B oatner, and M. R. P ab st ( / .invest. Dcrmat., 1941, 4, 95— 101).
— W hen positive scratch tests are obtained w ith 0-87—0-50%
solutions of purified house d u st in p a tie n ts w ith perennial
h a y fever or asthm a, or b o th , th e incidence of positive
reactions to intracutaneous tests perform ed w ith 0-002—•
0-0002% solutions is th e sam e as th e incidence of positive
reactions to scratch te sts; w ith 0-0001— 0-000002% solutions
th e positive reactions are sm aller th a n w ith scratch tests.
C. J. C. B.
Atmospheric allergens in Alaska. O. C. D urham ( /.
Allergy, 1941, 12, 307— 309).—-The possibility of in h alan t
allergy from pollen and spores in A laska is rem ote or is
confined, a t most, to a few days of light exposure to grass
pollen in late Ju n e and early Ju ly in southern and central
Alaska and a m onth la te r in th e vicinity of Nome.
C. J . C. B.
Treatment of asthma and hay fever with purified extracts of
house dust. B. G. Efron, C. H . B oatner, and P. E v e re tt (New
Orleans Med. J ., 1941, 93, 514— 510).— 72 p a tie n ts sensitive
to house d u st and showing sym ptom s in th e cold m onths
only (September— June) were treated by hyposensitising
injections of the house d u st e x tract. Local reactions were
frequent and system ic reactions occurred 18 tim es in 12
p atients. Relief of sym ptom s w as obtained in 85% of cases.
E. M. J.
Boric acid dermatitis. A. R othberg an d G. A. Merrill (N. Y .
Sta. J . M ed., 1938, 38, 1284).— A 49-year-old barb er w ith a
p ap u lar rash in th e axillae, inner surface of thighs, and flexor
surfaces of both forearm s since using a H 3B 0 3 o intm ent for
boils 18 m onths previously was found to be sensitive to cold
cream which he used extensively in his occupation. H e lost
th e derm atitis during a course of injections w ith a mixed
vaccine b u t it returned when th e injections were discon­
tinued. I t was finally cured b y th e su b stitu tio n of a boraxfree cream for cold cream .
E. M. J.
Unusual reaction to bee sting. D. N oble and C. R. L.
H ailey (Med. A n n . Columbia, 1941, 10, 93— 94).— A woman
of 54 who w as stung by a bee on th e back of th e hand im m e­
d iately complained of nausea, tried to get up, b u t collapsed
an d vom ited twice. In a few min. she became unconscious
an d deeply cyanosed. An hr. late r she was stuporous, cold,
an d cyanosed, and talked irrationally. The pulse ra te was
80 per min. and th e blood pressure 64/40 Hg. 3 hr. later
she was still drowsy, though co-operating, and th ere were
well-marked red streaks running up th e arm . Blood pressure
now was 92/70. The n ex t d ay there w as oedema of th e face,
arm s, and hands, and blood pressure was 134/70. She had
lost the cedema and lym phangitis by th e 4 th day b u t still
com plained of easy fatigue and w eakness 18 days a fte r th e
accident. She had had a sim ilar reaction to a bee sting 15
years previously and alw ays " swelled up ” a fte r mosquito
bites.
E . M. J.
Sea nettle or jelly fish [and their stings]. H . G. H adley
(Med. A n n . Columbia, 1941, 10, 178— 180).— A review.
E . M. J.
Snake venom and allergy. H . G. Golan (J. Allergy, 1940,
12, 11— 23).—-Allergic and non-allergic persons react equally in
th e degree of local haemorrhage w hich occurs a t th e centre
of th e reactions following intracutaneous tests w ith snake
venom. The degree of w healing is slight and the ery th e­
m atous response is greater in th e allergic th a n in th e nonallergic group ; no subject gave hsemorrhagic reactions reach­
ing 1 cm. in diam eter, th u s excluding th e group of diseases
based on a hasmorrhagic diathesis. Cutaneous sites previously
prepared ■with moccasin snake venom show a diminished
whealing response when re-tested a fte r one week w ith h ist­
814
am ine (a non-sp. excitant) b u t show no dim inished whealing
response when re-tested a fte r one week w ith ragweed (a sp.
excitant). Snake venom tests on sites previously prepared
w ith ragweed or histam ine produce wheals which are larger
th an norm al in 60— 70% of th e p atients. Moccasin snake
venom injected into passively sensitised sites ten d s to im pair
th e -whealing power and erythem atous response of such sites
to subsequent sp. stim ulation.
C. J. C. B.
Analysis of comparative skin reactions by means of x2-test.
M. R. P ab st, C. H . B oatner, and B. G. E fron (New Orleans
Med. J ., 1940, 93, 142— 150).— 501 com parative tests m ade
on 40 house-dust-sensitive p atien ts w ith serial dilutions of
the identical antigen e x tra c t revealed no significant difference
in reaction size betw een the radial and ulnar sides of the
forearm. 403 com parative tests on 55 sim ilar p atien ts re­
vealed th e significance of th e difference of reaction size of
parallel scratches when a twofold concn. of e x tra c t was used
in one of them . The application of th e x2 sta tistic for these
investigations is presented.
E . M. J.
Statistical methods for analysis of comparative skin re­
actions. M. R. P ab st, C. H. B oatner, and B. G. E fron (New
Orleans Med. J ., 1941, 93, 579— 580).—The degrees of freedom
for th e xz_test and the use of tlie binom ial theorem are
discussed.
E. M. J.
Mantoux test and Vollmer patch test. J. D. Lo M ar (Ne­
braska Sta. Med. J ., 1941, 26, 180—-183).— A review.
E . M. J.
Vollmer patch test and Mantoux test. E. M. Feldm an,
A. F. Risser, an d E. R. Schw artz (Minnesota M ed., 1941, 24,
76— 78).— 11-2% of 286 persons exam ined gave a positive
te s t b y one or other m ethod. None of the 16 M antoux
" l - f ” (0-1 mg. of old tuberculin being used) was patchpositive, although X -ray exam ination showed old lesions in 8
of th e m ; only one o u t of 4 M antoux " 2 + ” was patchpositive, all 4 showing lesions on X -ra y e x am in atio n ; of the
3 M antoux-negatives which were patch-positive, 2 showed
calcified hilar glands.
E. M. J.
Measurement of whealing in hypersensitiveness to cold
treated with histamine and histaminase. F. E. Maisel and
H . A. Abram son ( /. Allergy, 1940,12, 6— 10).—Q uant, m ethods
b y m eans of a contour gauge are described for studying th e
whealing response to cold. A case of cold urticaria was
tre a te d w ith graded doses of histam ine and histam inase; 50
mg. of histam ine and 525 units of histam inase were adm inis­
tered w ith o u t a n y effect on th e size of the wheal or its rate
of form ation after th e application of a stan d ard cold stim ulus.
C. J. C. B.
Preparation of active allergenic extracts. M. B. Strauss
a n d W . C. Spain (J. Allergy, 1940, 12, 61— 62).—U sing N a
form aldehydesulphoxylate-buffered solutions, allergcnic ex­
tra c ts were prepared w ith th e complete elim ination of pig­
m entary oxidative products. More active m aterial is ex­
tra c te d b y use of a buffered N a form aldehydesulphoxylate
ex tractin g fluid th a n w ith th e regular extracting fluids now
in use, when equal w t. b y vol. extractions are made.
C. J. C. B.
X X V I.-P LA N T PHYSIOLOGY.
Plant research and human welfare. E. C. A uchter (Science,
1941, 93, 385— 391).— An address.
L. S. T.
Osmotic pressure for the plant physiologist. C. J. Lyon
(Sciejice, 1941, 93, 374— 375).— A brief exposition of osmosis,
and its working in p la n t tissues, w ith p articu lar reference to
osmotic pressure as th e cause of osmosis.
L. S. T.
Susceptibility to disease in relation to plant nutrition. W.
Thom as and W . B. Mack (Science, 1941, 93, 188— 189).—
Correlation between th e severity of a p la n t disease and differ­
e n t fertiliser treatm en ts can be established b y th e m ethod of
foliar diagnosis. This has been done for greenhouse tom atoes
showing the sym ptom s of streak disease.
L. S. T.
Growth and development of the embryo and fruit of the
peach as afiected by ringing and defoliation of the branches.
H. B. T ukey and F . A. Lee (Bot. Gaz., 1940, 101, 818— 838).—
Changes in to ta l solids, reducing substances, eth e r extract,
and N contents of th e various p a rts oif peach fruits following
ringing of stem s or defoliation are recorded. R estriction o f
external supplies to th e em bryo b y these m ethods is followed
by continued grow th of and accum ulation of reserves by th e
815
A., III.—XXVI, PLANT PHYSIOLOGY.
em bryo presum ably a t the expense of th e fruit. Im m ature
low -quality fruit resem bling th a t from overloaded trees is
th u s obtained.
A. G. P.
Enzyme action as index of drought-resistance in cultivated
plants. IV. Effect of withering on phosphorylation and
dephosphorylation. N. Sisakjan an d A. K objakova (Blo­
ck, imia, 1940, 5, 225— 233).—Loss of w ater by leaf
blades of young w heat plan ts to th e e x te n t of 30— 40%
increases hydrolytic, and decreases synthetic, activ ity of th e
phosphatases b u t w ith fu rth er dehydration (40— 50%), th e
synthetic a c tiv ity is regained and th e hydrolytic activ ity is
fu rth er increased. The dim inution in synthesis of m ono­
phosphates during w ithering isaccom panied b y an increase
in th a t of diphosphates.
F. O. H.
Enzymic activity of leaves in different tiers in relation to
individual and plant development. A. K ursanov an d K.
Briuschkova (Biochim ia, 1940, 5, 188— 197).—T he proteinase
sy nthetic and invertase synthetic and hydrolytic activities of
th e various leaves of oats were determ ined a t different stages
of grow th of th e p lan t. D uring th e form ation of th e inflores­
cence, all the leaves lose th e ir proteinase sy n th etic activity,
resulting in th e decomp, of stored proteins and th eir tra n s­
ference to the organs of reproduction. D uring bloom ing of
th e flowers, th e proteinase syn th etic activ ity increases, p ro b ­
ably due to the requirem ents b y fruit form ation of proteins
stored in the leaves. The sh ift of invertase a c tiv ity to one
of hydrolysis, occurring a t 't h e onset of flowering, is less
marked. The synthetic activ ity of proteinase, and frequently
also of invertase, increases from th e lower to th e upper
leaves. The m ax. enzym ic a c tiv ity of th e 3rd— 5th leaves
is related to the greatest activ ity of th e 3rd and 4 th leaves
w ith regard to carbohydrate m etabolism and of th e 4th and
5th leaves w ith regard to protein synthesis.
F. O. H.
Physiology of wheat. V. Diurnal variations in total and
amino-acid-nitrogen in Triticum vulgare.
S. R an jan and
S. K. Basu (Proc. In dian Acad. Set., 1941, 13, B, 307-—324).—
The to ta l and am ino-acid-N of w heat stem s and leaves increase
from 8 a.m . to a m ax. a t noon and decrease thereafter.
Changes in to ta l N of stem s are paralleled by those in leaves.
The to ta l N of excised leaves k ep t in darkness decreased
rapidly u n til noon ; th a t in stem s rem ained const. Injection
of 2% aq. glucose into leaves in darkness caused an increase
in to ta l N until noon followed b y a decline. Vais, for stem s
showed a slight increase throughout. Injection of Shive's
n u trien t solution w ith glucose enhanced th is effect. The
mechanism of these changes is discussed.
A. G. P .
Carbohydrate metabolism and winter hardiness of wheat. E .
K neen an d M. J. Blish (J. Agric. lies., 1941, 62, 1— 26).-—-The
progressive increase in cold-resistance during an S-week lowtem p. hardening period was paralleled b y th e increase in
d ry m a tte r and sugar con ten t of w heat plants. Efficiency of
hardening dim inished w ith decrease in light in ten sity b u t
was n o t affected appreciably b y th e p h o to p erio d ; th e stage
of grow th a t which hardening w as begun w as an im p o rtan t
facto r. D e-hardening a t relatively high tem p, is essentially
th e reversal of hardening including th e progressive decrease
in sugar and d ry m a tte r contents. The cold-resistance of
th e plants depends entirely on th e resistance of th e crown
an d n o t on th a t of th e root or leaf blades except in so fa r as
these are concerned in th e physiological changes associated
w ith hardening. H ardiness under field and controlled con­
ditions is com pared in 6 w heat varieties. O bservation of
th e tren d of carbohydrate m etabolism under controlled
hardening conditions affords a basis of com parison of varietal
differences in hardiness.
A. G. P.
Expression of sap by low pressure. E . Phillis and T. G.
Mason (A nn. Bot., 1941, 5, 15— 23).— Leaves placed under
low pressure {2500 lb.) yielded, after a tim e, a sap differing
from tru e vacuolar sap. T he to ta l yield of sap u n d er these
conditions was sim ilar from fresh and from previously frozen
leaves, although th e la tte r released th e sap m uch more quickly.
The vol. an d Cl', content of successive fractions of th e sap
indicate th a t th e sap is n o t produced fay filtration of th e
contents of the vacuole through the retaining layer of p ro to ­
plasm ; it is probably derived from injured protoplasm . The
early portion of high-pressure sap (up to 20,000 lb.) showed
su bstantially const. [Cl'] and pn . In later fractions th e [O ']
rose and th e p u fell.
A.. G. P.
816
Vitamin-C and oxidation capacity of plant tissues. B. A.
R ubin and N. S. Spiridonova (Biochimia, 1940, 5, 208— 210).
— The activ ity of oxidative enzymes (e.g., ascorbinase, p er­
oxidase) in p la n t tissues is related to th e vitam in-C content.
O ther p la n t tissues exist, however, th a t lack th e cap acity to
synthesise -C b u t are able to utilise th e -C produced b y th e
tissues th a t synthesise -C.
F . O. H .
Ascorbic acid content of plants in relation to internal and
external factors. H . G. M oldtm ann (Planta, 1939, 30, 298—
342).— Among phanerogam s certain m onocotyledons showed
n o tab ly high co n ten ts of vitam in-C . Chlorophyll-free p lan ts
contained no -C. Ascorbic acid was formed in germ inating
seeds even in darkness. The am ounts presen t increased
during th e first few days of germ ination until chlorophyll
began to ap p ear in th e cotyledons and p rim ary leaves. P la n t
roots contained little or no -C b u t in aerial organs th e -C
content increased from th e base upw ards and reached m ax.
in th e leaf mesophyll. W hite and yellow crown leaves con­
tained more th a n green leaves. D uring ripening of carotenoid-rich fruits th e am o u n t of -C presen t increased. D iurnal
variations in -C content (max. in day) occurred. Production of
ascorbic acid was favoured b y high lig h t in ten sity : losses
occurred during darkness. U ltra-violet lig h t had no influence.
W ithin lim its th e rates of C 0 2 assim ilation and -C production
were parallel. A direct relationship was established betw een
glucose and ascorbic acid contents of monocotyledonous leaves
even when glucose w as artificially introduced. None was
ap p aren t betw een ascorbic acid co n ten t and in te n sity of
respiration. P roduction of ascorbic acid in plants is con­
trolled b u t n o t exclusively governed b y th e ra te of p h o to ­
synthesis of glucose.
A. G. P.
Vitamins and germination of pollen grains and fungus spores.
W . C. Cooper (Bot. Gaz., 1939, 100, 844— 852).— Lactoflavin
and ascorbic acid stim ulated germ ination of P apaya pollen;
n a tu ral lactoflavin (which contained vitamin-!?]) had approx.
double th e a c tiv ity of th e syn th etic substance. The slight
a c tiv ity of nicotinic acid, indoIyl-3-acetic acid, and th e hydro­
chlorides of amino-acids in th is respect was probably a pa
effect. G erm ination of spores of Colletoirichum gloeosporioides
grown on maize m eal-ag ar was induced b y thiam in, nicotinic
an d ascorbic acids, carotene, and lacto flav in ; spores grown
on o atm eal-ag ar were affected b y lactoflavin only, th e n atu ra l
and synthetic products being equally effective in th is case.
Amino-acids stim u lated spore germ ination in Penicillium
italicum b u t when used w ith lactoflavin h ad an inhibitory
action.
A. G. P.
Influence of growth-stimulating substances on development
of some mixotropic algae. K . O rdratscliek (Arch. Mikrobiol.,
1940, 11, 89— 117).—Ascorbic acid stim u lated th e grow th of
m ixotropic green alga: especially on inorg. m edia w ith C 0 2 as
source of C ; aneurin was sim ilarly active when th e algae were
supplied w ith org. C and N sources. The optim um concn. of
both vitam ins exceeds th a t for th e grow th of fungi. L iver
ex tra c t has a favourable though less intense action.
A. G. P.
Effect of light on growth habit of plants. D. G. L angham
(Science, 1941, 93, 570—577).— Euchlasna mexicana, Schr.,
Panicum purpurascens, R addi., Alternanthera ficoidea, Moq.,
Eleusine indica (L.), G aertn., Commelina cayennensis. Rich.,
Portulaca oleracea, L., M im osa sensitiva, L., Cynodon dactylon
(L.), Pers., Planlago major, L., and Echinochloa colonum
(L.), Link, become p ro strate in sunlight, and erect in weak
light or in darkness.
L. S. T.
Effect of day length and temperature on flowering and
growth of four species of grasses. H . M. B enedict (J. Agric.
lies., 1940, 61, 601— 671).— Growth, flowering, an d ro o t/to p
ratio of Agropyron sm ithii, Andropogon furcalus, Bouteloua
gracilis, an d Panicum virgalum are m arkedly affected b y d a y
length and tem p. N ight tem p, did n o t affect th e r o o t : to p
ratio a t an y d a y length exam ined.
A. G. P.
Light- and temperature-inhibition of carbon dioxide assimil­
ation [by plants]. M. G. S tafelt (Planta, 1939, 30, 384—
421).— U nder cloudy conditions w ith m oderate tem p, a posi­
tiv e effect of lig h t an d tem p, on th e grow th of o ats is dem on­
strated . On b rig h t w arm days lig h t in ten sity an d tem p,
exerted an inhibitory effect. In th e lichens Usnea dasypoga
and Ram alina farinacccs th e in ten sity of assim ilation under
const, external conditions tended to decline progressively,
b o th tem p, and lig h t being concerned in th e inhibitory effects.
The tem p, inhibition becomes ap p aren t a t th e optim um
817
A., III.—xxvii, PLANT CONSTITUENTS.
grow th tem p, and increases rapidly a t higher tem p. ; it is
irreversible in darkness. The tem p, effect is probably de­
structive in character and has no direct influence on th e
photosynthetic system . Inhibition b y light is reversible in
darkness and is proportional to light intensity, b u t is u n ­
affected by tem p. A t optim al and higher grow th tem p,
th e inhibitory effects of light and tem p, are additive.
A. G. P.
Carbon dioxide assimilation [of algæ]. H. A ufdem garten
(Planta, 1939, 30, 343— 352).—The sta te of org. n u tritio n of
th e alga Stichococcus bacillaris does n o t affect th e course of
renewed assim ilation after previous darkening. The character
of th e C 0 2-intake curve is m arkedly influenced by th e n atu re
of th e inorg. n u trien ts.
A. G. P.
Effect on formation of carbohydrates in leaves of omission of
red and blue-violet rays from electric light. R. E . Cooper and
R. B. M. Colah (A nn. Dot., 1941, 5, 171— 173).— The am ounts
of carbohydrates formed in leaves exposed to ordinary electric
light exceed those produced when eith er th e red or blue-violet
rays are filtered out, th e to ta l energy val. of th e light being
const. R em oval of red rays caused th e g reater dim inution
in carbohydrate production.
A. G. P.
Continuous measurement of transpiration of single leaves
under natural conditions. J. Glover (A nn. Bot., 1941, 5,
25— 34).—W ith ap p aratu s described tran sp iratio n from a
portion of a leaf m ay be measured continuously. D ata for
Coffca arabica and Zca mays is recorded.
A. G. P.
Physiology of Coffea arabica. III. Transpiration rates of
whole trees in relation to natural environmental conditions.
F. J. N u tm an (Ann. Dot., 1941, 5, 59— 81 ; cf. A., 1938, II I,
83).— R apid and considerable variations occur in large plants
in sh ort tim e intervals. D aily changes in tran sp iratio n rates
are due alm ost entirely to variations in incident radiation
when th e la tte r is of m edium o r low intensity. A t high
light intensities th e relationship is disturbed, probably as a
result of stom atal m ovem ents. D aily tran sp iratio n is con­
trolled by radiation and by satu ratio n deficit and is inde­
pen d ent of tem p.
A.G. P.
Tropical fruits. X. Transpiration during ripening. E . R.
Leonard (A nn. Bot., 1941, 5, 89— 119; cf. A., 1940, I I I , 941).
— D uring ripening a t 29-4° th e tran sp iratio n ra te of tom atoes
falls initially b u t subsequently rem ains a t a ste ad y level.
T h a t of papaw s shows an early decrease followed, a t first, by
a ste ad y and then b y a continually increasing rise. In
mangoes and bananas an early fall in tran sp iratio n ra te is
followed by a stead y period and la te r b y changes resem bling
those of th e respiration clim acteric. R elations betw een the
internal [C 02] and [ 0 2] and tran sp iratio n rates in papaw s
and betw een respiration and tran sp iratio n rates in bananas
are exam ined.
A.G. P.
Comparison of rates of apparent photosynthesis and respir­
ation of diseased and healthy bean leaflets. G. K. P arris (J.
Agric. Res., 1941, 62, 179— 192).— Leaflets infected w ith
Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Succ. and Magn.), Bri. and
Cav., assim ilated less C 0 2 and grew less rapidly th a n did
corresponding h ealthy leaflets; no difference in respiration
was ap parent. Infection w ith Erysiphe polygoni, DC., did
not dim inish assim ilation or respiration of th e leaflets until
yellowing occurred. Some prem ature abscission, however,
took place am ong green turgid leaflets. In ju ry of leaflets
by th rips (Heliothrips hæmorr/ioidalis, Bouché) caused loss of
chlorophyll an d yellowing, and dim inution in assim ilation
proportional to the ap p aren t severity of inscct attack .
A. G. P.
Effect of environmental factors on transpiration and growth
of tomato plants. A. C. F oster an d E. C. T atm an (J. Agric.
Res., 1940, 61, 697—-720).— H ighly significant correlation is
established betw een tem p., soil m oisture, and n u trie n t sta tu s
and the to ta l w ater transpired, the w ater requirem ent, fruit
yields, and starch contents of leaves an d stem s in to m ato
plants grown under greenhouse conditions. T he final d ry
wt. of plan ts topped a t the sam e stage of grow th is correlated
with tem p, and soil m oisture b u t n o t w ith n u trie n t condition.
A. G. P.
Theory of photosynthesis.— See A., 1941, I, 383.
Artificial synthesis of a 42-chromosome wheat. E. J.
B ritten and W . P. Thom pson (Science, 1941, 93, 479).— The
crossing of Triticum turgidum w ith Aegilops speltoidcs and
818
trea tm e n t w ith colchicine give fully fertile plants containing
42-cliromosome heads.
L. S. T.
Auxin in marine plants. II. J r v an O verbeek (Bot. Gaz.,
1940, 101, 940— 947).— A uxin was obtained from red and
brown algas, diatom s, an d in m arine higher plants. In
Nereocystis th e auxin co n ten t of blades was ten tim es th a t of
th e stipe.
A. G. P.
Action of heteroauxin on Phaseolus vulgaris. L. P ortheim
(A nn. Bot., 1941, 5, 35—46).— H cteroauxin (0T % in agar)
induced and stim ulated curvature, elongation, and swellings
in petioles of P . vulgaris a fter rem oval of the lam ina, the
effects appearing in th e petiole itself and a t th e joints a t the
base of the petiole and below th e po int of a tta c h m e n t of the
lam ina. Abscission of th e distal jo in t or of th e whole of the
petiole a t th e basal jo in t m ay be prevented b y suitable
application of hcteroauxin. Cone, solutions of heteroauxin
probably operate b y controlling th e distrib u tio n and move­
m ent of w ater in the plant.
A. G. P.
Effect of certain growth substances on influorescences of
dates. R . W . Nixon and F. E . G ardner (Bot. Gaz., 1939, 100,
808— 871).— Aq. indolyl- and naphthyl-acetic acids 0-1—
0-01% did n o t affect the developm ent of parthenocarpic
fruits and when applied to pollinated flowers reduced th e set
of fruit, some of which was malformed. H igher concns. of
naphthylacetic acid (1-0%) in lanoline p aste caused rapid
abscission of all flowers.
A. G. P.
Biological activity of isomeric compounds. I. Action of
isomeric naphthalene derivatives on plants. A. Schm uk and
A. Guseva (Biochimia, 1940, 5, 129— 132).— C ertain «-deriv­
atives of naphthalene show polyploidogenic activity, w hilst
all th e corresponding /3-derivatives are com pletely inactive.
F. O. H.
Effect of naphthylacetic acid on mobile auxin in bean
seedlings. W. S. Stew art (Bot. Gaz., 1940, 101, 881— 889).—
A pplication of a band of naphthylacetic acid in lanoline
around th e middle of th e first internode of 7-day bean seed­
lings increased th e am ount of mobile auxin in the term inal
bud, internode, and liypocotl, and th e ether-sol. auxin in the
first internode, and established a new gradient of mobile
auxin in th e p lan t. E th e r extracts of term inal buds con­
tained large am ounts of auxin b u t ex tracts of other p a rts of
th e plants contained a substance which inhibited th e grow th
of A vena coleoptiles.
A. G. P.
Avena coleoptile assay of ether extracts of aphids and their
hosts. G. K . K . Link, V. Eggers, and J . E. M oulton (Bot.
Gaz., 1940, 101, 928— 939).— E th e r ex tracts of certain aphids
and th eir corresponding hosts produced negative curvatures
in coleoptile tests, no parallelism being ap p aren t in the
relative activ ity of aphid and host extracts. In some cases
e x tracts contained fractions w hich were active a fte r acid or
alkaline hydrolysis. D istillates from cabbage leaf o r cabbage
aphids contained active substances.
A. G. P.
Mycorrhizal relations of larch. EC. Role of larch root in
nutrition of Boletus elegans, Schum. J. E . How (Ann. Bot.,
1941, 5, 121— 131).— A water-sol. substance capable of
stim u latin g grow th of B . elegans occurs in roots of European
and Japanese larch b u t n o t in Scots pine. Roots are pene­
tra te d b y th e growing fungus as a result of m echanical
pressure exerted by th e mycelium.
A. G. P.
XXVII.—PLANT CONSTITUENTS.
Quantitative spectroscopic analysis of stem “ tracheal ”
fluids for inorganic constituents. P. H am m , R. B. H arvey,
and E. S. Miller (Proc. Soc. E xp . Biol. M ed., 1941, 46, 347—
351).— Stems are centrifuged and fluid is allowed to d ry on
surface of one of th e pure graphite poles of an a.c. arc.
D ensity of lines of emission spectrum of various elements
present is com pared w ith stan d ard s to determ ine con ten t of
each.
V. J . W.
[Determination of] copper [in plant ash].— See A., 1941, I,
387.
Determination, isolation, and identification of auxins in
plant material. A. J . H aagen-Sm it, W . D. Leech, and W. R.
Bergen (Science, 1941, 93, 624— 625).— D ry whole w heat
kernels are soaked for 4 hr. in aq. N aO H a t pu 10-5, ground
w ith clean sand, and se t aside a t 20° for 45 hr. a t pa 10-5.
The m ixture is centrifuged, and th e su p ern atan t liquid tested
819
A., III.—x x v i i i , APPARATUS AND ANALYTICAL METHODS.
b y the stan d ard Avena procedure. The val. obtained a t fin
10-5 compares favourably w ith th e am ount of auxin recovered
by the biological digestion .m ethod. The m ax. ra te of hydro­
lysis occurs between 35° and 40°; losses begin to occur a t
60°. Like w heat, maize shows th e sam e effects of increased
auxin activ ity on keeping a t pa 10-5. A m ixture of acetone
and w ater ( 1 : 1) can be used for hydrolysis in th e isolation
of auxins from cornm eal. The isolation of cryst. indolyl3-acetic acid and a sm all am o u n t of pseudoauxin-a from
maize is described.
L. S. T.
Active principle of marihuana. G. Powell, M. Salmon,
T. H . Bem bry, and R. P. W alton (Science, 1941, 93, 522—
523).— The prep., directly from th e red oil distillates, of a
derivative of an active product, which is possibly a te tra ­
hydrocannabinol, is described.
L. S. T.
Silk oak flowers as source of /3-carotene. L. Zechmeister
an d A. PolgAr (J. Biol. Chem., 1941, 140, 1— 3).— The yellow
flowers of Grevilla robusta, Cunningham , are dried, first a t
room tem p., then a t 40—45°, an d ex tracted w ith ether.
The e x tra c t is saponified with conc. m ethyl-alcoholic K O Ii
solution and, a fter successive rem oval of soaps, alkali, w ater,
and ether, th e ex tract is dissolved in light petroleum . Chro­
m atographic adsorption on Ca(OH)2 shows th a t 1 kg. of th e
flowers contain approx. 215 mg. of /3-carotene, approx. 67%
of this am ount being isolated. Lycopene and a- and y-carotene are absent b u t a com plicated xanthophyll m ixture con­
stitu tes approx. 20% of the to ta l pigm ent. T his m ixture
contains lutein and yields k ry p to x an th in and a pigm ent
having absorption m ax. a t 490-5 and 457 m/i. in CS2, a t
479-5 and 440'5 m/u. in benzene, and a t 457-5 and 430 mix. in
light petroleum .
W. McC.
Isolation of crystalline, cardiac glucoside from Adonis
vernalis and its identification as cymarin. T. R eichstein and
H . R osenm und (Pharm . Acta Helv., 1940, 15, 150— 158).—
Cymarin, [o]J,5. 4-35-4° in abs. alcohol, m .p. (Kofler block)
132— 134° (acetate, m.p. 160— 102°), has been isolated from
th e mixed glucosides of A . vernalis.
E . H . S.
Glycosidic components of flowers of Butea frondosa.—-See
A., 1941, II, 282.
Microchemical reaction for detection of celandine. E.
R am stad (Pharm. A cta Helv., 1941, 16, 15— 21).— Charac­
teristic yellow crystals are formed when an y portion of th e
p la n t (Chelidonium majus, L.) except th e seed is treated
w ith 10— 20% aq. KOH. The reaction appears to be sp.
E. H . S.
Nucleoproteids and nucleic acids of wheat germ. A. N.
Belozcrski and L. A. Tschem om ordikova (Biochimia, 1940, 5,
133— 139).— *' N ucleoprotcids ” from w heat germ are n o t
chemical entities b u t on fractionation yield nucleoprotein,
nucleic (triticonucleic) acid, and protein. " N ucleoproteids,”
therefore, are considered to be artifa cts. B oth labile and
stable com binations betw een p rotein and nucleic acid occur
in th e cell nucleus.
F. O. H.
Lubimenko extracts of chlorophyll-protein. M. L. Anson
(Science, 1941, 93, 186— 187).— G rinding th e leaves of F unkia
w ith sand, extracting w ith dil. NaCl, and rem oving insol.
m aterial by centrifuging or filtration gives a green opalescent
solution. The chlorophyll in th e e x tra c t changes to an insol.
form in 1 hr. a t 20— 25°. This process is accelerated a t 37°,
and retarded a t 0°. Aq. ex tracts of chlorophyll-protein can be
obtained also from a no. of legumes. The green particles in
these ex tracts are larger th an tobacco mosaic virus mols.
L. S. T.
Chemical components of roots of Decalepis Hamiltonii
(makali veru). n . Preparation of inositol by solvent extrac­
tion. P. B. R. M urti (Proc. In d ia n Acad. Sci., 1941, 13, A,
263— 265; cf. A., 1941, II, 265).—The air-dried root powder
is ex tracted (Soxhlet) w ith light petroleum to remove oily
and fa tty m atter, then w ith m ethyl alcohol to give a
brown ex tra c t containing saponins an d tan n in s, and finally
w ith m ethyl alcohol ( + 10% of w ater) to yield ex tracts from
w hich inositol, m .p. 221— 222° (0-4% on w t. of dried roots),
separates. I t is purified b y dissolving in boiling w ater,
concentrating to a syrup, and adding excess of ethyl alcohol.
A. T. P.
Constituents of Equisetum arvense, L.— See A., 1941, II,
302.
820
Constituents of the seeds of Zyzyphus vulgaris, Lamark, var.
spinosus, Bunge.— See A., 1941, II , 300.
Azulenes from Ledum camphor.— See A., 1941, II, 300.
XXVIII.—APPARATUS AND ANALYTICAL METHODS.
Lantern slides. New technique. M. M uschat (J. Lab.
d in . Med., 1941, 26, 1224— 1230).
C. J . C. B.
Sharpness considerations in making scientific illustrations.
L. E. V arden (J. Lab. clin. M ed., 1941, 26, 1388— 1394).—A
general review.
C. J. C. B.
Apparatus for measuring microscopic objects. J . C. Lotze
and M. J . Y iengst (Science, 1941, 93, 45— 46).— The device
described will m easure objects a few te n th s of a ¡x. in diam eter.
L. S. T.
Simple, clean, cedar oil bottle. S. S. Schneierson (J. Lab.
clin. M ed., 1941, 26, 1347).
C. J. C. B.
Use of plastic as a substitute for cover glasses. V. Suntzeff
and I. Sm ith (Science, 1941, 93, 157— 158).—W hen plastic
m aterial is su b stitu ted for glass, sections stained w ith h e m ­
atoxylin and eosin and m ounted in Canada balsam m ay be
decolorised in 4 or 5 m onths.
L. S. T.
Apparatus for drying from the frozen state. A. R . T aylor
an d J . W . B eard (Science, 1940, 92, 611— 612).—The a p p ar­
atu s described for preserving virus and serum proteins in a
vac. utilises “ drierite ” (specially-prepared C aS 04).
L. S. T.
Heat filter for tissue illuminator. H. A. P ohl (Science,
1940, 92, 612).— Insertion of a double thickness of Cenco
glass 87305 in th e K nisely q u artz rod illum inator reduces
th e h e a t tran sm itted to th e tissues to a negligible am ount
w ithout serious loss of tran sm itted light.
L. S. T.
Portable [gas] sampling unit. L. Silverm an an d T. R.
Thom as (J. In d . H yg., 1941, 23, 252— 255).— A simple self­
operated sam pling u n it is m ade from a ty re pum p, used
w ith a plenum cham ber; it is adap ted to both m idget impinger an d absorber sam pling, and is suitable for use w herever
power is unobtainable or dangerous.
E. M. K .
Modified Haldane gas analyser for analysis of mixtures with
100% absorbable gas.— See A., 1941, I, 349.
Quartz fibre balance.—-See A., 1941, I, 391.
Use of charred lens-paper for filtration of coarse particles.
B. H . Y. T ’ang (Chinese Med. J ., 59, 182— 183).— The paper
is charred b y placing in a hot-air oven a t 170° for 2 hr.,
when it assumes a lig h t brown colour. The charred paper
is tough, rapid, and re sistan t to strong alkalis and acids.
W . J. G.
Small dissecting and operating table for animals. M. L.
Sweat (J. Lab. clin. M ed., 1941, 26, 1197— 1200).
C. J. C. B.
Weighing living marine animals. A. G. Lowndes (Nature,
1941, 147, 298; cf. A., 1941,111,406).— Crabs were weighed
directty, a fte r draining. G ohar’s m ethod w as discarded on
account of com plications caused b y osmosis.
E. R. S.
Weighing living marine animals. G. P . B idder (Nature,
1941, 147, 328— 329).— G ohar’s m ethod (A., 1941, I I I , 406) is
criticised on th e grounds th a t it is u n tru e to assum e th a t the
vol. of an anim al rem ains th e same a fte r transference from
sea-w ater to diluted sea-w ater, an d on B eadle’s results (/.
E xp. Biol., 1937, 56, 70). A ttention is draw n to Lowndes’
m ethod for Nereis (Proc. L in n . Soc., 1938, 62, 73). E. R. S.
Volumeter for small organs. H . O. B urdick (Endocrinol.,
1941, 28, 676— 677).— The organ is dropped in to fluid in a
test-tu b e which is provided w ith a side-arm connected by
ru b b er tu b in g w ith a g raduated capillary pipette. The
m eniscus in th e test-tu b e is b rought to th e original level by
lowering th e pipette, an d th e fluid displaced is read off on its
graduations. (111.)
V. J. W.
Conductometric determination of total fatty acid ;n blood and
tissues. J. A. E pstein (Biochimia, 1940, 5, 102— 168).—The
conductom etric (K ohlrausch bridge) determ ination of fa tty
acids in blood and tissues is described and results from sera
a n d brain tissue are discussed.
F. O. H.
Quantitative drop analysis [of biological fluids]. XIV.
Potentiometric determination of chloride. XV. Determin­
ation of potassium.— See A., 1941, I, 345.