bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of serological typing to the investigation of outbreaks ofClostridium perfringensfood poisoning, 1970–1978
Authors: Stringer M. F. , Turnbull P. C. B. , Gilbert R. J.
Published: May 2009

Serological typing was used as an epidemiological tool in the investigation of 524 outbreakes ofClostridium perfringensfood poisoning in the United Kingdom and 37 outbreaks in other countries.

Five thousand five hundred and fifty-four (77%) of 7245 strains ofC. perfringensassociation 561 outbreaks were typable with the 75 Food Hygiene Laboratory antisera; in 354 (63%) of these outbreaks were typable with the 75 Food Hygiene Laboratory antisera; in 354 (63%) of these outbreaks a specific serotype was established as being responsible for the outbreak.

An assessment is made of the ability of two additional sets of antisera, prepared against 34 American and 34 Japanese strains ofC. perfringens, to increase the number of strains which can be typed. The extent of cross-reaction between the three sets of antisera was determined and the results are discussed in relation to the source and history of the type strains.
An investigation of flavivirus infections of cattle in Zimbabwe Rhodesia with particular reference to Wesselsbron virus
Authors: Blackburn N. K. , Swanepoel R.
Published: May 2009

A three-part epidemiological investigation was made on flaviviruses:

1. As a preliminary to tests on cattle sera from the field, the antigenic cross-reactivity of Wesselsbron, Spondweni, Usutu, Banzi, West Nile and yellow fever flaviviruses was studied in antisera prepared in guinea pigs. As described earlier for flaviviruses, sera were found to be highly cross-reactive in haemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) tests, less cross-reactive in complement-fixation (CF) tests and were virtually monospecific in microneutralization (NT) tests in Vero cell cultures.

2. Infection with Wesselsbron (WSL) virus produced mild febrile illness and viraemia in 5 out of 6 newborn calves, 3 out of 4 pregnant heifers and 3 out of 4 ewes. One heifer produced a weak calf which died soon after birth with WSL antibodies in its serum, indicating that infection had occurred in utero. The 3 other heifers produced healthy calves which lacked antibody in pre-colostral serum. Pathological changes occurred in the foetus in 2 out of 3 pregnant ewes and the ewe produced a healthy lamb which had antibodies to WSL virus in pre-colostral serum.

Unlike the situation in guinea pigs, cattle sera were monospecific for WSL virus in CF tests, but sheep sera cross-reacted with Banzi and yellow fever viruses. Re-infection of the cattle with Banzi, West Nile, Spondweni and Usutu viruses failed to induce marked antibody responses. The results suggest that antibodies to WSL virus in cattle sera from the field can be distinguished from those induced by other flaviviruses by quantitative serologial tests.

3. HAI antibodies to WSL virus were detected in 2648/14395 cattle sera tested over 11 years from 1967 to 1978 in the course of investigation of abortion, infertility and other diseases. Results of quantitative HAI, CF and NT tests with six flaviviruses on 409 selected sera confirmed that infection was due to WSL virus. Serological evidence failed to implicate WSL virus as a cause of abortion in cattle. In a prospective study, abortion occurred in only one out of 21 heifers observed to gain WSL infection during pregnancy in the field, but abortion also occurred in five out of 207 heifers which did not become infected with WSL. No histopathological lesions diagnostic of WSL disease were observed in 1998 specimens from cattle, sheep and goats examined over 44 months prior to October 1972, and WSL virus was isolated once, from the organs of a cow, out of 2106 specimens from cattle sheep and goats tested virologically over six years from October 1972 to September 1978. HAI antibodies to WSL virus were detected in one out of 374 sera from aborted cattle foetuses. It was concluded that WSL virus is not an important cause of disease in cattle, despite widespread occurrence of infection.
A study on bacteriocin typing of avian strains ofPasteurella multocida
Authors: Mushin Rose
Published: May 2009

In two groups, each containing 56Pasteurella multocidastrains of avian origin, the percentage of multicin-producing strains was 80·4 and 71·4. In two groups containing 46 and 58 isolates tested for sensitivity to multicins, 82·6% and 62·1% respectively were listed as indicators.P. multocidastrains producing bacteriocins were active on a range of 1–33 indicators. A preliminary multicin typing system was set up with the use of eight selected indicators; 52% of multicin-producing strains acted on one indicator only.P. multocidaserotypes and serologically un-typable strains were subdivided into multicin types.
Prophylactic non-absorbable antibiotics in leukaemic patients
Authors: King Kathleen
Published: May 2009

A regimen of oral non-absorbable prophylactic antibiotics (kanamycin–vanco–mycin–nystatin) was given to nine severely neutropaenic leukaemic patients on cytotoxic therapy (11 courses), in conjunction with isolation procedures. An appreciable decrease in faecal organisms, especially anaerobes, was apparent after 48 h of commencing the course, and most bacteria had disappeared from the stool after five days. There were three episodes of septicaemia, all with enteric organisms, whilst on these antibiotics; one proved fatal. The emergence of resistance to aminoglycosides in faecal flora, notablyKlebsiella, in 6/11 courses constituted a major problem in the use of such prophylaxis.
Biochemical investigation of Providence strains and their relationship to theProteusgroup
Authors: Singer Jaques , Bar-Chay Joseph
Published: May 2009

1. Seventy-four urease negative and twelve urease weakly positive strains were studied which, according to their biochemical properties, had to be considered as belonging to the Providence group. ThirtyProteus rettgeriand five anaerogenicProteusspecies were examined concomitantly.

2. 668 strains of Enterobacteriaceae were tested for the P.P.A. reaction, of which only the 192Proteusand the 86 Providence strains rapidly transformed phenylalanine into phenylpyruvic acid.

3. P.P.A. test, IMViC reactions, fermentation properties, smell, swarming are similar to those of theProteusgroup, particularlyP. rettgeri; it is therefore suggested that the Providence strains should be incorporated in theProteusgroup.

4. For all purposes the P.P.A. reaction appears to be better suited than the urea test for differentiating strains of Enterobacteriaceae from theProteus-Providence group.

The authors are grateful to Dr C. A. Stuart, Brown University, Providence, and Dr M. Greenstein, Sewage Disposal Works, Providence; to Dr W. H. Ewing, Communicable Disease Center, Chamblee, Georgia; to Prof. L. Olitzki, Hebrew University, Jerusalem; to Dr R. Mushin, University of Melbourne, Australia. We are especially indebted to Miss E. Salomon and Miss A. Engel for their valuable technical assistance.
A survey of beach pollution at a seaside resort
Authors: Moore B.
Published: May 2009

Bacteriological surveys of beach pollution were made at a seaside resort before and after the installation of a new sewer outfall.

The presumptive coliform count on samples of sea water was found to be a satisfactory index of contamination, and showed good agreement with sanitary survey and with the results of float-test observations. The faecal coli count was in general constantly related to the results of the presumptive test, but there was some indication that coliform bacilli of the I.A.C. groups persisted or multiplied in the sand around the outfall.

The degree of contamination of the sea water at a given sampling point was shown to depend not only on its distance from the outfall but on various meteorological and tidal factors.

For bacteriological surveys of beach pollution, it is suggested that a large series of tests by a relatively simple technique is preferable to a more limited investigation by more complex methods.

The possibility of laying down bacteriological standards for bathing beaches is discussed. An upper permitted limit of the order of 1000 coliform organisms per 100 ml. would discriminate between areas on the beach investigated which were unsatisfactory by sanitary survey before and after the installation of the new sewerage scheme, and those parts of the beach which were apparently not subject to serious pollution with sewage.

I am greatly indebted to Lt.-Col. J. M. Linton Bogle, consulting engineer responsible for the sewerage scheme described, for his interest in and practical help with this investigation; to members of the staff of the local authority concerned for help with sampling, and to Dr A. F. Ollerenshaw and Mr A. Partridge, who were in local charge of the temporary laboratory where the presumptive tests were carried out, in 1950 and 1948 respectively.
The distribution of carriers ofStreptococcus pyogenesamong 2,413 healthy children
Authors: Holmes Margaret C. , Williams R. E. O.
Published: May 2009

Nose and throat swabs were collected from 2413 healthy children aged 2 weeks to 14 years and examined forStreptococcus pyogenes. The children came from different social levels in three boroughs in Middlesex.

Standardized carrier rates were used to compare the individual effects of age, borough, family age, family size, sex, social class and tonsils on the nose and throat carrier rates.

Community life appeared to facilitate the spread of streptococcal infection: young children aged less than 5 who attended nurseries had higher carrier rates than those of the same age who did not attend day-nurseries. The highest nasal carrier rates were found in the 3- and 4-year-old children attending the day-nurseries. The degree of crowding within the community units did not appear to affect the rates.

The three boroughs had significantly different carrier rates.

Boys were more often carriers than girls.

The unstandardized carrier rates were highest in the lowest social class but this could be explained by the differences in the age, sex and borough distribution of the children sampled in the three social classes, and by the fact that tonsillectomy was, on the average, undertaken later in the lower social classes than in the higher. When these factors were allowed for by standardization, there was no residual difference which could be attributed to social class or housing.

Children with tonsils were more often nose and throat carriers than children who had had their tonsils removed; this was true for all ages, for each of the three boroughs and in each social class.

We are indebted to the Area Medical Officers in Enfield, Southgate and Willesden for their co-operation in the planning of the survey and to the staff in the schools, day-nurseries and clinics where the swabbing was carried out. We are most grateful to Dr P. Armitage for help with the statistical methods and to Miss Eileen Cole for much help with the computing.
An eight-year survey of the ringworm flora of Birmingham
Authors: Carlier Gwendoline I. M.
Published: May 2009

An attempt has been made to establish the nature of the ringworm flora of Birmingham, comprising: (1) the species encountered; (2) their relative concentration; (3) their distribution.

A marked increase in the number of cases due to fungi of animal origin has been demonstrated.

It has been shown that the main reservoir of infection in the city is centred upon Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath, with a rather smaller focus in the Hockley–Lozells area.
A new selective medium forHaemophilus pertussis, containing a diamidine, sodium fluoride and penicillin
Authors: Lacey B. W.
Published: May 2009

1. A highly selective medium forH. pertussishas been made by incorporating 4:4'-diamidinodiphenylamine dihydrochloride (M & B 938), penicillin and sodium fluoride in a partially defined base.

2. M & B 938 has an interesting selectivity which is much influenced by its environment, especially by the ionic composition of the medium. No pattern has emerged from a study of the effects of eighty salts and many other substances on its activity; but the gain in selectivity forH. pertussisproduced by cysteine and magnesium malonate has been usefully exploited.

3. In a strict comparison with Bordet-Gengou the new medium yielded 28% more positive cultures from per-nasal swabs and 75% more from post-nasal swabs. With the new medium the incidence of serious rival growth from any part of the nasopharynx has been about 4% and, in contrast with Bordet-Gengou, postnasal swabs have yielded as many positive cultures as per-nasal swabs.

4. The new medium is simple to make, stable, reliable, economical of material and time and suitable for routine use with per-nasal, post-nasal or supralaryngeal swabs, sputum or vomit.

5. The new medium growsH. parapertussispoorly; but a highly selective medium forH. parapertussisis easily made by adding streptomycin and penicillin to Bordet-Gengou.

6. Whatever the medium, the nature and number of swabs are important factors affecting the isolation ofH. pertussis:with the new medium positive diagnoses from per- and post-nasal swabs taken at the same time were about 40% more than from either swab alone.

7. A statistical analysis strongly supports the opinion of Bradford & Slavin (1940) that the relatively poor results with post-nasal swabs on Bordet-Gengou medium are due to the overgrowth ofH. pertussisby rivals rather than to the absence ofH. pertussisfrom the pharynx. It also indicates that the expectation of isolatingH. pertussison Bordet–Gengou varies directly with the numbers present and inversely with the numbers of rivals, especially of diphtheroids and streptococci.

8. Addition of 32μg. stilbamidine di-isethionate and 0·25 unit penicillin/ml. to Bordet–Gengou makes an effective selective medium for oral streptococci related to, or of, groups K and L, but not forH. pertussis.

I wish to thank my clinical colleagues, especially Dr N. O. Richards and Dr A. Bogdan, for kindly sending swabs from their patients, Professor R. J. V. Pulvertaft for his continuous support, Dr J. A. Fraser Roberts for advice and help with the statistics, Dr A. J. Ewins and Dr H. J. Barber, May and Baker Ltd., for gifts of aromatic diamidines, Dr H. King for gifts of alkyl diamidines and Mr M. Breach, F.I.M.L.T., and Mr A. Drake, F.I.M.L.T., for their help with the preparation of sera, media and routine cultures. I am indebted also to the Central Research Fund of London University and to the Governors of Westminster Hospital for grants for the purchase of materials.
Observations on the feeding behaviour of rats and chicks deficient in vitamin E
Authors: Tribe D. E.
Published: May 2009

Vitamin E-deficient rats, as well as normal and vitamin E-deficient chicks, failed to discriminate between two diets which were identical in all respects except that in one there was a deficiency of vitamin E and in the other there were adequate levels of vitamin E.

Grateful thanks are due to G. Crook for assistance in the care and management of the experimental animals.
Passive immunity in myxomatosis of the european rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus): the protection conferred on kittens born by immune does
Authors: Fenner Frank , Marshall I. D.
Published: May 2009

1. The existence of passive immunity to myxomatosis was demonstrated by the inoculation of normal young rabbits with either myxoma-immune serum or saline, and their subsequent inoculation with the standard laboratory strain of myxoma virus. All the passively immunized animals lived longer than the control animals and a few survived.

2. Passive immunity could also be demonstrated in the offspring of myxoma-immune mothers. When these were challenged by mosquito bite inoculation with the standard laboratory strain of myxoma virus they either failed to become infected, or survived infection for several days longer than the progeny of normal does. When challenged by the intradermal inoculation of a slightly attenuated strain of myxoma virus 25 % of the progeny of immune does survived the infection, whereas none of the normal kittens survived.

3. The survival times of young rabbits in both the normal and passively immunized groups was influenced by their age, very young animals dying several days earlier than rabbits 4 and 6 weeks old.

4. The possible epidemiological consequences of passive immunity in the behaviour of myxomatosis in populations of wild rabbits are discussed.
Maximum-likelihood estimation of the relative removal rate from the distribution of the total size of an intra-household epidemic
Authors: Bailey Norman T. J.
Published: May 2009

In a previous paper (Bailey, 1953a) I discussed the distribution of the total size of a stochastic epidemic, involving both infection and removal, in a given group of homogeneously mixing susceptibles. The model employed was of the ‘continuous infection’ type, according to which infected individuals continue as sources of infection until removed from circulation by recovery, death or isolation. This may be contrasted with the chain-binomial type of model which entails short periods of high infectivity and approximately constant incubation periods (see, for example, Greenwood, 1931, 1949; Lidwell & Sommerville, 1951; Bailey, 1953b). The basic assumptions are that, with x susceptibles and y infectious persons in circulation, the chance of one new infection taking place in time dt is βxy dt, while the chance of a removal is γy dt, where β and γ are the infection and removal rates, respectively.
Notes on the preparation of papers for publication in the Journal of Hygiene and in Parasitology
Authors: Nuttall G. H. F.
Published: May 2009

Before the foundation in 1893 of the Journal of Pathology and Bacteriology by the late Professor Sir G. Sims Woodhead, there was no English journal devoted to pathology, bacteriology and kindred subjects. In 1901 Professor G. H. F. Nuttall founded the Journal of Hygiene, the second English journal of this type, and edited it till his death in December 1937. Owing to the increasing number of papers on parasitological subjects, which he received for publication in this journal, he founded Parasitology in 1908 and was its chief editor till 1933. He was very proud of both journals, and for some years made himself personally responsible for the heavy expenses of production. Within a few years of its foundation each began to pay for itself, and afterwards both were taken over by the Cambridge University Press.
A serological investigation into the epidemiology of influenza with particular reference to sporadic cases
Authors: Martin A. E.
Published: May 2009

An investigation has been described in which the complement fixing antibody titres of selected groups of the population have been correlated with the occurrence of epidemic and sporadic influenza and of other cases of respiratory disease which it was thought might be due to the virus of epidemic influenza.

During two non-epidemic seasons the influenza virus could not be isolated from cases of apparent influenza neither could any serological evidence be obtained of the existence of any form of respiratory disease caused by the virus.

With rare exceptions individual antibody titres either remain constant, or if they are high show a tendency to fall during non-epidemic times, and periodic investigations of sample groups each consisting of several hundred sera show a wave-like fluctuation in the titres of the population consisting of a sudden rise followed by a gradual fall, the former being an accompaniment of an epidemic. Such a wave-like fluctuation appears to be an indication of variations in the immunity of the population, and to be responsible in part, at least, for the occurrence of large influenza epidemics.

I wish to acknowledge the help received from all who took part in this investigation, and in particular to thank the students of the University Halls of Residence in Manchester, the numerous doctors who helped by supplying particulars of cases of influenza and to Dr R. W. Fairbrother who has given advice and maintained a constant interest throughout the investigation.
A new Salmonella type (S. rubislaw)
Authors: Smith J. , Kauffmann F.
Published: May 2009

A new type of Salmonella (S. rubislaw), exhibiting alpha-beta phase variation and found to have caused enteritis in man, has been described. Its antigenic formula is XI, r ↔ e, n, x.
The proportional frequency of the human and bovine types of tubercle bacilli in human pulmonary tuberculosis in the middle and south of Scotland
Authors: Griffith A. Stanley
Published: May 2009

1. The types of tubercle bacilli have been determined in the sputum of 515 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis occurring in the middle and south of Scotland.

2. Of the 515 cases 484 were human (476 eugonic and eight dysgonic) and thirty-one were bovine infections.

3. With the exception of the strains from one case (case 28) all the bovine strains, seventy in number, were typical culturally and fully virulent for rabbits.

4. The attenuated strains, two in number, from case 28 were slightly less virulent than typical bovine strains for rabbits and (one strain) for guinea-pigs.

5. The percentage of bovine infections found in this series, including the Cumberland case, during the years 1931–9 was 6·0, but excluding that case it was 5·8.

6. The percentage of bovine infections found by Munro during about the same period and covering the same regions was 5·0%.

7. In Munro's series strains of bovine tubercle bacilli were obtained from fifty-eight out of 1165 persons (5·0%). Five of his cases yielded attenuated bovine strains and in one of these the pulmonary tuberculosis was preceded by tuberculosis of the thoracic spine.

8. In my series the attenuated tubercle bacilli came from a case (case 28) of pulmonary tuberculosis which was preceded nearly 20 years previously by tuberculosis of the lower dorsal spine.

Dr Munro and others have made post-mortem examinations on cases of phthisis pulmonalis due to bovine bacilli, but I wish to defer reference to these until we can review them altogether.

In this series there are seven instances of cervical gland enlargement and one instance (case 28) of spinal tuberculosis occurring previous to the development of phthisis pulmonalis. These, I think, are examples of alimentary infection with the bovine tubercle bacillus. Thus, with the three autopsies previously mentioned, there are eleven cases, or about one-third, which are almost certainly alimentary in origin. As for the rest of the cases, 20 in number, no glandular enlargements in neck or abdomen were detected but the majority, if not all, were probably alimentary in origin, since all the persons drank a lot of raw milk and only five came into direct contact with cattle in their employment.
Human foot perspiration and upper leather
Authors: Colin-Russ A.
Published: May 2009

The suspicion, long entertained, that the grey or white deposit on a large amount of worn footwear, returned with complaint of “spewing salt” on the vamps, had its origin in the action of foot perspiration, has been confirmed during the last ten years.
Some experiments with certain liquid insecticides in houses infested with the bed-bug, Cimex lectularius L.
Authors: Musgrave A. J.
Published: May 2009

1. Some simple “field” work on the disinfestation of empty, bug-ridden houses by means of liquid insecticides and a simple experiment with an occupied house are described.

2. A method of obtaining an estimate of the number of bugs killed by the application of liquid insecticides is given as well as some information about the number of bugs found in houses. More than 2000 dead bugs were found in one small house.

3. The aliphatic thiocyanate, β-butoxy-β′-thiocyanodiethylether, was tried in four different oil carriers and gave good results as a 3% solution (6% Lethane). A pyrethrum preparation in a heavy oil carrier also showed promise. A mixture of the two toxic substances was tried and found to be effective.

4. The methods of applying the insecticides are described. Good results were obtained with an ordinary hand sprayer of the horticultural type, giving a continuous spray. The premises were not sealed, but on a few occasions wood fittings were eased or removed.
The osmotic pressure, after re-solution, of serum dried from the frozen state (F.D. serum)
Authors: Adair G. S. , Adair Muriel E. , Greaves R. I. N.
Published: May 2009

Comparative measurements are recorded of the osmotic pressures of human and rabbit sera, both fresh and re-dissolved after drying from the frozen state (F.D. sera).

The process of drying did not alter the osmotic properties of the serum proteins.

The view that drying from the frozen state does not cause denaturation of the serum proteins is supported also by the facts that the refractive indices and the membrane potentials remained unchanged.
Poisoning by 2-methylbutyraldehyde (isovaleraldehyde)
Authors: Wilkinson John F.
Published: May 2009

The toxic effects of 2-methylbutyraldehyde (isovaleraldehyde), arising from the accidental contamination of a laboratory atmosphere, are described in six out of a group of seven chemists. These were mainly tightness in the chest, irritation of the upper respiratory tract, cough, dyspnoea, marked loss of energy and weakness, dizziness, headaches, profuse perspiration, tachycardia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, anorexia, somnolence, sometimes insomnia, and in one case a partial pneumothorax.

All recovered rapidly when removed from the exciting cause.
The effects of morphine, diacetylmorphine and some related alkaloids upon the alimentary tract: Part V. A discussion on the probable mechanism of the constipating action of morphine
Authors: Myers G. Norman
Published: May 2009

1. The mechanical effects of morphine, heroin, codeine, dilaudid, dicodid, and eukodol upon the alimentary tract are discussed and contrasted.

2. The results of these mechanical effects upon the passage of food along the alimentary canal are discussed.

3. The constipating action of morphine is explained upon an almost purely mechanical basis.

4. From experimental evidence it is concluded that dilaudid is probably a constipating drug although this effect may not be so marked as that produced by morphine.

5. There is no experimental evidence to suggest that the administration of dicodid would ever produce constipation.

6. It is suggested that small doses of eukodol are not constipating, whereas large doses, in certain circumstances which are discussed, may produce a mild degree of constipation.
The distribution of vitamin C in foods sold on the open market
Authors: Chappell Gweneth
Published: May 2009

Values for the ascorbic acid content of a number of foods sold in diverse markets were determined by titration against 2: 6 dichlorophenolindophenol in acid solution. The results showed that the least expensive material was not necessarily the poorest source of vitamin C and might be more valuable than expensive foods. Samples of cabbage from the cheap market contained 329% as much vitamin C as samples from expensive sources. These results on comparison with figures recorded for fresh garden produce showed that market foods have lost some of their vitamin C content on exposure for sale, but still contain satisfactory amounts of ascorbic acid when purchased.

Results from different samples of fruits and vegetables showed wide variation. No data relating to storage before purchase were available, so limiting figures were used for each food. Mean values were calculated for purposes of comparative tabulation.

The effect of household storage after purchase was noted for foods from inexpensive and fashionable markets. The values obtained showed that the loss of ascorbic acid in foods stored in the home after a period of exposure for sale, though marked, was not as serious as has previously been indicated.

An irregular fall in the ascorbic acid content of some of the material examined was noted and investigated. Wide variations in the amount of ascorbic acid present in different parts of individual fruits and vegetables were observed. In view of experimental results it is recommended that foods be purchased and prepared for consumption immediately before use.

Canned foods from diverse markets were examined to determine their ascorbic acid content, and it was shown that the vitamin is distributed throughout solid and liquid. Although a percentage of vitamin is destroyed on heating, those fruits and vegetables initially high in ascorbic acid retained sufficient vitamin to afford a better, and frequently cheaper, source of vitamin than unheated samples with a low ascorbic acid content. Considerable quantities of vitamin C are lost when the liquid from canned vegetables is discarded. When the syrup from cans is used as well as the fruit the vitamin available to the consumer is frequently greater than the amount yielded by the same weight of raw fruit from market sources.

Raw and canned plant tissues from cheap and expensive sources were compared for their antiscorbutic value in the human diet, and for the cost of the daily requirement at ruling market prices. It was found that a day's ration of ascorbic acid could be purchased at a cost as low as a farthing to as high as a pound.
Genetic marker studies on poliovirus type 1 strains from the Blackburn poliomyelitis outbreak in 1965
Authors: Cossart Yvonne E.
Published: May 2009

Genetic marker tests were performed on 61 strains of poliovirus isolated during the Blackburn outbreak from cases or suspected cases and their contacts. The results were correlated with the epidemiological data and good agreement was found for the serological and dextran inhibition tests. The reproductive capacity temperature marker, however, showed inhibition at 39·8° C. of strains otherwise judged to be of naturally occurring type. These strains could be differentiated from those of vaccine origin because they grew readily at 39·2° C. This feature also distinguished the strains isolated in Blackburn from those obtained in the nearby town of Hyde in a simultaneous outbreak.

Dr J. Ardley, Medical Officer of Health, Blackburn, kindly provided a key which enabled the contacts of cases to be traced; and Dr L. Robertson, Public Health Laboratory, Preston, made available his extensive records as well as the many strains isolated in his laboratory.
Immunological response in cows toMycoplasma bovigenitalium, strain 1836
Authors: Roberts D. H.
Published: May 2009

Four cows were inoculated via the udder with the 1836 strain ofMycoplasma bovigenitalium. The serological response was investigated using the complement-fixation and serum plate agglutination tests. A heterologous response toM. mycoideswas observed, associated with an increase in the anti-γ-globulin titres in the cow's serum. The heterologous response persisted in one cow for 6 weeks after infection. The nature of the immunoglobulin response was characterized by density gradient centrifugation, and by mercaptoethanol and rivanol treatment of the serum and was found to consist entirely of 19 S γ-globulins.

TheMycoplasmapersisted in the udder for the 18 weeks duration of the experiment. TheMycoplasmawas not isolated from the blood. One of the cows became lame with swollen joints;Bacillus cereuswas isolated from the joints and blood.
Acute glomerulonephritis in Trinidad: serological typing of group A streptococci
Authors: Parker M. T. , Bassett D. C. J. , Maxted W. R. , Arneaud J. D.
Published: May 2009

The recent epidemic of acute glomerulonephritis in Trinidad had two peaks, separated by an interval of about 6 months.

Evidence is presented that there were in fact two successive but overlapping epidemics, the first due to streptococci of provisional M-type 55, and the second to streptococci of M-type 49.
Observations on the carrier state and related antibody titres during an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease
Authors: Hedger R. S.
Published: May 2009

An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in a partially immune population of cattle in Botswana is described. The results show that when cattle immunized by vaccination were presented with natural field challenge of FMD, many animals with immunity sufficient to protect them against clinical disease were, however, susceptible to pharyngeal infection and subsequently became virus carriers. The proportion of animals becoming carriers appeared to vary with the degree of severity of the challenge.

Vaccination before exposure to virus appeared to have little effect on the duration of the carrier state. No evidence was obtained of the spread of carrier virus to immune herds following the outbreak.

Antibody titres during the outbreak were higher in the clinically infected animals than in the carrier animals and the uninfected animals. Evidence suggested that natural challenge boosted the titres of immune animals. After the outbreak, however, it was not possible to distinguish by their antibody titres between the carrier animal and the virus-negative animal.

Antigenic studies on the strains of virus isolated are described.
Degradation of influenza virus by non-ionic detergent
Authors: Corbel M. J. , Rondle C. J. M. , Bird R. G.
Published: May 2009

Preparations of influenza virus A0 PR 8/34 and A 2 Malaysia/68 have been studied in the electron microscope. They were similar in appearance to preparations made by others. Each preparation was degraded by Triton N 101. The process of degradation appeared to be different from that observed using ether and, by inference, a number of other agents.
Direct complement fixation test with avian infectious bronchitis virus in chickens
Authors: Uppal P. K.
Published: May 2009

The direct complement fixation test was performed to follow the antibody response in chickens infected with avian infectious bronchitis virus. Concentrated allantoic fluid (4 units) was used as an antigen and allowed to react with serially diluted antiserum in the presence of two complete units of guinea-pig complement for 3 hr. at 4°C. and ½ hr. at 37°C. before the addition of sensitized cells. Serum was unheated and used either fresh or within one month of storage at −30°C. Individual birds showed a rise and fall of complement-fixing antibody both after primary and secondary inoculations. The complement-fixing antibody was detected as early as the seventh day after primary inoculation. The highest complement fixation titre (1/32 to 1/64) was recorded from 14 to 21 days after inoculation with a subsequent gradual decline.

The results of the direct complement fixation tests have been correlated with the serum neutralization test. The neutralizing antibodies usually appeared by the 14th day but were not detected at a significant titre until the 21st day after primary inoculation. Serum neutralizing antibodies were still present at high titres even after 7 weeks of infection but the complement-fixing antibodies had disappeared by that time.
Vaccination against rubella and measles: quantitative investigations of different policies
Authors: Anderson R. M. , May R. M.
Published: May 2009

This paper uses relatively simple and deterministic mathematical models to examine the impact that different immunization policies have on the age-specific incidence of rubella and measles. Following earlier work by Knox (1980) and others, we show that immunization programmes can, under some circumstances, increase the total number of cases among older age groups; the implications for the overall incidence of measles encephalitis and of congenital rubella syndrome are examined, paying attention both to the eventual equilibrium and to the short-term effect in the first few decades after immunization is initiated. Throughout, we use data (from the U.K., and U.S.A. and other countries) both in the estimation of the epidemiological parameters in our models, and in comparison between theoretical predictions and observed facts. The conclusions defy brief summary and are set out at the end of the paper.
Otitis externa byPseudomonas aeruginosaassociated with whirlpools
Authors: Havelaar A. H. , Bosman M. , Borst J.
Published: May 2009

Over a period of about 1 year, otitis externa occurred in at least 300 visitors to a recreational park. The infections were associated with the presence ofPseudomonas aeruginosain insufficiently chlorinated whirlpools.
The Spread of Bacterial Infection. Some Characteristics of the Pre-epidemic Phase
Authors: Topley W. W. C.
Published: May 2009

1. During the pre-epidemic stage of the spread of bacterial infection among mice, single deaths, or small groups of deaths, due to the specific infection being studied, are found to occur at considerable intervals before the rise of the main epidemic wave, and to afford a warning that such a wave is at hand.

2. In many cases there may be observed, during the same period, an increase in the daily mortality from all causes.

I should wish to express my thanks to Dr Major Greenwood for the interest he has shown in this investigation, and for much useful information with regard to epidemiological records. I am again greatly mdebted to my co-workers, Dr H. B. Weir and Dr G. S. Wilson, for their assistance in these experiments.
Studies of the Action of Electrolytes on Bacteria. Part II. The Influence of the Trivalent Positive Salts on the Rate of Migration of Bacteria in an Electric Field, and their Effect on Growth and Virulence of Pathogenic Organisms.
Authors: Shearer C.
Published: May 2009

1. In the foregoing experiments evidence is adduced to show that bacteria in spleen broth or neutral Ringer's solution carry a negative charge and move to the anode in an electric field. The addition of a slight trace of a positive trivalent ion such as La or Ce or Yb to the solutions containing the bacteria immediately lessens or neutralises this negative charge, and if the concerntration of these ions is further increased completely abolishes it, and the bacteria undergo flocculation or agglutination. Living bacteria seem much more sensitive to the action of these ions than non-living colloidal particles. The addition of negative trivalent ions to bacterial cultures is without any effect on their movement in an electric field; the negative charge on the bacteria is not increased.

2. Some inconclusive evidence has been brought forward in support of Girard and Audubert's work regarding the influence of the double electric layer of the bacterial cell wall in controlling their biological properties.
Studies in bacterial Variability. The Experimental Production of a Mucoid form of B. paratyphosus B
Authors: Walke E. W. Ainley
Published: May 2009

1. The experimental derivation of a mucoid form of B. paratyphosus B is described.

2. This form, though at one stage non-motile, agreed closely with the “capsulated mucoid forms” of paratyphoid B, isolated by W. Fletcher from two chronic “carrier” cases.

3. The mucoid paratyphoid B was highly dys-agglutinable, and it would not on serological examination be identified as a paratyphoid B.

4. Its colonies were also entirely unlike colonies of paratyphoid B, being large, slimy, and usually dome-shaped, though at other stages of their metamorphosis they presented either an umbilication, or a nipple-like elevation in the centre.

5. The mucoid bacillus possessed the distinctive sugar reactions of paratyphoid B.

6. On suitable manipulation it reverted to the ordinary form.
The Schick Dose of Diphtheria Toxin as a Secondary Stimulus
Authors: Glenney A. T. , Allien K.
Published: May 2009

The injection of the small amount of diphtheria toxin used in the Schick test may act as a secondary stimulus.

A Schick test may therefore cause a great and rapid increase in the immunity of the animals tested.

Examples are quoted of six rabbits and twelve guinea-pigs in Tables II to VII.

2. A fraction of a Schick dose may act as a secondary stimulus. Rabbit G 23 quoted in Table IV, injected with 1/10 of a Schick dose, showed an immunity response, the antitoxic content of its blood rising from 1/50 to nearly 1/10 unit per c.c. in six days.

3. The action of a Schick dose as a secondary stimulus may cause an animal to give a negative reaction when tested seven days or more after the first positive reaction.

This is illustrated by rabbits G 7 in Table III, G 31 in Table II, G 32 and G 34 in Table V and four guinea-pigs in Table VI.

4. The antigenic value of a Schick dose of toxin as a secondary stimulus may be as high as that of a reasonable dose of a toxin-antitoxin mixture suitable for human immunisation. Examples are given comparing the results of the injection of a Schick dose of toxin and of a toxin-antitoxin mixture in the same rabbit in Table III, in different rabbits, G 20 and G 22 in Table IV and reference is made to the companion rabbits to those quoted in Table V.

5. The antigenic value of a Schick dose as a secondary stimulus can be demonstrated:

A. In animals which have not produced a detectable quantity of antitoxin (that is less than 1/2000 of a unit per c.c.) as the result of a primary stimulus.

See both rabbits in Table II, rabbit G 20 in Table IV, both rabbits in Table V, and guinea-pig FF 19. v in Table VII. The four guinea-pigs in Table VI probably come under the same heading.

B. In animals whose actively produced antitoxin has fallen below a de tectable level.

See rabbit G 7 in Table III.

(These results add further confirmation to the phenomenon reported in the paper “Active immunity to diphtheria in the absence of detectable antitoxin” (Glenny and Allen, 1922).

6. A Schick dose of toxin which gives a positive reaction may, by acting as a secondary stimulus, produce a rapid increase in the antitoxic value of animals already containing some actively produced antitoxin.

See guinea-pig LL 17. vi in Table VII.

7. A Schick dose of toxin which causes no reaction may, by acting as a secondary stimulus, produce a rapid increase in the antitoxic value of animals already containing some actively produced antitoxin.

See guinea-pigs in Table VII.

8. A Schick dose of toxin may fail as a secondary stimulus if the antitoxic content at the time of injection is comparatively high.

See rabbit G 21 in Table IV.
The Bacteriological Control of Milk Production
Authors: Bigger Joseph W.
Published: May 2009

The author was recently asked to advise the Boards of two Dublin hospitals as regards the cleanliness and general suitability of the milk supplied to them. In order to find out exactly the present position of the milk supply, it was decided to investigate bacteriologically the influence of the various factors at work from the time the milk left the cows till its delivery at the hospitals.
Behaviour of Diphtheria Bacilli in Acidified Media, especially with reference to Virulence Tests
Authors: Hall I. Walker
Published: May 2009

1. The growth of diphtheria bacilli in suger-free pure casein digest broth may be accelerated by the addition of dilute nitric, acetic and lactic acids, and delayed by certain monobasic fatty acids.

2. The limiting acid zone for toxic and non-toxic varieties is unaffected by initial dilute acidifications by several acids, but incresaed by the addition of citric acid.

3. The time periods and intensity of the reaction changes produced by diphtheria bacilli growing in a sugar-free casein digest medium are altered by the addition of certain acids. Toxic strains produce earlier and more progressive alkalinity when dilute acetic or nitric acid is included in the medium: and later and lessened alkalinity in the presence of butyric, formic, and propionic acids. Certain other typical acids do not exert any obvious action. Non-toxic strains are less affected by the selected acids, although butyric acid generally retards reaction changes.

4. The time required for virulence testing is decreased, and the potency of the bacillus under examination is more evident when 1/200 η acetic or nitric acid is added to the culture medium. Acidified casein digest plus peptone broth yields practically the same results as acidified fermented veal peptone infusion. The acidification does not affect the metabolism of non-toxic strains.

5. The disadvantages of unfermented meat infusions and the ascribed harmful effects of the fermentation products in fermented meat broths, may perhaps be avoided by the substitution of casein digest peptone medium. The advantages of the starting action of the glucose may be retained by adding acetic or nitric acid to the casein digest.

6. Individual strains of diphtheria bacilli differ considerably in their capacity of altering the reaction of culture media, and in their toxic potency. It does not seem permissible to apply to newly isolated organisms all the published results obtained from cultures that have been repeatedly subcultured and established as toxin producers in nutrient bouillon. As a presumptive test in the virulence testing of bacilli just transferred from human tissues to artificial culture media the tendency of non-toxic strains to produce early formation of alkali in adequately buffered and adjusted unfermented veal broth may be thought worthy of extended trial.
OnBacillus coliInfections of the Urinary Tract especially in relation to Haemolytic Organisms
Authors: Dudgeon Leonard S. , Wordley Eric , Bawtree Frank
Published: May 2009

(1) Two types of B. coli are met with in urinary infections-haemolytic and non-haemolytic. Haemolytic colon bacilli are much commoner in infections in the male (72 per cent.) and non-haemolytic in the female (70 percent).

(2) It was very uncommon to obtain both these types of colon bacilli associated in any particular case, or for a haemolytic infection to be followed by a non-haemolytic, or vice versa.

(3) No evidence was obtained of direct relationship between the urinary haemolytic colon bacilli and those of the intestinal tract.

(4) The haemolytic urinary colon bacilli were readily grouped by appropriate colon anti-sera, but this result was much less common with the non-haemolytic strains.

(5) Culture media, in our experience, were of little value in the grouping of colon bacilli.

(6) A haemolytic colon bacillus has not been cultivated by us from the blood stream in the human subject.

(7) Two cases of acute infection were met with, caused by strongly haemolytic, but atypical, colon bacilli.

(8) The blood sera from “normal” cases and from coli infections were tested for the presence of coli agglutinins. Several coli antigens were employed. A very much higher percentage of positive findings were obtained with coli cases.

(9) Living colon bacilli, haemolytic and non-haemolytic, can be inoculated into rabbits in small or massive doses without serious ill-effect-in fact these animals have a remarkable tolerance for these organisms. No marked anaemia was produced by the injection of living or dead bacilli or filtered broth cultures. Agglutinins and precipitins were rapidly formed with the haemolytic strains.

(10) Eenal infections in rabbits were not obtained by the injection intravenously of various strains of urinary and faecal colon bacilli.

(11) Saturation agglutinin experiments showed in the majority of instances that colon anti-sera, made from non-haemolytic strains, are not desaturated by non-haemolytic colon bacilli other than autogenous strains, while with the urinary haemolytic colon anti-sera and haemolytic colon bacilli a much wider range of action is obtained.

(12) Precipitins and complement fixation reactions were readily obtained with coli rabbit anti-sera and filtered beef broth coli cultures.

(13) The action of No. 220 soluble mercurochrome was investigated in the treatment of coli infections of the urinary tract. This substance was found to be of definite therapeutic value, especially when employed in conjunction with vaccine therapy.