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380
M
The biological method of CALMETTE and GUERIN, namely, the rapid destruction of all extraneous germs in glycerinated calf lymph by the incubation of the latter at the body temperature for a varying period of time has now been shown to give too untrustworthy results for its adoption in general practice.
The potassium cyanide method of GAYLORD and WHEELER would appear to have been almost entirely disregarded, owing to the weakening action which this salt exerts upon the vaccine virus itself.
The chloroform method of GREEN has lately received a considerable amount of atten- tion. It is claimed that this process is capable of rendering a vaccine lymph germ free, so far as non-sporing micro-organisms are concerned within an exceedingly short time.
In the hands of competent authorities, calf lymph so prepared gives exceedingly const- ant results, and insures us of obtaining a potent supply of vaccine within a day or two. Indeed so favourable are the reports upon this modification of the preparation of the virus, that it is proposed during the following year, to conduct experiments, with a view to obtaining an efficient supply of lymph on the shortest notice.
It may be incidentally noted, that the behaviour of vaccine lymph towards the action of glycerine, heat, chloroform, potassium cyanide, etc., is a strong point in favour of the view that the causal agent of vaccinia is not of a bacterial nature.
Scientific Publications prepared during the Year.
1. A case of acute Endocarditis due to the Micro-coccus Gonorrhaal.-Published in the British Medical Journal- March, 1905.
In this paper particular attention was directed to the infectious nature of the Gono- coccus. Within recent years, many proofs have been forthcoming to establish the fact that this micro-organism, in addition to being the usual exciting agent of infective urethritis, may reach the general blood stream and set up metastatic disease.
The Gonococcus may be regarded as an occasional exciting agent of Septicænia.
2. Plague in Cats.-Published in the Lancet.-April, 1905.
In this publication, the followings facts were established :—
(a.) Cats may suffer from plague.
(b.) Cat plague may be acute or chronic.
(c.) The type of disease is septicæmic.
(d.) Cats may occasionally play a part in the dissemination of plague infection.
(e.) In plague infected districts, possible plague infection in cats is of great
importance from a domestic point of view.
(f.) In plague infected areas, cats probably become infected through plague rats
and mice, which they devour as food.
3. The Incidence of Disease in Hongkong.-Published in the Journal of Tropical Medicine.-May, 1905.
In this paper, my attention was directed to the prevalence of different forms of disease in the Colony. The incidence of exotics, like plague and cholera, was summarised as briefly as possible, and conclusions, based upon my experience of these diseases in Hong- kong, were drawn as to the best means of their eradication.
4. The Spread of Plague Infection by Insects.—Published in the Centralblatt für Bakteriologie.-November, 1905.