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16: No. 10, 999, 1931) and consists essentially of precipitating the proteins present by the addition of Tsuchiya's reagent and centrifugation in parallel with a similarly precipitated solution of known pro.ein content, specially graduated conical centrifuge tubes being used. The level of the precipitate is then read and the figures substituted in a formula which gives the total protein present in mg. per 100 c.c. The protein content of 242 fluids was estimated in the present series and of 138 which were positive for the meningococcus the average proved to be 456.75 mg. per 100 c.c. (normal average according to McNaught 29 mg.). These and other data of a different nature have not yet been subjected to detailed analysis such as may reveal interesting relations. The cultures of meningococcus (Neisseria intracellu- laris) isolated during the epidemic were sub-cultured and the majoirty kept alive and towards the latter part of the year these were subjected to type analysis. The antisera used were obtain- ed from the Medical Research Council and consisted of Gordon and Murray's Types I, II, III and IV. The strains were sub- cultured for two or three months at least before the preparation of emulsions, except in a few instances in the early part of the epidemic. Emulsions were heated at 60°C. for one hour before the addition of 0.5% phenol. They were then kept for some months before being typed. The results may be seen in the accompanying table.
Total No. of Strains.
Type Type Type Type
Indefinite.
III
IV
Inagglu- tinable.
45
1
0
32
0
10
2
2.2%
71.1%
0
22.2%
4.4%
It will be noted that type III preponderates greatly to the complete exclusion of type II and IV. The agglutinating titre of the strains placed in many instances among type III was so nearly equalled by that of type I that it is almost certain that some of them really belong to the closely allied type I, with which only one strain was positively identified. With regard to the 10 strains labelled as indefinite, most of these showed prac- tically equal agglutination with type I and ype III antisera and it was thought better to place them in this group provision- ally. They are being further studied and it is expected that some of them at least will be found to belong definitely to type I. Two strains were found to be completely inagglutinable, although they are undoubtedly meningococci. It is possible that these may correspond to Dopter's para-meningococcus beta and gamma or the C and D types of Nicolle, Debains, and Jonan.
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The 45 strains studied form a practically complete cross- section of the epidemic, as they were maintained routinely throughout and such loss as of course occurred through death of cultures was similarly equally spread throughout the period. The results obtained by this study are being applied in the pre- paration of the antimeningococcic serum for the supply of which we are responsible.
An investigation is being carried out on the presence and localization of Negri bodies in the brains of rabbits inoculated with the "fixed" rabies virus used in the Institute. The sup- posed site of election of these bodies in certain areas of the mid- brain recently described by workers in South Africa is being subjected to test on a series of brains. The progress of this work is necessarily slow owing to the restricted supply of the material for study but it is being pursued steadily and the results will be reported in due course,
During the year all strains of B. dysenteriae Flexner obtain- ed by culture from stools were kept by subculture, and a begin- ning was made late in the year on their serological classification The research planned consists of, firstly, eliminating all strains inagglutinable to a Flexner polyvalent serum, secondly, placing the remainder as far as possible among their particular type- group (V.W.X, Y. & Z. etc.) and finally, subjecting the inagglutin- ables and any doubtfully reacting strains to more detailed ex- amina ion in the hope of uncovering further Flexner strains of an antigenically separate type. Later, perhaps, any such strains encountered may be compared with those of a similar nature recently isolated and studied by Boyd in India. (Jr. R.A.M.C. 59: Nos. 4-5, 241 and 321, 1932).
(6) General. The ques ion of the provision of increased room for the work of the Institute will have to be faced in the not far distant future. The steady and continuous increase in the volume of diagnostic work being done and the consequent expansion of the activities of the staff will demand this. Already one of the two main laboratories is far too congested for efficient work and there is absolutely no possibility of extra space being found. It must not be forgotten that exactly one quarter of our laboratory space was handed over to accommodate the Malaria Bureau about two years ago, so that the Institute is precisely that much worse off than it was at that time and this with almost double the amount of diagnostic work to be taken care of. Either the present building will have to be added to (and thus per- petuated) or else a new building in more suitable surroundings will have to be built for the purpose.
The isolated position of the Institute from the point of view of clinical material is an immense drawback. The absence of such contact robs us of much possibility of research, the lack of which results in a tendency towards an academic and detached
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