1. A minority only of scarlatina streptococci are agglutinated by antisera for individual strains and no group agglutination has been observed.

2. Absorption tests reveal the existence of common or generalised agglutinogenic constituents but these are not restricted to scarlatina strains and can be recognised among the majority of the haemolytic streptococci isolated from various sources.

3. Though certain serological groups among scarlatina streptococci may be recognised as corresponding generally to “types” described by Smith and Griffith, there is such considerable antigenic overlap among the different groups that the differentiation and relationship of strains cannot be expressed satisfactorily by formulating definite serological types.

4. A system of serological analysis of scarlatina and other haemolytic streptococci is suggested (see Table IV).

5. While strains presenting particular serological characters may be associated more frequently with scarlatina, haemolytic streptococci with common serological characters occur both in scarlatina and other conditions. No essential serological distinction can be drawn between scarlatinal and other haemolytic streptococci and a “Streptococcus scarlatinae” group cannot be defined by serological methods.

6. Among the haemolytic streptococci derived from conditions other than scarlatina no relationship exists between serological characteristics and toxigenic properties (as evidenced by cutaneous reactions to culture nitrates).

We have to thank Drs J. Smith and F. Griffith for cultures of the type strains referred to in the text.

1. The tuberculin reaction properly applied is a reliable test of the presence of tuberculosis in cattle.

2. A method of segregation is described by which any herd can be rendered tuberculin negative in three to four years without diminution of the herd.

3. Evidence is given that recovery from a tuberculous infection can take place in cattle.

4. Calves can only be infected with tuberculosis after birth, such an infection may, however, take place extremely rapidly within the first few days of life.

5. Artificial feeding of calves with sterilised milk must be supplemented by some vitamine-containing food, otherwise “joint ill,” corresponding to rickets in human beings, will develop at about the third or fourth month. Bull calves are more susceptible to “joint ill” than heifers.

A pre-scorbutic condition has been described, but not, as far as the writer is aware, a pre-Beriberi condition, to the existence of which it is the purpose of this communication to draw attention.

Experiments begun in 1925 in Egypt led the writer quickly to realise that comparable results in nutrition studies upon pigeons could only be obtained by a careful choice of the breed. It was found that lightly coloured birds and especially white bids were extremely sensitive to climatic change or to the harmful effects on an inadequate diet.

The experiments herein described show that:

(1) Of the 268 coliform organisms isolated from 32 samples of certified milk, 65.7 per cent, fall within the true B. coli group and 18–6 per cent, in groups X and Y of Stewart.

(2) 54–1 per cent. of the organisms, i.e. those of the B.faecalis alkaligenes group and those in subgroups 1, 2 and 3 of MacConkey which fermented lactose, gave a negative V. and P. and a positive M.R. reaction, can be assumed to be of faecal origin.

(3) 45–9 per cent., namely those organisms of the B. proteus group, those of subgroup 4 of the B. coli group and those of groups X and Y are of the type generally found in soil and water.

(4) All of the 32 samples examined contained coliform organisms in a dilution of 1 in 10 as shown by bile salt agar plates. None of these samples, however, gave a positive reaction with the presumptive test in two out of three tubes of 1/10 c.c. dilution. The presumptive test cannot, therefore, be relied upon to give a true indication of the presence of coliform organisms in milk. The inaccuracy of the test may be due in part to the structure of the ordinary Durham's tube which fails to ensure the collection of the gas produced.

(5) Although the majority of the coliform organisms present in milk ferment lactose other members of the group which are not lactose fermenters occur and consequently their presence is not demonstrated by the presumptivetest.

1. There occurs in nature an organism belonging to the group of Gram-positive aerobic sporing bacilli which closely resembles B. anthracis, especially in its cultural characters.

2. These organisms occur commonly in materials that are frequently examined for the presence of B. anthracis.

3. The B. anthracoides is pathogenic to guinea-pigs and mice under experimental conditions, and would appear to occupy a position between the virulent B. anthracis and the non-pathogenic members of the group of aerobic sporing bacilli, e.g. B. subtilis, B. mesentericus.

4. Subcutaneous injection of cultures of B. anthracoides produces a local inflammation with gelatinous oedema and a fatal septicaemia.

5. Only large doses of living organisms are lethal and attempts to increase the virulence of this organism by various methods have not proved successful.

6. Individual animals vary considerably in their resistance to the organism.

7. With the exception of B. anthracis, the B. anthracoides contrasts with the other members of the group in its pathogenic properties under experimental conditions. Twenty-five strains of this organism have been isolated, each of which possesses pathogenic properties. The pathogenicity of 49 strains of other representatives of the group has been tested, and only one of these was found to have lethal effects.

1. The phenomenon of refection has been confirmed.

2. The incidence of spontaneous growth of rats on a vitamin B-free diet is very much greater when potato starch instead of rice starch is used in the diet.

3. Raw arrowroot starch gave similar but not such good results.

4. The protective action is largely destroyed by gentle cooking of the starch, and less so by extraction with alcohol.

We wish to thank Prof. Sir F. G. Hopkins for his encouragement and interest during this work.

One of us (S. K. K.) is indebted to the International Health Board of the Rockefeller Foundation for a fellowship, and the other (E. W.) is indebted to the Medical Research Council for a personal grant.

1. Notification and hospitalisation have had no apparent effect on the death rate from pneumonia in Glasgow.

2. The notifications of pneumonia do not represent the true incidence of the disease, though there is reason to believe that in Glasgow they represent about 76 per cent. of the total cases.

3. It has been shown that in Glasgow the pneumonia mortality in children under five years is closely related to environmental conditions.

4. Evidence has been adduced to suggest that the mortality figures for pneumonia in children under five years are considerably influenced by out breaks of measles and whooping cough, especially the former.

5. There has been in Glasgow since 1855 a striking alteration in the conception of what constitutes bronchitis and broncho-pneumonia in children under five years; what is now recognised as broncho-pneumonia once was largely certified as bronchitis.