In a paper published in the Journal of the R.A.M.C., December 1917, it was demonstrated, that B. tetani was susceptible of classification by serological methods into at least three “Types.” Since the publication of that paper, a fourth Type has been encountered; but, so far, it has been demonstrated only in five instances—four being from cases of declared tetanus which were not, however, fatal.

Following the capture of Jerusalem and in the early months of 1918 Capt. C. M. Craig, R.A.M.C., obtained a culture of a proteus-like bacillus from the civil Jewish bacteriologist of that city. He was informed that this organism was being extensively used by German and Austrian bacteriologists on the Eastern front for the diagnosis of Typhus Fever. After making some preliminary observations on its agglutination by the sera of typhus patients he forwarded the culture on to this laboratory for further investigation, the preliminary account of which was published by Craig and Fairley (21 Sept., 1918, Lancet, pp. 385–6).