Elias Elvove, Ph. D.; Charles W. Hooper, M. D.; D. E. Jackson, M. D., Ph. D. ; Walter L. Mendenhall, M. D.; M. I. Smith, M. D.; R. E. Buchanan, M. D.; James M. Johnson, Ph. D.; E. J. Casselman, B. S.; Charles G. Remsburg, M. S.; Joseph K. Marcus, Ph. D.; Oliver H. Schunk, B. S.; H. W. Streeter, C. E.; George F. White, Ph. D.; Reynold A. Spaeth, Ph. D. Effect of heating to different temperatures on growth of tetanus spores: IV. Hydrogen ion concentration of commercial preparations... V. Relation of the proposed potassium standard to the histamine NOTES ON THE DETECTION OF B. TETANI. By G. W. McCoy, Director, Hygienic Laboratory, and IDA A. BENGSTON, Sanitary Bacteriologist, United States Public Health Service. The occurrence of a number of cases of tetanus following vaccination against smallpox, in which the product of a single manufacturer had been used, made it necessary, assuming that the infection was a direct consequence of the vaccination, to endeavor to determine the source of the contamination. The material for examination consisted of "ivory" points, "sterilized" and unsterilized, glycerinated vaccine virus in bulk, on points, and in capillary tubes; and glycerinated seed vaccine used for propagating the virus. As the cases of tetanus had all followed the use of "ivory" points, though some of each suspected lot of vaccine had been distributed in capillary tubes, our work was begun by attempting to detect the infection in the points as they reached the manufacturer. It was believed that while the process of sterilization which was employedsteaming in an Arnold sterilizer for an hour on each of two successive days-would destroy tetanus spores if the process were properly carried out, oversight or carelessness on the part of an employee might result in the use of points that had not been steamed or that had been inadequately treated. It was thought, therefore, that the most promising method of approaching the problem was to endeavor to detect infection on the unsterilized uncharged points. After administrative action which would prevent the further distribution of suspected material and effect the recall of that outstanding had been taken the following experimental work was carried out, though not in the exact order given here. EXAMINATION OF UNSTERILIZED UNCHARGED IVORY POINTS. The points first tested were planted directly into plain broth fermentation tubes, the broth being made from meat and containing muscle sugar, the tubes having been previously steamed for half an |