Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, a penicillium-like fungus, generally not considered pathogenic for human tissues has been occasionally isolated from cases of onychomycosis and from smooth skin lesions since the late 19th century. Isolates have been cultured on chunks of moist sterile calf hooves (Blank, 1951). An isolate has also been cultured in a distilled water medium containing glucose, salts and vitamins and containing particulate hoof keratin as sole source of nitrogen (Kapica and Blank, 1957). [...]

The majority of investigations on the carotenoid pigments of bacteria have dealt with the identification of the types of carotenoids present in bacteria. Since the publication of Sullivan's paper in 1905 little work has been done to show which factors affect the synthesis of carotenoids in bacteria. Most of the investigations which have been conducted along this line have dealt with the effect of various carbon sources, inorganic ions, pH and temperature on pigmentation. [...]

There is abundant evidence in the literature which suggests, that chloramphenicol therapy in typhoid fever influences the antigenic character of S.typhi. Typhoid patients treated early in the disease with chloramphenicol do not produce, in most cases, antibodies to S.typhi. The rate of relapse in these patients is high and the incidence of carriers is not improved by treatment with this antibiotic. However, if typhoid vaccine is given, normal antibodies develop to a high titer.

Candida albicans (Robin, Berkhout, 1923) is the most common pathogenic fungus isolated from clinical material. It was first observed by Langenbeck in 1839 at autopsy. He found this yeast-like fungus in the intestines of a person who had died from typhoid fever. In 1842, David Gruby, the founder of medical mycology, clearly recognized yeast-like fungi involved in thrush of small children. [...]

The first reports on toxin-neutralizing substances date back to the early 1890's, when Metchnikoff demonstrated that Bacillus subtilis was able to produce substances which neutralized diphtheria toxin, tetanus toxin and snake venom after a period of "in vitro" combination. It was further shown that fungi, such as Isarias, Sporotrichous and Torula, parasites of insects and human parasites, destroyed the toxicity of various bacterial toxins (Metchnikoff, 1897).

Note: Missing page 118. / The widespread use of mass roentgenographic surveys in the past decade has led to an increase in the proportion of individuals having few or doubtful clinical signs and symptoms of tuberculosis. It is difficult and often impossible to demonstrate the presence of the tubercle bacillus in the excreta of such individuals by the use of cultural methods in common laboratory use. Since recovery of the tubercle bacillus admits of no further uncertainty in the diagnosis, its detection in doubtful cases has an importance which can scarcely be overestimated.

This problem was undertaken with the purpose of investigating the possibility of rendering visible an otherwise invisible phenomenon which occurs with pathogenic T. pallidum in the presence of syphilitic sera. Cain (1953) described a microscopic agglutination test which agreed rather well with the Treponema Pallidum Immobilization Test of Nelson and Mayer (1949) , and it was felt that there was a possibility this might be moved from the realm of the microscope to that of a macroscopic tube-type agglutination similar to the Widal test.

This investigation was originally undertaken because it offered a challenge to attempt the solution of a biological connundrum which has existed for more than half a century. As will be seen later, in the review of the literature, T. pallidum has yet to be grown in vitro (with retention of its pathogenicity for experimental animals) and this fact alone would be enough to stimulate an investigation of the fundamental biological properties of this organism. At the same time, the successful in vitro cultivation of T. pallidum would undoubtedly lead to the development of a stable specific antigen and have far reaching effects in syphilis research. [...]

The host and parasite relationship of the tubercle bacillus and tissue cells has been extensively studied since the days of Koch. The ability or virulent tubercle bacilli to penetrate and to multiply intracellularly causing damage to the host cell has not yet been fully explained. Suter (1952) believes that the fate of the infection could be attributed mainly to the inhibition or some vital function or the cell with its consequent destruction. Thus two properties at least may be necessary to enable tubercle bacilli to establish progressive infection.

Every aspect of modern development utilizes large bodies of water for the disposal of wastes. Increasing numbers of rivers, lakes, and streams that were once relatively pure are now being subjected to pollution, as it has become the established (or at least accepted) practice to discharge every kind of waste into water. The underlying principle of such a procedure is based on both dilution, and auto-purification occurring in flowing water. [...]