The termite thrives in an environment which is most unusual and which requires specialized adaptation for survival. Its galleries are largely cellulose as also is its diet. Relatively little combined nitrogen is found in its food other than that derived from consumption of fecal materials of its fellows. That sector of the nitrogen cycle which includes the metabolism of the termite is as yet unexplored.It is probable that the energ)-requirements of the termite are derived from the destruction of cellulose. In addition to the energy required by the animal for its ordinary life processes an additional large amount must be available should it develop that there is any fixation of nitrogen connected with its metabolism. The question of cellulose splitting within the gut of the termite thus is of fundamental importance.Cellulose digestion is not unknown among the invertebrates. Miller and Boynton' have demonstrated the appearance of glucose within the gut of Bankia, the Northwest shipworm. Werner2 has shown that the digestion of cellulose within the intestine of Potosia cwp-ea, the rose chafer, is bacterial in character. Cleveland," however, believes that the enormous numbers of bacteria found within the gut of the termite have no function as cellulose splitters within the intestinal canal of ReticuIoterines fravipes, and his series is reported to have included at least 100 individuals.Inasmuch as opportunity presented itself, through the courtesy of Dr. S. F. Light, to obtain termites from a variety of sources and of a number of different genera, we decided to make a further attempt to demonstrate the splitting of cellulose by bacteria derived from termite gut content. The technique was that usually followed in soil bacteriology. Flasks were prepared containing medium of the following formula : K,HPO,-1 gm. ; MgS0,-1 gm. ; Na,COa -1 gm.; (NH,),SO,-Z gm.: CaC0,--2 gm.; tap water 1OOOcc. A 2-inch 'circle of filter paper was added to each flask and the material then was autoclaved.

No abstract

285menbs were made of energy reflected by the epithelium inside the cheek, it may still be assumed that about one-third of the energy entering the cheek passed through.These studies indicate that living tissue is generally impermeable to all but a narrow b a d of ordinary radiant energy lying between wave lengths of 0.6 to 1.6 micron. Maximum penetration seems to occur at a wave length of 1.15 micron. What physiological or therapeutic effects such radiant energy has is still largely undetermined. A lamp specially designed to deliver rays in the range indicated has been ma!d$e and is available for study.A number of workers recently have demonstrated that it is possible to produce variants among both plants and animals by exposure to ithe effect of X-rays We, in turn!, have endeavored to demonstrate change by a similar procedure applied to the Bacteriophage and to the organism susceptible to the Bacteriophage, following suggestions made by Dr. Olson.Seven strains of B. coli bacteriophage were seleclted and for each of these wecultured the particular strain of B. coli acted upon by its respective strain of bacteriophage. There were selected 7 coli bacteriophages and 6 strains of B. coli for $this series of experiments.These bacteriophages were effective as foliows upon the bacterial strains: one for all the strains, one for 5, one for 2 and 3 could lyse only one strain each of the organisms. There were thus 42 combinations possible in such a set up of tubes in case m y variation were to appear.The organisms were young cultures in the phase of positive logarithmic growth in beef infusion broth and the phages were recent filtrates in the same medium. These were contained within lead free glass test tubes. Exposure to X-ray was carried out at a dlistance of approximately fourteen inches from the target of a Roentgen tube actuated by approximately 75,000 volts of electricity. The exposure period was 30 minutes. Following this treatment each bacterio-The following methods for exposure were followed.at PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV on June 25, 2015 ebm.sagepub.com Downloaded from

No abstract

No abstract