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Summary. The lipolytic activity of Micrococcaceae on pork fat was investigated by their growth in a fat containing medium. Thirty‐three free fatty acids were detected of which 6 had a carbon chain with < 8 atoms, and were not present in the original fat. In addition to the free fatty acids the formation of 15 carbonyl compounds was detected, most of which were identified. The result of these investigations, and their influence on the microflora of dry sausages has been analysed.

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Summary. A liquid medium for the isolation of staphylococci from foodstuffs, containing lithium chloride, potassium tellurite and glycine as inhibitors of contaminants other than cocci, is described. Micrococci are inhibited in the cultures by anaerobic conditions produced by agar seals. With this medium staphylococci are easily isolated even when their numbers in foodstuffs are low.

The methods employed for a, b and c have been described 2 , 3 • In the case of d, three groups each of six animals were taken; two received 100 and 400 mmgm./kgm., r espectively, by intraperitoneal injection ; the third group was the control. The animals were killed at intervals for examination. The main results may be summarized as follows. (1) Progressive fall in mitotic index. This was observed even with very low concentrations (5 mmgm./kgm.) in the chick embryo tissues, but the onion root was less sensitive. ln the rabbits, the effect was most marked in the lymph glands and spleen. (2) Retardation of the initial phases of mitosis, as indicated by a progressive increase in the relative proportions of prophases compared with anaphases and telophases. This occurred in all types of cell with relatively high dosages. (3) Cytoplasmic and nuclear vacuolation, nuclear hypertrophy, pycnosis, caryorexis and caryolysis in actively proliferating cells, but little effect in nonproliferating cells. Tho germinative tissue of the rabbit testis was exceptional in that it was also unaffected. (4) Chromosome lesions, adhesions, breakages and bridges with eccentric fragments. (5) Absence of effects upon the spindle, in contradistinction• to actinomycin C. These effects suggest that actinomycin }v! is a mitotic poison acting mainly on the chromosomes in preprophase. It may be classified as 'radiomimetic' since it simulates the action of X-rays. H. CRAVER! ::\llontecatini Antibiotic Research Laboratory.