Tubercle Bacillus and Laboratory Methods in Tuberculosis

T HIS iS .A very interesting book. It is divided into two main sections one on the tubercle bacillus and one on laborator-y methods. The section on the tubercle bacillus gives a most interesting and comprehensive survey of the great amount of wvork that has been done on the characteristics of the organism-its mo)rphology, the cultural characteristics of its various types, its pathogenicity for (lifferent animals and its virulence, and an account of chemical structure. It is a good summnary of present knowledge, and slhows the complexity of the subject and the varying opinions held. In a book of this size only a failrly brief resume is possible of suclh a vast subject, but a good bibliogratphy is given for those who may wish to make a more detailed study. The section on Laboratory Methods is comprelhensive and plractical, and most of the wvelltried and recommended methods are giv-en. The fact that there are so nmany methods indicates lhow difficult can be the confirmation of tuberculous infection. Laboratory workers will find this section useful, though the more experience(d will simplify some of the procedures given. I wvouldl have liked perhaps some imiore detail of holo to prepalel) various kinds of material for culture. The chapteron chemotherapy and anti-biotics is up-to-date and practical, as is also that on tuberculin and its application. L. V. It.