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Further experiments are in progress on the nature of the block in M 97-21, i.e. whether it is lacking an enzyme or is inhibited by a metabolite which it accumulates and which is involved in the valineisoleucine equilibrium. SUMMARY 1. The growth of four mutants of E8cherichia coli requiring L-threonine is inhibited by the presence of L-serine in the culture medium. 2. The inhibition by DL-serine is competitive and is suppressed by D-threonine, a-aminobutyric acid, a-oxobutyric acid, oc-oxo-p-hydroxybutyric acid and L-isoleucine. 3. All the above-listed compounds, except Lisoleucine, exert a sparing effect in the utilization of L-threonine. 4. A mutant requiring either D-threonine, aaminobutyric acid or L-isoleucine is also inhibited by DL-serine, when grown on D-threonine or xaminobutyric acid. 5. These results lead to the hypothesis that Lisoleucine synthesis depends on L-threonine utilization in these mutants.

The above data do not refer in any regard to the etiology of the toxemia, but do suggest that those patients who develop convulsions (eclampsia) in the course of their toxemia may have a primary cerebral dysrhythmia.It may be inferred from the preceding that a careful history together with an electroencephalogram may be of great importance in determining those patients who may develop eclampsia. Furthermore, it is apparent that the proper therapy of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia may include those m-easures generally employed in the treatment of cerebral dysrhythniia. In accord with this, studies are now in progress to elucidate the action of dilantin and other anticonvulsants in the eclamptic and pre-eclamptic states.Seventy-seven percent of 17 eclamptic women had electroencephalograms indicative of cerebral dysrhythniia. Fiftyeight percent of this series gave a family history of convulsive disorders. Summary.The presence of a vacuum was found to have no effect on the destruction of bacteria by germicides. Regardless of whether the organisms were mixed with the germicidal dilutions and kept at atmospheric conditions or placed under a vacuum, the final results were the same.Entirely different results were obtained, however, when gaseous germicides were employed. Tests carried out over a period of about 15 years have shown that the efficiency of the gases was greatly increased in the presence of a vacuum. In fact, under certain conditions organisms could not be destroyed unless a vacuum was employed.Experinzenfnl. The gases which were tested included formaldehyde, methyl bromide, methyl formate, ethylene oxide, and carbon disulfide. With the exception of formaldehyde no one of the gases effected a sterilization after an exposure period of 2 hours. These non-germicidal gases are important for the destruction of insects