ance the latter part of May or the first of June but most cases of poisoning have occurred in the fall and winter on the dried plants.

Field observations and laboratory experiments indicate that it is poisonous at all stages and does not lose its toxicity by drying. Feeding experiments reported seem to show that it is quite toxic for both sheep and rabbits and that previous difficulties in determining its toxicity rested largely in the inability to get animals to eat the dry plant even when hungry. They seem to eat the green plant quite readily and apparently only a very small amount is required for destruction. Sheep evade the milkweed, however, when more palatable plants are present, and it is only when they are hungry and can find little else that they eat it.

"In the few cases observed in the field and in those animals poisoned experi mentally the following symptoms in sheep have predominated. First, there is dullness, the animal rapidly becoming comatose; this is followed by convulsions at irregular but at shorter intervals until death. The heart beat is at first very rapid, becoming gradually weaker. There may or may not be a rise in temperature. The pupils of the eyes are widely dilated. Autopsy reveals no characteristic lesions. The lymph glands are injected in many cases, likewise the trachea. There is no evidence of irritation in the digestive tract.”

Dependence must be placed upon prevention of losses through eradication of the plant from infested fields, orchards, corrals, etc., since no specific remedy for milkweed poisoning has been found.

Larkspur or "poison weed," C. D. MARSH, A. B. CLAWSON, and H. MARSH (U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bul. 988 (1918), pp. 15, figs. 6).—A revision of Farmers' Bulletin 531, previously noted (E. S. R., 29, p. 280). A detailed technical account has also been noted (E. S. R., 35, p. 779).

Botulism: A method of isolating Bacillus botulinus from infected materials, E. C. DICKSON and GEORGINA E. BURKE (Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc., 71 (1918), No. 7, pp. 518–521).—The technique is given of the preparation of three kinds of culture media, glucose-infusion agar, glucose-infusion broth, and sheep's brain medium, which the authors have found satisfactory for the isola tion and growth of B. botulinus in cases of food poisoning. The points co sidered essential for the identification of B. botulinus are "(1) the demonstration of large, Gram-positive bacilli with rounded ends and terminal spores. (2) the occurrence of anaerobic growth of characteristic appearance in glucose-agar cylinders with formation of gas and fragmentation of the medium, (3) the blackening of brain medium, and (4) the characteristic growth in glucose-infusion broth, with the production of a virulent toxin which can be demonstrated in filtered broth by the inoculation of susceptible animals, and which is neutralized by specific antitoxic serum prepared by immunizing goats to the toxin of known B. botulinus."

The specificity of anaplasms, J. M. QUEVEDO (Rev. Soc. Med. Vet. [Buenos Aires], 3 (1917), No. 1, pp. 11-26, figs. 7).-The author concludes, from the studies here reported, that anaplasms constitute a species of Hæmosporidia which is the cause of a particular disease, the anaplasmosis of bovines.

The virulence of the blood of animals affected with foot-and-mouth disease, G. Cosco and A. AGUZZı (Rev. Gén. Méd. Vét., 27 (1918), No. 318, pp. 233– 240). This is a continuation of investigations previously noted (E. S. R., 37. p. 689).

A study of the virulence of blood serum and red blood corpuscles at different stages of the disease showed that in the majority of cases the virulence of the red corpuscles reaches its height at the beginning of the second and third periods of fever, diminishing as the temperature rises. On the contrary, the serum is more virulent when the fever has reached its height. In equal doses the serum

seems to be more virulent than the blood corpuscles. The serum becomes inactive after 21 days in the refrigerator, while the red corpuscles remain virulent even after 32 days. Ten cc. of red corpuscles, extracted at the most favorable time, are capable of producing the disease, while the serum can produce the disease in minimal doses of 0.25 cc. In successive passages through six animals the virulence of the corpuscles was markedly increased. Inoculation by ingestion was found to give negative results.

Inoculation of the serum into the jugular vein invariably produced the disease, while similar inoculation of the red corpuscles in doses up to 35 cc. did not produce the disease, although there resulted a general reaction represented by an elevation in temperature manifesting itself almost immediately and continuing for about 24 hours. This has been made the basis of a method of active vaccination. Of 16 cows receiving a single injection all but one have remained immune during the period of two months although exposed to natural contagion which caused the disease in the control animals.

While the results are not yet conclusive, the authors feel that the foundation has been made for a successful active immunization against the disease.

Cultivation of the causative organism of epizootic lymphangitis and experimental reproduction of the disease in the horse, A. BOQUET and L. NÈGRE (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 166 (1918), No. 7, pp. 308-311).-The authors, who have succeeded in cultivating Cryptococcus farciminosus through the mycelial stage, describe the manner in which this has been accomplished. By inoculating the horse with subcultures they have demonstrated that the cultivated fungus is the cause of epizootic lymphangitis.

The passage of the rabies virus through the ocular conjunctival mucous membrane, L. SANI (Abs. in Vet. Rec., 30 (1917), No. 1524, pp. 119, 120).--The author concludes that it is only possible to produce rabies by the passage of the virus through the ocular conjunctival mucous membrane when the virus used is one of exalted virulence for the species of animal used. "This form of experimental rabies may be produced both in animals with a macroscopically sound mucous membrane and in those with intentionally produced recent and bleeding lesions of the membrane. Positive results from the instillation of rabies virus into the ocular conjunctival sac are, however, rare, and the instillation does not cause rabies when the virus used is not of maximum virulence for the species of animal concerned.

"The rarity of positive results in such experiments should be ascribed to the abundant lachrymation which always follows the instillation of the virus into the ocular conjunctival sac, rather than to a true neutralization of the virus in situ. Nevertheless, a neutralization of virus absorbed in minimal quantities must be admitted, especially in the experments made with injured mucous membranes, though lesions of the ocular conjunctival mucous membrane are a factor of secondary importance in the genesis of experimental rabies."

Researches in rheumatism, W. LINTZ (Jour. Lab. and Clin. Med., 3 (1918), No. 9, pp. 509-519)." In some cases of acute articular rheumatism a microorganism can be isolated from the blood. The reason that the positive blood cultures are not found more frequently in acute articular rheumatism is perhaps because the bacteria tend to localize in Aschoff's nodules, and except in very virulent forms of the disease are rapidly destroyed in the circulation. The microorganism isolated resembles a streptococcus. Whether McConkey's bilesalt media can be used as a differential media to exclude streptococci, as claimed by Beattie, must yet be proved, for we know that the streptococcus group is not only a large but a very variable one. The resistance of the isolated. microorganism to drying is certainly unique for a nonspore-bearing bacteria, particularly for a streptococcus.

"Acute articular rheumatism, with its frequent complication, pericarditis, has apparently been reproduced in a dog, by an organism isolated from the blood of a patient suffering from a similar disease. The reason why the other animals failed to contract the disease may have been (1) lack of susceptibility on the part of the animal, (2) attenuation of the microorganism, or (3) both factors. Morphologic identification of the microorganism is unreliable, since the diplo coccus on some of the media will grow in long chains.

"Further studies are necessary to determine whether acute articular rheumatism is caused by a specific microorganism, particularly immunologic investigations which are under way."

The cause and prevention of hairless pigs, H. WELCH (Montana Sta. Circ. 71 (1917), pp. 37-47, figs. 9).—An abstract of Bulletin 119, previously noted (E. S. R., 39, p. 187).

Hog cholera, F. C. MINKLER (New Jersey Stas. Rpt. 1916, pp. 132–136).-Conditions prevailing at the station in 1916 seem to prove that the serum simultaneous treatment for hog cholera under average conditions stunts the growth of hogs. The claim that suckling pigs from immune sows carry such immunity during their nursing period was not verified, for losses were recorded among suckling pigs nursing immune sows, although the sows themselves were perrectly healthy.

It is pointed out that if it is desired to establish permanent immunity in a herd where the serum simultaneous method is involved it is absolutely necessary to keep the young suckling pigs free from external infection previous to the serum simultaneous treatment, and that this double treatment should not be instituted until after the pigs weigh at least 50 or 60 lbs. It is also suggested that if it becomes necessary to subject nursing pigs to the double treatment before they have reached the weaning age the treatment should be repeated in six or eight weeks.

The immunity of suckling pigs to hog cholera, C. L. MCARTHUB (Arkansas Sta. Bul. 151 (1918), pp. 3-22).--This bulletin is a report of experimental work conducted under control conditions to determine whether cholera-immune so transmit this immunity to their young. Pregnant sows which had not been exposed to the disease were given the Dorset-Niles antihog cholera serum with virus and kept in sheds with concrete floors until after the litters were weaned. In a few instances the serum without the virus was used. The litters were exposed in different ways to hog cholera to test their immunity.

The results of the experiments would indicate that sows actively immunized against hog cholera by the Dorset-Niles method transmit this immunity to their young. A large percentage of the pigs remained immune as long as they were suckling and the sows were immune. When the sow contracted the disease the young pigs did not usually survive more than a few days. There seems to be but little difference in the susceptibility of the pigs by the various methods of exposure, but there was considerable variation in the susceptibility of different pigs of the same litter. As the immunity was found to last only a few weeks after weaning, the author considers it advisable to vaccinate pigs just before or shortly after weaning. Second litters were found as highly immune as the first litters in all cases, and in some cases even more highly immune.

The data was secured from 31 litters, covering a total of 179 pigs, of which 39 succumbed during the course of the experiments. Of these only 15 showed cholera lesions, giving an immunity of 91.7 per cent of the pigs under observation.

Contagious septicemia in swine in Morocco, VELU (Rec. Méd. Vét., 94 (1918), No. 9, pp. 236-241).--Clinical observation has shown that there exists among young swine in Morocco a very contagious disease characterized by lesions

somewhat resembling those of septicemia. Bacteriological examination has proved the almost constant presence in the bronchial ganglia of pulmonary lesions and exudates of an ovoid bacterium, which may be considered as a pasteurella. This organism is strongly pathogenic for swine, the source of infection being fecal matter and the path of invasion the digestive and respiratory tracts.

The author emphasizes the importance of the verification of these facts by further study.

Contagious lymphangitis in the horse.—I, New terminology. II, Contribution to the study of the treatment by pyotherapy, BELIN (Bul. Soc. Cent. Méd. Vét., 94 (1918), No. 10, pp. 243–251).—The author proposes a new terminology to differentiate more accurately the various forms of lymphangitis. He suggests that the term epizootic and ulcerous lymphangitis be changed, respectively, to mycotic and bacterial lymphangitis. The mycotic form is subdivided into cryptococcic and sporothricotic, and the bacterial into bacillary, micrococcic, and staphylococcic.

Studies of the different methods of using the pus vaccine, previously noted (E. S. R., 38, p. 587), have led to the conclusion that the best method is to make a series of seven subcutaneous injections, one each day, in a constant dose of 2 cc. If new lesions appear at the end of from 12 to 15 days, a new series of seven injections should be made.

The author discusses also the use of local chemotherapy in the treatment of lymphangitis.

Two new flukes from the dog, M. C. HALL and M. WIGDOR (Jour. Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc., 53 (1918), No. 5, pp. 616–626, figs. 7).—In a series of 300 dogs examined post-mortem at Detroit, Mich., 7 were found to contain intestinal flukes. These represented two distinct species new to science, here described as Alaria americana and A. michiganensis.

A bothriocephalid tapeworm from the dog in North America, with notes on cestode parasites of dogs, M. C. HALL and M. WIGDOR (Jour. Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc., 53 (1918), No. 3, pp. 355–362, fig. 1).—Reference is made to a record of Dibothriocephalus latus from a dog by Van Es and Schalk (E. S. R., 38, p. 689), followed by a report of the occurrence of another case at Detroit, Mich. Lesions due to agents used in killing experiment dogs in anthelmintic investigations, M. C. HALL (Amer. Jour. Vet. Med., 13 (1918), No. 8, pp. 383987). This is a brief report upon the differentiation of the lesions due to the treatment from the lesions due to disease, accident, or the agent used in killing the experimental animals. It is based upon findings in a study of 300 cases.

Poultry pathology observations, H. R. LEWIS and W. C. THOMPSON (New Jersey Stas. Rpt. 1916, pp. 162-168).—This is a discussion of some of the most prevalent and most economically important poultry diseases in New Jersey. These include prolapse of the oviduct, contagious eye roup, tuberculosis, peritonitis, and contagious epithelioma or chicken pox. A suggested treatment for the last disease in its early stages is to remove the scab, paint the wound with iodin, and immerse the head of the hen in a dilute solution of disinfecting material. Observations are also made on the causes and prevention of chick troubles and vices.

Regarding limitations in the interpretation of positive agglutination tests for Bacterium pullorum infections, P. [B.] HADLEY (Jour. Amer. Assoc., Instr. and Invest. Poultry Husb., 4 (1918), No. 6, pp. 42-44).-The author states that the agglutination test as ordinarily employed for the detection of B. pullorum infection in hens is apparently not fully specific. As the result of investigations on this subject which are being conducted at the Rhode Island Experi

ment Station, it has been found that blood from birds infected with or im mune to B. pullorum gives a positive test for bacillary white diarrhea. When the test is performed with Bacillus typhosus (human) antigen instead of B. pullorum antigen, blood from birds infected with the bacillus of fowl typhoid and related types gives a negative test with B. typhosus antigen. It is, therefore, suggested that in routine examinations for B. pullorum infection better results may be obtained if human typhoid emulsions are substituted for emulsions of B. pullorum.

Fowl pox and roup vaccination (Ann. Rpt. Ontario Agr. Col. and Expt. Farm. 43 (1917), pp. 51, 52).—During the course of an outbreak of fowl pox and roup in the college flock of poultry the birds were vaccinated by the Manteufel method. The vaccine was prepared from the exudate and scabs taken from some of the affected birds, and consisted of a suspension of 0.5 gm. of this material pulverized in 100 cc. of physiological salt solution, attenuated at 55° C. for one hour, and filtered. Two vaccines were made, 1 cc. of the suspension being injected subcutaneously.

From the results obtained it is concluded that this method of curing and preventing roup and fowl pox may be effective in some cases, but can not be generally relied upon as the content of the vaccine thus made can not be controlled.

RURAL ENGINEERING.

Irrigation investigations, G. E. P. SMITH and A. L. ENGER (Arizona Sta. Rpt. 1916, pp. 303-310).-Continuing previous work (E. S. R., 35, p. 580), additional data are reported, including run-off measurements and pumping plant tests.

From tests of a 35-horsepower oil engine and a vertical turbine pump at Continental, Ariz., it is concluded that "both the capacity and the fuel economy of oil engines decrease with altitude. The engines built in California should be rated more liberally; they should have some reserve power at an altitude of 2,800 ft. The clearance space should be reduced as the altitude increases "Tops fuel oil of 40 to 44° B. gravity can be burned perfectly in well-designed 4-cycle engines and will give more power per gallon than engine distillate (50° B.)."

Composition of the irrigation waters of Utah, J. E. GREAVES and C. T. HIRST (Utah Sta. Bul. 163 (1918), pp. 43, figs. 11).-Results are reported of 254 analyses of water, including 58 rivers or creeks, the majority of which are used extensively for irrigation purposes; 32 wells, most of which are flowing; 8 springs; 5 reservoirs; and 8 drains.

The composition of the streams varied from 84 to 1,250 parts per million of soluble salts. Thirteen of these contained more than 40 grains per gallon, suggested as the limit by Hilgard. The amount and kind of salt varied with the nature of the drainage basin of the stream, consisting in the headwaters of most streams studied very largely of calcium and magnesium bicarbonate. but being greatly augmented by the influx of saline drainage waters as the stream proceeds downward.

"Some soils are already heavily charged with alkali salts. The waters high in soluble salts must be used with extreme care on such soils. Waters such as the Sevier, Price, Emery, etc., must be used with care on all soils to prevent the accumulation within the soil of the alkali salts.

“Artificial drainage should be applied to tight soils already charged with alkali before highly saline waters are applied. Where possible use should be made of the high waters to flush out the soils as these waters are usually