VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



81 



and are equally or nearly iviually potent; it would appear from one of the 

 experiments that the organs so effective are not limited to those of the guinea 

 pig. The nature of this body or bodies is also being investigated by us. 



" The form of these experiments may prove of use in determining the strength 

 of the hemolytic power of an experimental serum. Instead of estimating the 

 titer by reference to red corpuscles, this may be done by estimating the titei; in 

 terms of extracts of organ." 



On the toxicity of castor-bean meal, Mikssnee (Abs. in Rec. MM. V^t., 86 

 (J 909), No. 9, PI). 33Jf-336). — The author has conducted experiments to deter- 

 mine the amounts of castor-bean meal which are fatal when fed to domestic 

 animals, and summarizes in the following table the amounts found to be fatal 

 when administered at a single meal. 



Doficfi of cuHtor-heaii meal causing death in domefitic animaU. 



Diseases of domestic animals [in Japan], C. Shimooka (In Agriculture in 

 Japan. Tokyo: iiori., 190H, pp. 338-3JiG). — According to the statistics given, the 

 diseases of domestic animals most prevalent in Japan are anthrax, farcy, and 

 rinderpest, while symptomatic anthrax appears to be increasing from year to 

 year. Foot-and-mouth disease, swine erysipelas, and rabies also occur, but hog 

 cholera, sheep pox, and i)leuro-i)nounionia have not been reported. 



The diseases of the eye in domesticated animals, H. Gray {Vet. Rec, 21 

 (1909), No. 1082, pp. 678-688). — An account presented at the meeting of the 

 Central A'^eterinary Medical Society at the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, 

 April, 1909. 



The bacteriological diagnosis of anthrax by cultures from, the skin, A. 

 CiucA. «/((/ (J. Stoickscu {Arliira ]'<'t., 6 {1909), No. 2, pp. 71-85; ahs. in Vet. 

 Rec., 22 {1909), No. 1095, pp. 3, J,).— The authors have drawm the following 

 conclusions fi*om the investigations here recorded : 



"The vegetative form of the anthrax l)acillus does not endure for more than 

 48 hours within the carcasses of animals dead of anthrax, on account of the 

 putrefactive processes which take place in the cadaver. In the capillaries of 

 the skin, it endures longer, and can there find conditions suitable for sporula- 

 tion later. The spores of the anthrax bacillus in the .-skin resist the action of 

 atmospheric agents and of chlorid of sodium for more than a year. The 

 bacteriological diagnosis of anthrax is always possible by cultures from the 

 skin of putrefied carcasses, stretched upon a piece of wood to dry, and sent to 

 laboratories. This method should be adopted as soon as possible for the 

 diagnosis of anthrax in suspected carcasses when immediate investigations can 

 not be undertaken — especially in summer, when the organs rapidly putrefy d,e- 

 spite all precautions." 



Vaccination against anthrax, A. Balint {AUatorvosi Lapok, 31 {1908), No. 

 2-',, pp. 298, 299; ahs. in Uul. Inst. Pasteur, 7 {1909), No. 6, p. 268).— The author 

 has vaccinated more than 6,000 animals with Pasteur's vaccines without failure 



