488 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



This ])jiriisit(> \v:is also observed in the blood of a yearling heifer sufleriiig 

 from piroiiiasiuosis. due to I'iroitlastiKi iniitaii.s. Two references to this disease 

 by A. Theiler are mentioned. 



Ratin bacillus and Bacillus enteritidis, V. I.r;BRAM (Ccntbl. Bakt. [etc.], 

 I. Aht.. Orifh. .70 {HKl'.h. .\o. ./. /*/*. .il'i-.ilS; alts, in Jour. Roy. Mirror. Soc. 

 [London], 1909, No. 6, p. 161). — The autlior has studied the ratin bacillus and 

 finds that it bears a strong resemblance to B. cntcrituUx, botli in i)athogenic and 

 cultural characters. 



A contribution to the biology of the glanders bacillus, W. Stickdorn 

 [Ccntbl. Bakt. [etc.]. 1. AM.. OrUj.. .70 (1909). \o. I. p)}. .7-22).— The author 

 finds that the virulence of the glanders bacillus is lowered by prolonged cultiva- 

 tion on nutrient media. After passing thi'ougli white mice the virulence is 

 maintained for these mice but is slightly lowered for gray mice. When passed 

 through pigeons the virulence is retained for pigeons and increased for gray 

 mice. 



Contagious equine pneumonia, B. Malkmus (Jour. Compar. Path, and 

 Thcr., 22 (1909), No. '/. pp. 30S-32l).—\ paper presented at the Ninth Inter- 

 national A'eterinary Congress at the Hague, Septeml>er, 1909. 



This disease, Ivuown in Germany as Brustseuche, is described as a contagious 

 fibrinous inflammation of the lungs of the horse, with implication of the body 

 parenchyma, and generally accompanied l)y secondary pleurisy. The actual 

 cause has not as yet been determined, bacteriological investigations having 

 failed to implicate any of several suspected organisms. There is said to be a 

 diversity of opinion as to- whether contagious equine pneumonia constitutes a 

 separate disease or is merely a form of contagious influenza (equine pasteurel- 

 losis). It is not possible to transmit the infection experimentally from one 

 animal to another by any means. 



AVhile peculiar to the horse, it affects all breeds and types of horses. The 

 greatest predisi>osition to the disease is by horses between the ages of .5 and 10 

 years. Foals are rarely attacked. " When a horse in any large stud is attacked 

 with contagious pneumonia and is allowed tf) remain in the stud the disease 

 as a rule soon spreads to some of the other inmates of the stable. . . . When 

 the disease propagates rapidly the causal organism loses in virulence, and, 

 indeed, often to such a degree that in the last of the animals attacked the 

 disease is so mild that it is sci'acely possible to recognize it. . . . 



'• The period of incubation is. as a rule, from .'i to 10 days, but it is frequently 

 less, and sometimes not more than 3 or 4 days. In many cases, however. 14 

 days elaiise before the disease breaks out. . . . The causal agent brings about 

 an inflammation of the lungs with pronouncedly infectious characters, and 

 at the same time determines parenchymatous alterations in all the organs of 

 the body. . . . 



" When both the general and the local symptoms are fully developed the 

 diagnosis of contagious equine pneumonia is easy. In horses there is no other 

 disease of the lungs which is associated with such severe general symptoms, and 

 especially with such striking blood changes. . . . The statistics show that of 

 the horses attacked with contagious equine pneumonia in the Prussian army 

 from 3 to 5 per cent die. This small proportion of fatal cases is mainly 

 ascribable to good care and treatment. In the larger towns the average loss 

 is very much greater and reaches up to 20 per cent. Unfavorable stable condi- 

 tions, working the horses after they are attacked, and delayed treatment are 

 i-esponsible for this high mortality. One observes extraordinary differences 

 in different outbreaks, the disease being sometimes mild, and at others more 

 virulent and fatal. . . . Contagious equine pneumonia is an acute infectious 

 disease, which runs a typical course, as a rule ends in recovery, and leaves 



