VETERINARY MEDICINE. 687 



the phagocytes; the addition of autiphagiues to a but slightly virulent culture 

 of the organism protects it from phagocytosis ; the action of these antiphagines 

 Is specific, that is, they only prevent phagocytosis of the species of microbe 

 from which they arise; and the antiphagines protect this organism only in the 

 animal species for which it is pathogenic. The fact that the leucocytes of 

 various animals l)ehave differently toward the chicken cholera microbe can not 

 be entii-ely explained by the difference in quantity of the opsonins in the serum 

 of these animals. 



An epidemic among geese caused by the Bacillus septicaemiae anserum 

 exsudativae of Riemer, together with a contribution to the knowledge of 

 the pseudo-influenza bacilli, P. Frosch and K. Biekbaum {Cciithl. Bakt, [e<c.], 

 1. AM., Orig., 52 {1909), No. J,, pp. J,S3-J,J,0, figs. 6; ais. in Vet. Rec, 22 {1910), 

 No. 1130, p. 587). — Bacteriological investigations of an epidemic among geese 

 which occurred near Franzburg, Germany, are reported. Although the appe- 

 tites of the birds wei'e maintained, they rapidly became emaciated and died 

 of debility. As the causal agent of the disease, the authors established a 

 slender bacillus with distinctly rounded ends, which was present in great 

 numbers in the cardiac blood, in the pericardial fluid, and in fibrinous deposits 

 upon the heart, the liver, and the intestinal coils. 



Cultivation was at first successful only upon nutrient media containing 

 hemoglobin, but afterwards succeeded upon media without this addition. The 

 bacillus proved to be pathogenic for geese only, and its pathogenicity was 

 most marked when introduced by intramuscular inoculation. An adult goose 

 could not be infected by feeding with the organs of one that had died of the 

 disease after being artificially infected. The virulence of the cultures rapidly 

 became attenuated unless kept up by regular passages through geese. 



The authors consider this organism to be the same as that found by Riemer 

 in an epidemic of geese in Mecklenburg, and described by him as B. septi- 

 cwmke anserum c.rsudatiiHV. They incline to the opinion that on the ground 

 of its morphological and biological characteristics, it must be classed in the 

 influenza group of bacilli. 



A bibliography of 18 titles is appended. 



Stomach worms, hookworms, and other parasites of the digestive tract 

 of ruminants, A. F. Conradi {i^outh CarvUna ,Sta. Rpt. 1909, pp. 65-89). — This 

 report is largely devoted to investigations of the stomach worm. See also a 

 previous note (E. S. R., 21, p. 181). 



This worm {Hwinonchus contortus) occurs normally in the fourth stomach 

 but may be found more or less abundantly in the small intestines during the 

 post-mortem exTr^nation of animals that die. While in the alimentary canal 

 the worms mate and the females lay minute eggs which are excreted in the 

 feces. The eggs are very sensitive to cold, heat, and drought, and may be 

 killed by freezing temperatures as well as by exposure to drought for a short 

 •'■""" "T- a temperature of 88 to 98° F. hatching occurs in from 24 to 48 

 houid, ahu as the temperature falls the time required for hatching increases. 

 There was no development in infested manure dropped November 14, 1908, and 

 left in the pasture under natural conditions of temperature and moisture on 

 the shady side of a tree. A small percentage of eggs hatched outdoors during 

 the warm weather occurring during the third week of November, 1908. When 

 the temperature falls to 60° in the laboratory incubation may require from 

 several weeks to a month, and at 40° all activity is practically discon- 

 tinued. . . . 



" In from 6 days to 2 weeks, depending on the temperature and moisture, the 

 young larvae reach their complete growth in the free state, the maximum 



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