178 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



indifferent forms were found to disappear quifldy from the rennet, while the 2 

 other groups developed more or less rapidly in proixjrtion to the numbers 

 originally present in the stomach. 



It is believed that in practice the growth of the beneficial bacteria may be 

 favored by the observance of suitable precautions, such as the cleaning of the 

 stomach, the discarding of the pyloric and fatty portions, which harbor 

 especially the injurious organisms, and the keeping of the rennet at about 30° C. 

 When prepared in this way, the beneficial organisms generally rea«h their high- 

 est numbers in about 2 to 3 days. Through the addition of a mixed culture of 

 Bacillus casei e and Mycoderma in the preparation of rennet it is believed that 

 the practical value of the rennet is increased. 



VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



Report of the veterinary division, T. Flintoff {Orange River Colony Dept. 

 Agr., Ann. Ri)t., 1 {l!l(iJ,-.3), pp. ll-'/S, pis. 3). — An account is presented by the 

 veterinary staff of the Orange River Colony stock inspectors of the prevalence 

 of various animal diseases in the colony, which are classified according to the 

 animal affected. In horses particular attention is given to glanders, horse sick- 

 ness, and osteoporosis ; in cattle, to foot-and-mouth disease, African coast fever, 

 and tuberculosis ; and in pigs, to hog cholera and swine erysipelas. A state- 

 ment is given regarding the number and condition of the government stallions 

 in the colony. 



A new disease in goats, called contagious catarrhal fever or goat distemper, 

 is reported by H. K. Tasker. Goats affected with this disease show greatly 

 swollen ears followed after 5 to 7 days by discharge from the nostrils and eyes. 

 The disease reaches the crisis in about 14 to 18 days. At the height of the 

 disease the animal will stand still nuich of the time, being unable to move 

 except with a staggering gait. The period of incubation is 5 to 7 days. The 

 disease appears to be contagious, although this point is not definitely determined. 



The cause of halisterisis of the bones and therapeutic notes, Klimmer and 

 Schmidt (Monatsli. Prakt. Tierheillc. 17 (1906), No. 11-12, pp. J, 8 1-5 17). —The 

 term halisterisis means deficiency of mineral matter and is used in preference 

 to osteomalacia for the reason that it indicates the cause of the disease rather 

 than the final condition observed in the bones as the result of the disease. The 

 symptoms of halisterisis are described in great detail as observed in cattle, 

 hogs, goats, dogs, and other animals. 



In all cases the disease connnonly referred to inider the name rickets was 

 due to the deficiency of mineral matter in the feed. On the basis of physio- 

 logical experiments a table was prepared indicating the lime requirements of 

 different domestic animals, a-ccording to their size, age, and sex. Other tables 

 are presented showing the percentage of lime and phosphoric acid in a great 

 variety if feed stuffs under different conditions. The literature on this subject 

 is reviewed in connection with the bibliography of 127 titles. The authors come 

 to the conclusion that halisterisis. being due to an insutticient amount of min- 

 eral matter in the feed, should be treated by the addition of suitable bone salts 

 and phosi)hate of lime. 



Immunity in tuberculosis, S. Flexner (Pop. »S'c/. Mo., 69 {1906), No. 3, pp. 

 229-2 'i7). — The more striUing results obtained by investigators with regard to 

 tuberculosis are briefly outlined with i):ii-ticnlar reference to the controversy 

 started by Koch and to recent work of immunizing cattle and other animals to 

 tuberculosis. 



It is believed that no lasting or effective innniniity toward tuberculosis can 

 be obtained by the use of tubercle bacilli killed by heat or any other agency. 



