VETERINARY MEDICINE. 683 



The occurrence of avian tuberculosis in hogs, M. Junack {Ztschr. Fleisch u. 

 michhyg., 23 (1913), No. 20, pp. 457-461).— Of 15,000 hogs slaughtered at the 

 abattoir at Kottbus, Germany, 2 per cent were found to have caseated areas 

 in the mesenteric lymph glands, and in 25 per cent of the animals actually 

 found tubercular on inspection the same condition was noted. Many of the 

 latter animals also showed caseated areas in the lymphatic nodules of the large 

 intestine which were of a granular, crumbling consistency. 



The lymph glands of 32 cases were examined microscopically and acid-fast 

 bacilli could be noted in 31 cases in a very short time by the Ziehl-Neelsen 

 method. There was nothing typical about these organisms. In four instances 

 the caseated areas of other organs were examined, and although the organisms 

 were easily detectetl, they were not acid fast. 



Further investigations were made at the Berlin abattoir and out of 200 hogs 

 7 showed the caseated areas, but the seventh animal was also affected with 

 local mesenteric anthrax. In all 7 instances acid-fast bacilli could be noted in 

 smears within 40 seconds. The caseous material from 5 of the cases which 

 included the anthrax hog was injected into guinea pigs, which after 7 to 16 

 weeks "showed no visible changes in those lymphatic glands which could be 

 palpated in the living animal. The animals are to be kept under further 

 observation. 



From the caseous area of the hog affected with local anthrax the avian type 

 of tubercle bacillus was isolated. Cultures were also made in glycerin and 

 agar media and on glycerin-potato. In all three instances the agar-glycerin 

 medium remained sterile but with the potato a growth was obtained. The 

 organisms from the potato were found to be acid fast, and their biology will be 

 the subject of further study. 



The confusing of swine plague with tuberculosis in hogs is also discussed. 



Mammary g'land tuberculosis in a mare, Leibengee (Munchen. Tierarztl. 

 Wchnschr., 56 {1912), No. 44, p. 786; ahs. in CentU. Bakt. [etc.], 1. AM., Ref., 

 56 {1913), No. 7, p. 201). — A description of a case in a 4-year-old mare affected 

 with generalized tuberculosis. 



The etiology of infectious abortion of mares, B. B. Lautenbach {Centbl. 

 Bakt. [etc.], 1. AM., Orig., 71 {1913), No. 5-7, pp. 349-377).— The author's 

 bacteriological and complement fixation investigations and animal experiments 

 led to the conclusion that the infectious abortion of mares is caused by Bacillus 

 D, which has been found by agglutination to belong to the group of hog cholera 

 bacilli and is placed near B. paratypliosus A. The paper includes a review of 

 the literature. 



On the diagnosis of infection with Bacterium pullorum in the domestic 

 fowl, G. E. Gage et al. {ifassachusetts Sta. Bui. I48 {1914), pp. 20, pis. 5). — 

 Experiments conducted with the view of determining whether the diagnosis of 

 B. pullorum infection by testing the eggs of suspected hens is a practical method 

 led to the conclusion that while positive results may be obtained the elimina- 

 tion from the ovary is so irregular the method would be impractical for rapid 

 diagnosis. Preliminary incubation of the eggs in a bacteriological incubator at 

 38 to 39° C. prior to testing was found to aid in detecting the organism. 



The macroscopic agglutination test proved to be a good laboratory method 

 for the detection of adult hens that are harboring, or have harbored, B. pul- 

 lorum. The work is said to substantiate that of Jones (E. S. R., 28, p. 887) 

 in that it is possible to cause a local infection of the ovarian tissue by in- 

 travenous injections of pure cultures of B. pullorum. 



" The agglutinin is very stable, withstanding temperatures of 60° and over 

 for one-half hour. If properly preserved, it will yield results after two weeks. 

 Agglutinins have been found from infected hens which reacted positively in 



