VETERINAKY MEDICINE. 581 



this bulletin (pp. 231-279) deals with infectious abortion of cows; the second 

 part (pp. 280-296) with infectious abortion of mares. 



This laboratory has isolated the germ of infectious abortion (Bacillus abortus) 

 in 10 cases from 3 herds of aborting cows in Kentucky, 3 of which were from 

 the internal organs of the fetus. " In one instance we secured a growth of this 

 bacillus from the blood of the liver, kidneys, and umbilicus, and from the con- 

 tents of the stomach and large and small intestines of the fetus. There were 

 instances in which we were able to find this germ in the afterbirth and stomach 

 of the fetus, but unable to secure a growth of the organism. 



" Methods of isolation as well as the physiological, morphological, and cul- 

 tural characteristics of this germ, together with illustrations of the same are 

 given in this bulletin. 



" The bacillus causing the disease of infectious abortion in cows has not as 

 yet been isolated from the uterine exudate of aborting mares by this laboratory, 

 nor as far as we know by any other laboratory. A bacillus belonging to the 

 subgroup II, or intermediate group, of the colon-typhoid group (to which sub- 

 group belong such pathogenic organisms as Bacillus enteritidis and B. cholerce- 

 suis) has been isolated by this laboratory from the afterbirth, the uteruses and 

 the internal organs of fetuses, of 2 studs of aborting mares, and 1 stud of 

 aborting jennets. In 2 instances the B. coli communis was found in large num- 

 bers in the fetal membranes of mares aborting in the early stages of gestation. 

 The pathological changes in the afterbirth and internal organs of fetuses of 

 aborting mares are much more marked than is the case with aborting cows." 



A bibliography is appended. 



Investigations of infectious abortion, E. S. Good (Amer. Jour. Vet. Med., 7 

 (1912), No. Jf, pp. 121-124). — This paper relates to the investigations noted 

 above. 



With regard to the pathological changes in the internal organs of fetuses of 

 aborting mares, " at times there are small ulcers about 1 mm. in diameter on 

 the top of the auricles of the heart of a fetus of an aborting mare. The spleen 

 is enlarged and thickly studded with petechia on its surface. The mesenteric 

 lymphatic system is highly congested ; the ovaries and uterus of a female fetus 

 and testicles of a male fetus are usually much enlarged and hemorrhagic." 



The diagnosis of infectious abortion in cattle, P. M. Surface (Kentucky Sta. 

 Bui. 166, i)p. 303-365, pi. 1, figs. //).— This is a study of the comparative value of 

 the agglutination and complement fixation tests for detecting animals which are 

 infected with the Bacillus abortus. In all there were 576 animals tested, out 

 of which 44.8 per cent gave a positive reaction. In 4 herds, comprising 151 

 cows, 23.1 per cent aborted a year previous to the test (only cows which had 

 terminated at least 1 pregnancy being considered but including heifers which 

 had aborted their first calves), and 56.3 per cent showed a reaction. Among the 

 cows which aborted, 85.7 per cent showed a reaction, while in 3 of the herds 90 

 per cent or more of the aborting cows reacted to the tests. Of all the aborting 

 cows only 3.3 per cent failed to show a reaction. 



In general there was a close agreement between the agglutination and com- 

 plement fixation tests, and in the majority of cases where there was no ag- 

 glutination there was no complement binding. A small number of animals 

 showed no complement fixation but agglutinated in dilutions of 1 : 20. Ag- 

 glutinations of 1 : 100 are regarded by the author as practically specific, but in 

 the tables shown many of the cows agglutinated in dilutions of 1 : 50 or 1 : 20. 

 The agglutination test, therefore, should not be relied upon alone. 



The bulletin includes a detailed statement of the technique of conducting both 

 of these tests, a general description of the etiology, bacteriology, symptoms, etc., 

 of the disease, and some practical suggestions for combating this condition. 



