384 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



" We have foinid considerable quantities of alumiuum pliospbate in tlie leaves 

 of white snal<eroot {Eupatorium ageratoidcs) and the stems of the rayless 

 goldenrod (Isoconta licterophylla) . Aluminum phosphate placed in the usual 

 food of rabbits from day to day produces the same effects as feeding either of 

 these weeds. The effects of feeding white snakeroot to various animals are 

 identical with the symptoms of ' trembles.' Not only is their behavior affected 

 in the same way, but the macroscopic and microscopic alteration of the organs 

 are the same. Aluminum was found in the milk each day after a cow began 

 eating the white snakeroot and this milk produced trembles in cats and rabbits. 

 Aluminum was found in urine, kidneys, liver, and muscles of rabbits fed with 

 white snakeroot and the meat of such rabbits, whether raw or cooked, produced 

 trembles in cats. 



" In the Northern States, wherever trembles prevails, the white snakeroot 

 grows abundantly. We know of a number of cases of trembles following the 

 eating of this weed by animals in the woods, and we believe that in every case 

 of trembles investigation carefully made would show that they had eaten it. 

 On the other hand, they may eat small amounts without serious effects. The 

 weed grows in many places where trembles is unknown, but in these places 

 better-tasting plants are so much more abundant that white snakeroot forms 

 but an insignificant part of their food. Commonly in these places the white 

 snakeroot shows no signs of browsing. Millions of animals in the Northern 

 States are pastured where white snakeroot does not grow. We do not know of 

 a single case of trembles ever occurring among them." 



The importance of heredity in tuberculosis, J. M'Fadyean {Jour. Compar. 

 Path, and Titer., 21 {1908), No. J,, pp. 332-336).— A paper contributed to a dis- 

 cussion on heredity in diseases at the Royal Society of Medicine in November, 

 190S. 



Meat as a source of infection in tuberculosis, A. R. Littlejohn {Vet. 

 Jour., 65 {1009), No. 407, pp. 239-246). — A paper presented at the National 

 Tuberculosis Congress held in London, February, 1909. 



The author concludes that to the community at large the risk of contracting 

 tuberculosis by eating the meat of tuberculous animals is not so great as is 

 generally believed, but that this risk is greater than it should be owing to 

 inefficient methods of inspection. This imperfect inspection particularly con- 

 cerns those who buy cheap meat and eat such commonly affected organs as the 

 lungs, udder, and mesentery. 



A three year campaign against bovine tuberculosis in Wisconsin, H. L. 

 Russell and C. Hoffmann {Wisconsin Sta. Bui. 115, pp. 3-18, figs. 4). — This is 

 an analysis of the bovine tuberculosis problem in Wisconsin. While an educa- 

 tional campaign has been conducted for the last 3 years it is stated that the 

 mass of farmers do not fully realize the seriousness of the disease. 



" Since tuberculin testing was begun in 1892 a total of 72.638 animals have 

 been tested, 46.121 by the experiment station and 26,517 by the State veteri- 

 narian. The increase in number of tests made has been most rapid during the 

 last two years, as in 1908 the experiment station made 27.202 tests and the State 

 veterinarian 13.791, a total of 40.993. The State has paid to ow^ners two-thirds 

 the appraised value of reacting animals and has received in return whatever 

 was received for the carcasses of these animals passed by Federal inspectors, 



"The extent of infection is indicated by the tests that have been made, al- 

 though they do not represent average conditions, since the more seriously in- 

 fected herds were naturally tested first. There has been a decline in the per- 

 centage of animals reacting from 17.7 in 1906 to 5.6 in 1908. The serious 

 phase of the situation is the comparatively large number of herds infected. In 



