VETERINARY MEDICINE. 685 



authors were able to isolate easily the micrococcus from the spleen autl liver. 

 It was also found that the agglutinating: power was transmitted hereditarily to 

 the young. Three others similarly infected have since been discovered. 



An investigation of the mortality of incubator chicks, E. F. Pernot (Ore- 

 gon .S7(j. liul. JO.l, pp. .l-l(t). — This is a reijort of nn investigation into the 

 cause of the high mortality of incubator chicks previously noted (E. S. K.. 20, 

 p. 472). 



I'lnte cultures were made from pipped eggs that failed to hatch iuid a large 

 number of others to determine the number of kinds of micro-organisms present. 

 The -number of colonies developed was so great in many instances that a 

 straight platinum needle had to be substituted for the loop used in securing 

 the samples. In all 15 kinds of organisms were found, each of which was 

 tested for its pathogenesis by inoculating chicks of different ages with bouillon 

 cultures. Only one of the 15 was fatal. With this bacillus, known as B. No. 9, 

 further experiments were conducted. Its morphological and biological chai-- 

 acters are here described. 



All the eggs examined contained micro-organiouis, even in the early stages of 

 their development in the ovaries. B. No. 9 was not found in any of the fresh 

 (ggs examined but was constantly found in the tmabsorbed yolks of all chicks 

 that had failed to hatch, and all chicks that died shortly after hatching. 

 Oi-ganlsms were found to pass through the shell during the process of hatching 

 and more readily through those in an incubator than those under the hen. 



In explanation of the fact that eggs under a sitting hen are not infected with 

 B. No. 9, although those in an incubator are, it is suggested that the body of 

 the hen transmits to the egg shell an oily substance which fills the pores of 

 the shell and prevents the entrance of organisms to the egg content. Con- 

 tamination of the eggs through the daily contact with the hands in turning may 

 account for the mortality due to B. No. 9 in incubators that had been fumi- 

 gated. A magnetic incubator was experimented with as a step toward deter- 

 mining whether the magnetic force transmitted by the hen is an important 

 factor in successful incubation. 



An account is given of fumigation experiments conducted. If an egg con- 

 tains any i)atbogenic germs at the time it is laid it is impossible to destroy 

 them, by disinfectants or by any other means, without destroying the vitality of 

 the egg. Pathogenic organisms including B. No. 9 were destroyed by formalde- 

 hyde gas when exposed in an incubator. Since it is highly probable that the 

 infection with B. No. 9 occurs in many cases after the release of the chick 

 from the egg, fumigation of the incubators before placing the eggs in them is 

 considered a wise precaution. 



The occurrence of spirillosis of fowls in Martinique, Simond, Aubert, and 

 Noc (Compt. RoKl. Hoc. Biol. [Paris], 66 [1909), 'No. 15, pp. 71. ',-7 16). —This 

 disease of fowls is said to be epizootic in Martinique during the warm season 

 from May to December and occasionally during other months of the year. The 

 spirochete observed in the blood of fowls in the vicinity of Fort de France is 

 said to be similar to that studied by Marchoux in Rio de Janeiro, and which 

 makes poultry i-aising in Guiana so difficult. In Martinique as in South 

 America, Argas minintus is the active agent in its transmission. Spirillosis 

 and the loss suffered from the mongoos are said to have made poultry raising 

 nearly imjiossible in the lower parts of the colony where the disease is much 

 more prevalent than in the mountain section. The author considers it probable 

 that the disease also occurs in Guadalupe. 



Human parasitology, M. Neveu-Lemaire {Precis de PurusHoloyie Ilumninc. 

 Paris, 1908, 4. ed., rev. and enl., pp. V+712, figs. 391).— The first part of this 



