84 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. 



A study of Babesia canis, K. Kinoshita (Arch. Protistenk., 8 (1907), No. 

 2-J, 1)1}. 29.'i-320, pis. 2). — The various forms assumed by this organism in its 

 different developmental stages are described in detail and tbe literature of the 

 sub.iect is discussed in connection with a short bibliography. The material was 

 obtained from dogs suffering from s]M)ntaneous cases of piroi)lasmosis or as a 

 result of inoculation. 



The decomposition of rabies virus in vitro by means of radium, G. Tizzoni 

 and A. Bongiovanni (Atti R. Accad. Lined Rend. CI. /S'c/. Fis., Mat. e Nat., o. 

 ser., 16 (1907). I, No. 7, pi). Ji85-.'f92). — When 20 mg. of bromid of radium were 

 added to 5 cc. of distilled water and 1 cc. of an emulsion of rabies virus was 

 allowed to remain in this solution for 24 hours the virulence of the virus was not 

 reduced in the manner described by Rehn. Negative results were obtained in all 

 instances. The animals inoculated with virus treated with radium died of rabies 

 after tbe same period of incubation as was shown by control animals. 



Bectal vaccination for rabies, P. Remlinger (Cnmpt. RcikI. Soc. Biol. \J'aris], 

 62 (1907), No. IJf, pp. 722, 723).— On account of favorable results olitained from 

 rectal injections of antituberculous serum in the treatment of tuberculosis, the 

 author thought it desirable to test this method of vaccination for rabies. 

 Experiments were carried out on rabbits which received a rabid hemisphere or 

 whole brain in an emulsion of 20 cc. of water at repeated intervals of 1 week. 

 In cases where the mucous membrance was injured to the slightest extent an 

 infection took place in about 1 out of 5 cases. It is found possible, however, 

 to pi'oduce an innnunity by this method. 



A peculiar blood condition, probably parasitic, in Sudanese fowls, A. Bal- 

 four (Jour. Trop. Med. and Hyg. [London], 10 (1907), No. 9. pp. loS-loT, 

 figs. 5). — A disease was noted in fowls which resembles spirillosis in symptoms, 

 the most striking of which were anemia and pronounced stupor. An examina- 

 tion of the blood showed the presence of corpuscles affected with organisms 

 which may prove to be blood parasites. The supposed parasites were foinid 

 in the blood corpuscles outside of the nucleus in numbers varying from 1 to 7. 

 Gross post-mortem lesions are not striking aside from the general anemia and 

 a congestion of the liver, kidneys, and huigs. The parasites apparently belong 

 to Piroplasma and are believed to be carried by Argas persiciis. 



Quail disease in the United States, G. B. Morse (V. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. 

 Anim. Indus. Circ. 109, pp. 11. figs. .i). — Quail disease, due to a micro-organism 

 belonging to the group of coli bacillus and characterized by congestion of the 

 lungs, necroses of the liver, and intestinal ulceration, is reported as having 

 occurred in 3906 in Alabama, Kansas. Indian Territory, Virginia, District of 

 Columbia, Massachusetts, and Nova Scotia. The disease affected the common 

 bobwhite, California (luail, and other western species of quail and grouse. 



The period of incubation appears to be aI)Out 10 days. No curative treatment 

 has been devised. Occasionally the disease runs a chronic course but as a rule 

 the birds die within 2 or o days, the chief symptoms being dullness and a 

 tendency to remain motionless. The quail disease is recognized as a serious 

 menace to the propagation of these birds. In preventing the spread of the 

 disease, therefore, it is necessary to give close attention to birds kept in captivity 

 and Isolate all suspected birds promptly, after which the quarters are to be 

 disinfected. 



RURAL ENGINEERING. 



Mechanical tests of pumping plants in California, .1. N. Le Conte and 

 C. E. Tait (V. S. Dept. Agr., Office E.f/it. Stas. Bui. 181. pp. 72. figs, irt).— This 

 is a rei)ort of mechanical tests of pumi)ing pl.-mts made as a part of the coopera- 

 tive irrigation investigations of this Office and the State of California and in- 



