VETERINARY MEDICINE. 283 



the presence of a protozoan organism closely resembling Piroplasmaparvum in 

 Japanese cattle. Further study of this organism indicated that It belongs to the 

 species /'. parvuin and is found in Japanese and Korean cattle. The organism 

 may be readily cultivated outside of the animal bddy by the use of suitable nutri- 

 ent media. The parasites undergo a develoi)mental change in blood bouillon, 

 finally taking the form of a typical trypanosome which is not to be detected in 

 the blood of infected animals. According to the author a simple mixture of 

 blood and bouillon is the most suital)]e mixture for the cultivation of P. pari^mn 

 and Tnjpaiiofionia Iririxi. 



Studies on the morphology and life history of Piroplasma canis, G. H. F. 

 NUTTALL and G. S. Graham-Smith {Jour. Hijg. [Cambridge], 7 (1907), No. 2, 

 pp. 232-272, pis. 3, figs. 1^). — The biology and life history of the blood parasite 

 of canine piroplasmosis was carefully observed for .550 hours in order to deter- 

 mine as nearly as possible the different stages under which this parasite 

 ajipears. The observations made by the authors indicate the occurrence of 

 morphological changes in this parasite somewhat different from those hitherto 

 described. 



It appears that a free pyriform parasite, after entering a red blood corpuscle, 

 ordinarily assumes a round form, then enlarges, becomes amoeboid, and again 

 rounded. After a short resting period two symmetrical processes are protruded, 

 become pear-shai)ed, absorb the protoplasm of the mother cell, and finally 

 separate into two free parasites. 



A new preparation for the treatment of acute and chronic swine plague, 

 Bl'row (Berlin. Tieriirztl. Wclnisehr., 1907, Na. 23, pp, y/.5(9-//.52).— Laboratory 

 experiments have been carried on for the past year and a half in an endeavor 

 to produce a bacterial preparation which will be effective in the treatment of 

 swine plague. The product, which is prepared under the author's direction, has 

 Iteen 'ibtained and has been tested on about 700 hogs with quite satisfactory 

 results. The coughing and other external symptoms of swine plague disappear 

 within 3 or 4 days. The preparation is claimed to be absolutely harmless and 

 is administered hypodermically in doses of 5 cc. 



Exostoses on the metacarpus of the horse, V. Oelkers (Monatsh. Prakt. 

 Tierheilk., 18 (1907), No. 8-9, pp. 337-38J,, pis. 6, figs. 5). —The literature relating 

 to splints is critically reviewed in connection with bibliographic references. 

 The piesent article is a report on one of the most extensive investigations thus 

 far made of the anatomy and etiology of splints in horses. An examination 

 was made of 052 army horses, with the result that 68 per cent was found to be 

 affected. The splints observed in the 448 cases could readily be classified into 

 intermetacarpal, postmetacarpal, and traumatic splints. The anatomical fea- 

 tures of each of these different groups of splints are presented in detail. 



As a result of these investigations, the author comes to the conclusion that 

 tlie exostoses commonly known as splints are caused primarily by the friction 

 of the interosseous ligament at its fixed points upon the underlying bones. 

 This friction causes a gradual ossification in the ligament, which, by extension 

 upward and downward, may cause an unusual strain upon the tendons and 

 ligaments which are attached to* the posterior angle of the normal sjdint bones 

 leading to a periostitis the result of which is the pathological splint known 

 to veterinarians. 



In the treatment of splints the author recommends rest for all cases and 

 external applications which are likely to induce a resorption of the bony process. 

 If the case seems to warrant surgical interference, the bone growth may be 

 removed by an operation. 



Staggers or forage poisoning in horses, S. S. Cameron (Jour. Dept. Agr. 

 Victoria, 5 (1907), No. //, pp. 2-'f2-2-'i6). — Rather extensive fatalities have oc- 



