284 EXPERIMENT STATION KECOKD. 



cuiTed among horses in various parts of Victoria, apparently as a result of 

 eating injurious forage. In one outbreak the trouble was due to feeding oat 

 hay which had been allowed to become moldy in the butts of the sheaves. The 

 exact cause of the disease has not been determined, and further study is 

 necessary to elucidate its etiology. 



Diseases of fowls, G. Bradshaw (Ag): Gaz. J\. 8. Wales, 18 {1901), Nos. 1, 

 pp. 26-39 ; 3, pp. 201-213, figs. 2). — An account is given of the symptoms, jwst- 

 mortem appearances, and method of treatment in cases of roup and fowl cholera. 



Boup, L. E. W. Bevan {lihodcsiini Agr. Jour., Jf {1901), ^o. 4, pp. 392-391).— 

 The symptoms and occurrence of this disease are briefly discussed. In pi-event- 

 ing roup it is recommended that strict quarantine mea)?ures be observed, that 

 careful supervision be exercised in the selection of food and water supply for 

 fowls, and that affected birds be placed in small rooms or boxes and fumigated 

 with formaldehyde. 



Sleepy disease in fowls, C. Dammann and O. Manegold {Arch. Wiss. n. 

 I'rald. TicrhrUk., 33 {1901), A^o. 1-2, pp. J,l-10, pi. 1).—An affection of fowls 

 known under the name of sleepy disease has appeared here and there since 1904. 

 According to the authors this disease is due to streptococcus capsuhitus galH- 

 iniruiii. The organism is described and notes are given on its behavior on 

 different culture media and upon its resisting p<nver. It is de.stroyed by sub- 

 jection to a temperature of 1(X)° C. for one-half minute or 50° C. for 20 minutes. 

 The organism is quite susceptible to the action of disinfectants such as carbolic 

 acid, cresol, etc. 



The streptococcus in question shows a high pathogenic power for fowls and 

 is present both in the blood and affected organs. The incubation period varies 

 from () to 14 days and the course of the disease from 1 to 3 weeks. One of the 

 most striking symptoms is the persistent sleepiness. The feathers are ruffled 

 and catarrh is apparent upon the mucous membranes and conjunctiva. 



An arthritis in geese and ducks caused by Staphylococcus pyogenes aureus, 

 Freese {Dcut. Ticriirztl. Wchiischr., l.'j {1901), Xo. 23. pp. 322-32-',) .—Affected 

 birds become more or less emaciated and show symptoms of lameness or ^ven 

 inability to walk. In the joints in which the chief lesions occur a serous or 

 sero-fibrinous inflammation is observed together with a hemorrhagic condition 

 of the bone marrow. In chronic cases of the disease a purulent ostitis is ob- 

 served. In inoculation experiments negative results were obtained with common 

 fowls, pigeons, and rabbits. No direct treatment for the disease has been devised 

 and reliance must, therefore, be placed upon prophylactic and disinfectant 

 measures. 



RURAL ENGINEERING. 



Irrigation in tlie Yakima Valley, Washington, S. O. Jayne {U. 8. Depf. 

 Agr.. Office Expt. Htas. Bui. 188, pp. 89. pis. 2. figs. .',).— This bulletin describes 

 the Yakima Valley by sections, giving the areas, crops, physical features, cli- 

 mate, water supply, water rights, and systems of distribution. The chief canals 

 are described as to their dimensions, the area covered, the area irrigated, and 

 the system of management. • 



The practice of treating the interior of flumes with asphaltum or tar, or a 

 mixture of the two, has been adopted to some extent as a means of preserving 

 the material and preventing leakage. It is stated that for new structures and 

 dry lumber the use of either material may be recommended. 



The cost of preparing and seeding new lands, as given for a number of sec- 

 tions of the valley, varies from .$10 to .f.^O an acre, depending upon the amount 

 of vegetation to be removed and the condition of the surface of the land. The 

 cost of water rights in different canals in the valley varies between $25 and $75 



