VETERINARY MEDICINE. 381 



Strongylus contortus and blue tongue, A. Grist (Orange River Colony, 

 Dci)t. At/r.. \ ct. Dir. Leaflet Jf, pp. 17). — The life history of Strongylus contortus 

 is briefly outlined. In combating this pest attention should be given to the 

 quality of the drinking water and the condition of pastures. Some benefit is 

 derived from the administration of a solution of copper sulphate or arsenic to 

 infested sheep. 



Blue tongue of sheep appears to be a catarrhal fever which affects the mucous 

 membrane of the mouth and other parts of the alimentary tract. The period 

 of incubation is 2 to 5 days. An attempt is being made to produce a vaccine for 

 the prevention of blue tongue. 



Infectious inflammation of the spinal cord, or azoturia, M. Schlegel 

 (ZtseJir. Infektionskrank. u. Hyg. Haustiere, 2 (1907), No. 6, pp. 459-5Jto, pis. 

 3). — In a long continued study of various cases of disease in horses, known as 

 inflammation of the spinal cord, meningo-myelitis, infectious paralysis, hemo- 

 globinemia. hemoglobinuria, azoturia, and black ischuria, the author has accu- 

 mulated conclusive evidence that these are merely names of one and the same 

 disease, which is of an infectious nature, due to Streptococcus nielanogcnes, dis- 

 covered by the author in 1900. This organism occurs as a i-egular saprophyte in 

 the intestines of healthy horses and often in cases of diseases. Under especially 

 favorable conditions it may become highly virulent, gain entrance to the blood, 

 and produce the symptoms which are characteristic of infectious spinal paralysis 

 or azoturia. 



The pathological lesions which are noted in cases of this disease include a 

 black tarry condition of the blood which does not coagulate regularly, pro- 

 nounced disintegration of the blood corpuscles, transformation of the hemo- 

 globin into melanin, and also various alterations in the structure and composi- 

 tion of the liver, kidneys, bones, and other tissues. 



The pathogenic organism of the disease has been isolated and studied from 

 pure cultures in various nutrient media. 



In combating this disease according to the new conceptions furnished by the 

 author's investigations, it is desirable to isolate affected horses and to disinfect 

 all excretions, since the organism of the disease may be carried in them. 



Becovery from glanders, Mouilleron (Bui. Soc. Cent. Med. Vet., SJf (1907), 

 No. 10, pp. 223-230). — The repeated application of the mallein test to a glan- 

 dered horse gave a gradually diminishing reaction, and during the last 4 years 

 of his life no reaction took place. The horse was under continuous observation 

 for 8 years. At the end of this time the animal was killed and carefully ex- 

 amined. All organs were perfectly healthy and entirely or nearly without the 

 evidence of previous lesions. 



The etiology of pneumonia, Lorenz (Berlin. Tierdrztl. Wchnschr., 1907, 

 Nos. 23, pp. Jilf7-.'i50 : 24, pp. Jpi-jpJi, pis. 2). — In a study of the micro-organisms 

 found in cases of this disease the author finds undoubted evidence of transfor- 

 mation stages from streptococci to branched threads of streptothrix, and under 

 certain conditions a retransformation of these threads into streptococci. The 

 streptothrix threads with numerous branchings appear most regularly when 

 the original streptococci are inoculated into pure cultures of Aspergillus. When 

 these cultures in turn are inoculated into ordinary nutrient media, the strepto- 

 cocci reai)pear. The author considers that the ai)pearance of branched threads 

 of streptothrix in the lungs and skin of horses affected with the disease is 

 undoubted evidence of the causal connection of this organism with pneumonia. 



Preliminary note on a parasite found in connection with " the irritable 

 summer skin disease " of horses in India, V. B. Nesfield (Jour. Trop. Vet. 

 Sci., 2 (1907), No. 2, tip. 172-176, fig. i).— In various parts of India a quite 

 serious skin disease of horses has been observed which is confined strictly to 



