VETERINARY SCIENCE AND PRACTICE. 3!>3 



According to the author 2 species of larkspur are found in Mon- 

 tana, Delphinium mehziesii and 1>. glaucum. Both tbese species are 

 described. 



The gape disease of poultry, H. Garman (Kentucky Sta. Bui. 70, 

 pp. 107-112, ph. 2). — The author discusses this disease of poultry, which 

 is caused by the presence of the gapeworm (Syngamus trachealis) in the 

 trachea or windpipe, and the remedies commonly employed. 



An experiment was made to learn the cause of the disease. Twenty 

 chickens were divided into 2 equal lots immediately after hatching. 

 They were placed in pens separated by wire netting. In one case the 

 pen had a raised floor and in the other case the chickens ran upon the 

 ground. The 2 lots were fed corn meal mixed with water and scraps 

 of bread, potato, and meat from the table, with a few oats in addition. 

 The chickens running on the ground were also fed earthworms. At 

 the beginuing of the test 3 of the chickens running on the plank 

 floor managed to get through the wire netting into the other pen and 

 were allowed to remain there. One of the chickens in the pen without 

 a floor died from an unknown cause at the beginning of the test. 

 About 2 weeks after the trial began one of the chickens in the lot 

 running on the ground was badly affected with gapes, and several 

 others were slightly affected. Sooner or later all the chickens in this 

 lot were affected with gapes and either died or were destroyed, while 

 in the other lot there were no cases. The author concludes that the 

 chickens acquired the gapeworms either from the ground or from the 

 earthworms fed to them. 



Earthworms a source of gapes in poultry, H. Garman (Kentucky 

 Sta. Bui. 74, pp. 71-73). — In continuation of the above work a test was 

 made with 6 chickens divided into 2 equal lots. They were kept in 

 wooden cages with wire gauze sides. One lot received earthworms and 

 the other cooked meat in addition to the regular ration. The earth 

 worms were thoroughly washed to prevent the adherence of soil or 

 gapeworms. The chickens fed earthworms became affected with gapes. 

 One of the chickens in the lot fed meat died from a bowel trouble, but 

 examination failed to reveal any gapeworms. The 2 remaining chick- 

 ens in this lot were alive at the time the test was reported and had 

 not shown any symptoms of the gapes. 



The conclusion is reached that earthworms convey the gape disease 

 to poultry, and the common practice of feeding them to young chickens 

 is condemned. 



The inspection of meats for animal parasites, C. W. Stiles and 

 A. Hassall (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Bureau of Animal Industry Bui. 19, pp. 

 161, figs. 124).— The bulletin consists of three parts : (1) The flukes and 

 tapeworms of cattle, sheep, and swine, with special reference to the 

 inspection of meats, by C. W. Stiles; (2) compendium of the parasites 

 arranged according to their hosts; and. (3) bibliography of the more 

 important works cited, by A. Hassall. 



