680 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. IVol. 86 



The tubercle bacillus in the sputum and other body fluids, H. Biekky 

 {Cornpt. Rend. Acad. Sci. IParis], 163 (1916), No. 21, pp. 6J8-62i).— Directions 

 and brief notes on the isolation of tubercle bacilli from the blood, pleural exu- 

 date, and spinal fluid are submitted. 



Summary of the conclusions reached regarding contagious abortion, V. A. 

 MooKE {Amer. Jour. Vet. Med., 12 {1911), No. 2, pp. 78-80). — A discussion before 

 the annual meeting of the U. S. Live Stock Sanitary Association, held at 

 Chicago, in December, 1916. 



The cause of the " spewing sickness " of sheep, C. D. Maksh {U. S. Dept. 

 Agr., Bur. Anim. Indus. [Pub.}. (1916), pp. 4, fig. 1). — Heavy losses have oc- 

 curred on the sheep ranges in the Wasatch Mountains in Utah from what is 

 known locally as " spewing sickness." The description of symptoms given 

 by sheepmen has coi'responded very closely with those known to result from 

 poisoning by the death camas (Zygadenus veneiiosus) . Investigations conducted 

 in 1915 Iiave, however, shown quite conclusively that the spewing sickness of 

 that summer was not caused by death camas but was due to another plant, 

 namely, Dugaldia hoopesii, known locally as " sneezeweed." 



The present preliminary paper has been prepared with a view to furnishing 

 sheepmen with information to enable them to recognize the plant and be on 

 their guard against it. It is said to grow at elevations of from 7,000 to 10,500 

 ft., ranging from Wyoming in the North to Arizona and New Mexico in the 

 South, and as far west as California. It is a rank-growing plant, and in some 

 localities has largely taken possession of extensive areas on the range. 



" The marked symptoms of poisoning by Dugaldia are depression, weakness, 

 salivation, nausea accompanied with vomiting, and a weak, irregular pulse. 

 Diarrhea is common, and bloating is a prominent symptom in sheep poisoned 

 on the range. The effect on the pulse is especially characteristic, and it is 

 evident that the toxic principle in large doses has a specific effect on the heart. ' 

 While all parts of the plant are poisonous, experiments seem to indicate that 

 the flowers are somewhat more so than the leaves. It is thought probable that 

 cases of acute poisoning are rare, but it is known that sheep may be poisoned 

 by eating from 2.5 to 3 lbs. in a single day, although most cases of range poison- 

 ing are the result of feeding extending over several days or perhaps two or 

 three weeks. Thus far no medicinal remedy can be recommended, and the 

 main reliance must be placed upon prevention. 



Annual reports of the camel specialist for the years 1914—15 and 

 1915-16, H. E. Cross (Ann. Rpts. Camel Specialist [Punjab], 1914-15, pp. 21; 

 1915-16, pp. 27, figs. 11).— The usual reports (B. S. R., 32, p. 184) dealing with 

 the diseases of camels in the Punjab. 



Biological investigations on hog cholera in southern Italy, N. Moki (Ann. 

 Stas. Sper. Malattic Infet. Bestiame, R. 1st. Incoragg. Napoli, 2 (1914), No. 2, 

 pp. 191-206, figs. 2). — A disease similar to the disease prevalent in hogs was 

 produced in young healthy pigs by the subcutaneous injection of the diluted 

 serum of the sick hogs which had previously been passed through a Berkefeld 

 filter. Similar results were obtained by ingestion of the virus or by subjecting 

 the animals to exposure to diseased hogs. Animals which i-ecovei-ed from an 

 infection produced by subcutaneous Injection of the filtered virus were found to 

 be Innuuue to a possible infection by ingestion of the virus. The virus which 

 originally produced the disease In healthy animals later produced antibodies in 

 animals which had recovered from an Infection. 



It is Indicated that the disease which exists In southern Italy is probably the 

 same as that recognized in America as hog cholera. 



The destniction of trichinse by cold, E. Leclainche (Rev. 06n. MM. V^t., 

 25 (1916), No. 293, pp. 198-206; abs. in Jour. Compar. Path, and Ther., 29 



