1917] VETERINARY MEDICINE. 883 



causative organism In their bodies may react. It is also pointed out ttiat n re- 

 action does not necessarily indicate tliat the animal has aborted or that it will 

 abort, since the immunity may have been acquired without the occurrence of 

 any visible manifestations. Also an aborting cow may sometimes fail to react. 



In discussing the time and method of infection the authors report upon agglu- 

 tination tests made of the blood of the female cattle of breeding age in a herd 

 consisting of more than 2,000 head of Jerseys, of which about one-third were 

 pure-breds and the remainder grades. Of the 413 cows which had produced 

 calves 159, or 38.5 per cent, aborted and of these 120 aborted once, 35 twice, and 

 4 three times. Fifty-eight of the cows which aborted once gave a positive reac- 

 tion and 8 were questionable, and of these 66, 9 showed difficulty in breeding. 

 Fifty-four aborters gave negative reactions and 3 showed difficulty in breeding. 

 Of the 35 which aborted twice, 27 were positive and 3 questionable, and of these 

 2 showed difficulty in breeding ; 5 gave negative results and showed no difficulty 

 in breeding. Of the 4 cows which aborted three times, 3 reacted positively and 

 1 negatively, but no difficulty in breeding was recorded. Twenty-five cows 

 showed difficulty in breeding without aborting, and of this number 10 gave posi- 

 tive reactions, 12 negative, and 3 questionable. Sixty-six reacted positively 

 without showing other evidence of infection. The facts presented seem to con- 

 tradict strongly the contention that infection is to a considerable degree ac- 

 quired during calfhood. 



With a view to determining the degree to which calves and bulls are in- 

 fected, numerous samples of blood were collected at the abattoirs of Balti- 

 more, Philadelphia, Washington, and Richmond from animals of dairy breed- 

 ing. There were tested 182 bulls over one year of age, of which 10 were posi- 

 tive and 6 were questionable. Of 520 male calves up to one year of age 7 

 gave positive and 4 gave questionable reactions, and of 299 female calves of 

 like age 2 positive and 2 questionable reactions were obtained. 



The authors' conclusion in regard to immunization is that at present such 

 treatment should be regarded as second in Importance to proper sanitation. 

 In referring to medicinal preparations, including proprietary remedies, it is 

 pointed out that there is no supporting evidence available for any of such 

 preparations. Inasmuch as there is no therapeutic treatment known at present 

 which will either prevent or cure infectious abortion, attention should be 

 primarily directed toward prevention by sanitation. Suggestions are given 

 as to the control of abortion, together with a discussion of methods of dis- 

 infection. 



Contagious abortion of cattle, A. Eichhorn and G. M. Potter (U. S. Dept. 

 Agr., Farmers' Bui. 790 (1917), pp. 12). — A general account of the disease and 

 its treatment. It is pointed out that while formerly confined almost entirely 

 to dairy cows it has now spread to the beef herds on the range, where the 

 losses are proving especially severe. The stockmen, as well as the dairymen, 

 are urged to awake to the seriousness of the situation and combine for a 

 systematic campaign against the disease. 



Practically signifi.cant facts about abortion disease, E. C. Schroeder and 

 W. E. Cotton {Amer. Jour. Vet. Med., 12 {1917), No. 2, pp. 73-78).— A paper 

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

 Chicago in December, 1916, in which the authors present the practical results 

 of investigations substantially as noted above. 



Possibilities and limitations in control of abortion, C. J. Marshall {Amer. 

 Jour. Vet. Med., 12 {1917), No. S, pp. 157, 158). — A paper presented at the meet- 

 ing of the U. S. Live Stock Sanitary Association at Chicago in December, 1916. 



Investigations into the occurrence of onchocerciasis in cattle and asso- 

 ciated animals in countries other than Australia, Geoegina Sweet {Proc. 



