1918] VETERINARY MEDICINE. 285 



pp. 269-275, pis. S, figs. 2). — The author concludes that for practical purposes, 

 having in mind only an aid to the identification of types of tubercle bacilli, 

 the value of the potentiometer test is not commensurate with the cost of the 

 instrument or with the amount of work and time required to complete a test. 



The reactions to human and bovine tuberculin applied by the method of 

 von Pirquet in cases of tuberculous disease of the bones and joints, H. J. 

 Gauvain (Lancet [London], 1917, II, No. U, pp. 519-521).— The results of the 

 investigation reported showed that local reactions to inoculations of both the 

 human and bovine tuberculin were invariably present in all cases from which 

 tubercle bacilli had been isolated from the pus. The reaction, although in- 

 variably present, varied within wide limits as regards degree. Weakly and 

 cachectic patients usually reacted feebly, while the strong and vigorous 

 patients exhibited wide differences in the degree of their reactions. The 

 quantitative von Pirquet test was found to be of no value in forming an esti- 

 mate of the severity of the infection and was of little prognostic value. The 

 type of tubercle bacillus with which the patient was infected could not be 

 differentiated by the nature of the reaction to the tuberculin employed. 



The susceptibility of Indian milch cattle to tuberculosis, W. G. Liston 

 and M. B. Soparkar (Indian Jour. Med. Research, 5 (1917), No. 1, pp. 19-71, 

 pis. 25, figs. 22). — The object of the experiments reported was to ascertain the 

 extent to which Indian cattle, which are seldom found to suffer from natural 

 tuberculosis, are susceptible to the action of the bovine tubercle bacillus when 

 injected subcutaneously in large and small doses and to compare the results 

 obtained with the effect of similar doses on English cattle. The experimental 

 data and post-mortem findings, together with charts illustrating the com- 

 parative progressive weight and the extent of the tuberculous lesions in the 

 experimental animals, are submitted. 



The experiments showed that at least 50 per cent of Indian buffalo or cow 

 calves lived for many days after inoculation with 50 mg. of a bovine tubercle 

 bacillus culture, and when killed exhibited only retrogressive or healing 

 tubercular lesions. The results are indicated as confirming the general ex- 

 perience that Indian cattle are less commonly affected by tuberculosis than 

 English cattle, and that " the comparative infrequency of the disease among 

 cattle in India is due to a natural resistance rather than to any method of 

 housing or keeping cattle in India as compared with England." A considerable 

 variation in susceptibility was, however, observed in the Indian calves as 

 compared with English calves. " Whether this variation be associated with 

 differences in the breeds of the calves used by us has not yet been determined. 

 It, however, follows that the comparative rarity of tuberculosis in Indian cattle 

 must in part at least be attributed to diminished opportunities for acquiring 

 infection." 



The danger of the existence of tuberculosis in imported cattle and the 

 necessity of attention to this point when attempting to develop a more useful 

 milk-yielding stock is noted. 



The experiments reported also show that, when using Indian breeds of cattle, 

 the test for distinguishing between tubercle bacilli of the bovine and human 

 types by using 50 mg. of a culture of the bovine type of bacillus can not be 

 relied upon. In 50 per cent of the animals used the effects produced by such 

 an inoculation did not materially differ from the effects produced by the in- 

 jection of a similar dose of tubercle bacilli of the human type in English cattle. 



The experiments also incidentally throw some light on the practical absence 

 of tuberculous lesions caused by the bovine type of bacillus in children and 

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