VETERINARY SCIENCE AND PRACTICE. 293 



the theory is advanced that sporadic abortion may be due to a bacterial 

 parasite. Experiments are cited showing that an injection of matter 

 obtained from the genital passages of aborting animals or of cultures 

 made from such matter will produce abortion. The bacillus isolated in 

 cultures from vaginal secretions of aborting animals when injected into 

 rabbits produces death, the disease simulating hog cholera, though in 

 hogs it causes nothing more than a temporary anorexia. Dr. Theobald 

 Smith, who made the cultures and the injections, believes that the 

 organism is closely related to the bacillus of hog cholera. 



The author's method of collecting the vaginal secretions for cultures 

 is described, and the fact noted that the flora of the bovine vagina seems 

 to be very extensive, but appears to be limited to some extent by the 

 number of species swallowed by the animal with its food. 



Bovine tuberculosis in Indiana, A. W. Bitting (Indiana Sta. Bui. 

 63, pp. 99-116, ph. 2. dym. 1). — In this bulletin the author discusses in a 

 popular way the prevalence of tuberculosis in man and animals, its 

 contagiousness, the bacillus producing it, predisposing causes, the effect 

 of the disease upon the body, the symptoms, and treatment by tuber- 

 culin. Under the last heading temperatures are given for »! animals 

 Tested by the author, work by Law ' with tuberculin upon healthy ani- 

 mals is referred to, ami mention is made of the experiment of Bang 2 in 

 changing a diseased herd into a healthy one without slaughtering all dis- 

 eased animals. Precautionary measures against the disease are noted 

 at length and the necessity for thorough inspection is emphasized. 



Splenetic or Texas cattle fever, E. P. NlLES {Virginia Sta. Bul.61,pp. 19-36). — 

 This bulletin briefly describes tbe nature, method of infection, symptoms, pathology, 

 ami treatment of Texas fever, with a list of the counties in Virginia quarantined 

 against it. Treatment with quin in and purgatives is advised and strenuous efforts 

 to avoid the presence of cattle infested with ticks are insisted upon. The Gover- 

 nor's proclamation in regard to quarantines in the State, the rules and regulations of 

 the Hoard of Control, and the Virginia law in regard to quarantine are quoted. 



Infectious abortion in cattle, 15. Bank (Ugeskr. Landm., 41 (lS96),pp. 413-418). 



Tuberculosis and the tuberculin test, .1. KlNG(Jou?\ Roy. Agr. Soc. England, S. ser., 

 8 (1S97), II, pp. 319-324). — A report on test experiments, etc. Among other things 

 it is noted that in the city of Manchester in 1894 there were 72 carcasses condemned 

 as unlit for food; in 1895 there were 98, and in 1896, 108. The figures show the 

 prevalence of the disease. In most cases the carcasses were of animals slaughtered 

 as apparently healthy, but later found to be generally affected. An examination of 

 398 head of cattle, embracing cows, heifers, bullocks, bulls, and calves, showed 

 27.63 per cent affected and 3.76 per cent unfit for food. The percentages of the 

 different au : mals affected were cows 41, bulls 23, heifers 21.77, and bullocks 16. Of 

 the animals found unfit for food 6.55 per cent were cows and 2.42 per cent heifers. 



Bovine tuberculosis, J. Stewart (Agr. Gas. New South Wales, S (1S97), No. 4, pp. 

 259). — Treats of its introduction, progress, and dissemination in New South 

 \Vales, and advises quarantine measures. 



Practical methods of demonstrating tubercle bacilli, \V. N. Shekmajs (Amer. 

 Monthly Micros. Jour., n. ser., IS (1S97), No. 3, pp. 92-95). 



' New York Cornell Sta. Bui. 82 (E. S. E., 6, p. 23). 

 " Massachusetts Hatch Sta. Bui. 41 (E. S. R., 8, p. 624). 



