122 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The committee on diseases, C. II. Higgins, chairman, presented a 

 report covering several subjects, edited by different individuals. 

 Actinobacillosis was reported by Doctor Higgins as having occurred in 



various parts of Canada. The germ in rive outbreaks which were 

 studied in Canada was not very virulent. Laboratory animals died 

 within L2 to 25 days after artificial inoculation. The lesions were very 

 characteristic when examined under the microscope. It was considered 

 an easy matter to distinguish by the gross symptoms between actinoba- 

 cillosis and actinomycosis. E. S. Wheeler reported that ovarian cysts 

 had been found to be the cause of nymphomania in cows in many 

 cases, although pathological conditions do not always cause nympho- 

 mania. In the majority of cases a cure was brought about by opera- 

 tion and removal of the cysts. 



The history of infectious abortion was discussed in considerable 

 detail by V. A. Moore, who considered it one of the most important 

 diseases of cattle. It is characterized by lesions of the uterine and 

 fetal mucous membranes. The colon bacillus was not found in any of 

 1-Lcases, while numerous micrococci and streptococci were observed. 

 Artificial infection of experimental animals was unsuccessful, despite 

 numerous attempts. It was found, in conversation with dairymen, 

 that the contagiousness of the disease is not generally admitted. In 

 the speaker's experience contagious abortion yields readily to disin- 

 fectant treatment. The uterine and fetal lesions reported by European 

 investigators were not observed in the United States. 



A. II. Ward presented a report on poultry diseases, calling attention 

 to their great importance and to the recent establishment of a poultry 

 experiment station in California. Poultry diseases require more study 

 in order to obtain a thorough knowledge of their nature. The tuber- 

 culin test is not reliable when applied to fowls, on account of the great 

 variation in temperature in these animals. Tuberculosis is apparently 

 spreading among fowls by traffic in laying hens. The speaker recom- 

 mended the isolation of chickens from old hens, and maintained that 

 tuberculosis was not transmitted through the eggs. Fowl cholera was 

 mentioned as the next most, important disease of chickens, which may 

 be controlled by thorough disinfection and by the destruction of dead 

 fowls. 



The, committee on pharmacopoeia, E. M. Ranck, chairman, reported 

 that after careful consideration of this question it was considered 

 impracticable to publish a book on the subject of veterinary pharma- 

 copoeia. The work required too much time and money to be taken 

 up officially by the association. The committee was therefore dis- 

 continued. 



The committee on mutual aid association reported that the assess- 

 ment plan of mutual aid to veterinarians was considered impracticable, 

 and the committee was therefore discharged. 



