608 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Mammary tuberculosis and the significance of acid-fast pseudo-tubercle 

 bacilli in the diagnosis of this disease, R. Ostertag et al. (Ztschr. FUisch-u. 

 Milchhyg., 15 (1904), No. l, pp. 1-10). — In these studies 10 cows suffering from mam- 

 mary tuberculosis were purchased and used for experimental purposes. Another 

 healthy cow was obtained and inoculated for the purpose of producing artificial 

 infection in the udder. 



The author's purpose in carrying out experiments on these cows was to determine 

 whether mammary tuberculosis could be easily detected by a bacteriological exami- 

 nation of the milk, whether such milk contains acid-fast bacteria, which may be 

 mistaken for tubercle bacilli, whether inoculation with milk samples from tubercu- 

 lous udders may give a reliable diagnosis, and other similar problems. 



It was found that tuberculosis of the udder consists essentially in painless swell- 

 ings without any higher temperature than the surrounding tissue. These swellings 

 are easily detected after milking, but may be overlooked in the full udder. It is 

 considered that a certain diagnosis for mammary tuberculosis may be reached when 

 one quarter of the udder and the corresponding lymphatic glands show painless, 

 firm, knotty swellings without an elevation of temperature. 



Contrary to the results obtained by certain investigators the author considers a 

 tuberculin test as unsatisfactory for use in the diagnosis of this form of tuberculosis. 

 In general a bacteriological test is considered as indispensable. It was found that 

 in advanced cases of mammary tuberculosis the milk from affected quarters of the 

 udder may be virulent in a dilution of 1:1,000,000,000. An examination of mucus 

 from various mucous membranes may contain acid-fast pseudo-tubercle bacilli. 



Vertebral tuberculosis in cattle, J. Hamoir (Bui. Soc. Cent. Mid. VH., 81 (1904), 

 No. 18, pp. 621-636). — Vertebral tuberculosis is said not to be of such exceptional 

 rarity as commonly supposed. A number of cases have been met with during the 

 author's experience, and four such cases are described in detail with notes on the 

 symptoms, course of the disease, and pathological anatomy as shown at the autopsies. 



The dorsal region of the vertebral column is affected with tuberculosis more fre- 

 quently than the cervical or lumbar regions. As a rule the pathological processes 

 affect exclusively the body of the vertebra which becomes softened and disintegrated. 

 The symptoms of this form of tuberculosis are not characteristic. In general, some 

 form of locomotor trouble appears. The owner of affected cattle frequently suspects 

 a blow in the region of tin- Ion is as the cause of trouble. The symptoms become more 

 and more severe despite all forms of treatment and finally result in death. 



The milk of tuberculous cows, <i. Moussu (Ccm.pt. Rend. S<><\ Biol. [Paris], 56 

 (190.}), No. IS, pp. 617-619). — A careful study was made of the milk of tuberculous 

 cows for the purpose of determining the relative frequency of the occurrence of tuber- 

 cle bacilli in it. None of the cows which were studied showed lesions in the mam- 

 illary gland which could be detected by ordinary methods, but in all cases the 

 existence of tuberculosis was determined by tuberculin reaction or by clinical 

 observation. 



The samples of milk were taken under antiseptic conditions, separated, and guinea 

 pigs were used for inoculation tests. During these experiments 57 inoculations were 

 made and 7 positive results were obtained. While in a great majority of cases the 

 result was negative the positive results obtained in the other cases show that the 

 milk of tuberculous cows may contain tubercle bacilli although no evidence of tuber- 

 culosis of the udder can be obtained by other means. 



Avian tuberculosis, K. Wolffhugel (Mbnaish. Prakl. Tierh., 15 (1904), No. 

 9-10, pp. 457-471). — Circumstantial clinical notes are given regarding a number of 

 outbreaks of this disease among common fowls, turkeys, pheasants, guinea hens, and 

 pigeons. The disease was also observed in pigeons in zoological parks as well as in 

 the swan, Corvus comix, and CEdemia nigra. 



