714 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



inoculated hypodermically, but did not cause foot-rot either by this method or when 

 given by feeding. Rabbits and mice were found to be susceptible to the necrosis 

 bacillus, but guinea pigs were refractory. 



Foot-rot of sheep is of great economic importance and attention was, therefore, 

 called to the features of the disease by which it can be differentiated from wounds, 

 cutaneous abscesses, foot-and-mouth disease, and other related diseases. The pre- 

 vention of foot-rot may be brought about by careful management and quarantine. 

 Sheep may be pastured on land that has been previously occupied by diseased sheep 

 provided that one winter's frosts have been allowed to intervene. Buildings and 

 premises, however, should be disinfected. 



In treating mild cases, the affected sheep may be made to pass slowly through a 

 trough containing a solution of chlorid of lime at the rate of 1 lb. to 12 qts. of water, 

 or, instead of this, carbolic acid may be used at the rate of 1 part to 30 parts of water. 

 For more advanced cases a solution of copper sulphate at the rate of 4 lbs. to 5 gals. 

 of water may be used, or the diseased tissue may be cut away and the parts washed 

 with a 5 per cent solution of carbolic acid, after which an antiseptic powder consist- 

 ing of carbolic acid, tannic acid, and alum may be sprinkled on the affected part. 



Report of the work against sheep scab in 1903, C. O. Goodpasture ( U. S. 

 Dept. Agr., Bureau of Animal Industry Rpt. 1903, pp. 41-53). — During the year under 

 report a larger number of inspections of sheep was made than ever before, involving 

 a total of 33,647,563 sheep. In this number 8.98 per cent was found to be infected 

 with scab. While the percentage of infection is thus slightly larger than in previous 

 years, this is due to the fact that the principal work was done in western States where 

 the disease was most prevalent. 



The work of eradicating sheep scab is progressing in a very satisfactory manner 

 and the results thus far obtained indicate "that it is only a question of a few more 

 years when the fight against sheep scab will be successfully completed." The effect- 

 iveness of various dips during the years 1900 to 1903 ranged from 86 to 98.5 per cent, 

 the highest effectiveness being reached in 1903. The dipping of sheep at private 

 plants is usually more effective than that done at public dipping stations, but the 

 difference is not very pronounced. 



When the various dips are compared for the years 1900 to 1903, it is seen that 

 tobacco extract and sulphur has the highest average percentage of efficacy; this is 

 believed to be due, however, to the improper mixing of the lime and sulphur dip 

 during the first year of the test. In 1903 the lime and sulphur dip broke the record 

 of efficacy with 98.5 per cent. This dip also has the highest average efficacy during 

 the last 3 years. It is, therefore, evident that lime and sulphur prepared strictly 

 according to directions is the best dip recognized by the Bureau, while the tobacco 

 extract and sulphur is also satisfactory and is easily prepared. 



Swine plague, W. Grips (Fortschr. Vet. Hyg., 2 (1904), Nos. 1, pp. 5-18; 2, pp. 

 49-73; 3, pp. 82-107; 4, PP- 113-135, figs. 6). — An elaborate historical review is pre- 

 sented on the subject of swine plague with numerous critical references to the litera- 

 ture of the subject in connection with a bibliography. The author outlines in detail 

 his experiments with hogs of different ages and with small laboratory animals for 

 the purpose of determining the relationship and importance of the organism described 

 by Loftier and Schiitz and that described by himself as the cause of swine plague. 



The differential diagnosis between swine plague and hog cholera is discussed for 

 the purpose of calling attention to the characteristic lesions of swine plague. The 

 symptoms and lesions of the latter disease are described in great detail in connection 

 with the clinical history of a large number of cases. Cultures were made of the 

 organism described by Loftier and Schiitz and also of the Grips bacillus and inocu- 

 lation tests were carried out with these organisms. In this discussion the author 

 argues that the outbreaks of swine plague and the peculiar distribution of the lesions 

 of the disease can not be readily explained on the basis of Loftier' s theories, while 



