VETERINARY SCIENCE AND PRACTICE. 1027 



is quite striking. The natural process of purification requires only a short time, 

 usually varying from 18 to 117 hours. The process of disinfection is apparently not 

 greatly assisted by the use of antiseptic washes. The introduction of highly viru- 

 lent staphylococci, streptococci, and coli bacillus into the vagina of cattle has no 

 apparent effect upon the health of the animals. 



Treatment of infectious vaginal catarrh in cattle, Martens I Berlin. Tierdrztl. 

 Wchnschr., 1904, No. 47, />/>■ 769, 770). — The symptoms of this disease are briefly 

 described. When the proper method of treatment is adopted it is possible, in the 

 author's opinion, to bring about a cure within 2 or 3 weeks. Medicines used in the 

 treatment of this disease may he applied in the form of a powder, salve, or fluid. 

 The last-named method of procedure is probably to be preferred in a majority of 

 cases. It permits a more thorough application of the remedy to all of the affected 

 surfaces. For this purpose the author uses a 6 to s per cent solution of crude alum 

 and tannin in warm water. After a preliminary treatment with this remedy hh- 

 thargan salve may he applied. 



Premature parturition in cattle, A. S. Alexander {Breeder's '■":., 46 (1904), 

 No. 20, />/>. 892, 893). — This disease occurs in an accidental and a contagious form. 

 Particular attention is given to a discussion of contagious abortion and detailed 

 recommendations are made regarding the care of aborting animals, disinfection of 

 Stables, and general methods to he adopted for the prevention and eradication of the 

 disease. 



An investigation in the County of Wexford of a disease in young cattle, 

 J. 11. Norms (Jour. Dept. Agr. <i t ,<l Tech. Tnstr. Ireland, 5 (1904), No. /, pp. 48-57, 

 /)/s. .'/, mail l). — For a number of years a serious loss of cattle has been experienced 

 in various parts .if Ireland from a chronic wasting disease characterized by great 

 anemia and very high mortality. During the past winter the mortality was higher 

 than usual, owing perhaps to the wet season. In the County of Wexford the disease 

 invaded almost every district. Affected cattle are recognized by their hidebound 

 condition, anemic appearance, and scours. A <^reat majority of outbreaks occur 

 between October and April, but occasionally cases are met with in the spring and 

 early summer. Although the affected animal gradually loses weight and shows an 

 anemic condition the appetite frequently remains unimpaired. When a post-mortem 

 examination is made it is found that the first •'! stomachs and the majority of the 

 other internal organs are in a nearly normal condition except for their bloodless 

 appearance. It is apparent from such an investigation that no organic disease pre- 

 vails in the affected animals. In every post-mortem examination, however, myriads 

 of parasitic worms were found belonging to the species Strongyhis gracilis. The para- 

 sites are uniformly found in the fourth stomach, the condition of which when exam- 

 ined post mortem varies to a considerable extent. In some cases it shows a eatarrhal 

 condition with a color varying from rose to purple. In other cases, it is pale with 

 swollen, soft, ami dropsical walls. In a few instances another parasitic worm, 

 S. convolutus, is found in company with S. gracilis and occasionally a species of 

 trichocephalus was found in the stomach. The life history of S. gracilis is not well 

 understood and the disease caused by its presence in the fourth stomach does not 

 readily yield to treatment. In order to prevent the general spread of infestation it 

 is recommended that various measures be adopted which are calculated to destroy 

 the larva' in the pasture. With this object in view, the manure from infested cattle 

 should be burned or buried in quicklime and the worms on the grass and pastures 

 may be destroyed to some extent by treatment with lime or salt. Badly infested 

 pastures may be used for horse grazing or planted to cultivated crops. In this way 

 the larva' in pastures may be greatly reduced in numbers. 



Generalized melanosis in a heifer, E. Bro (Rev. Vet. Toulouse, 29 (1904), No. 

 1 .', iij>. 81 .'. 813). — In a heifer which was apparently in good health and which showed 

 no emaciation or general physiological disturbance aside from melanosis, the spinal 

 28151— No. 10—05 7 



