180 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Changes in the anthrax bacillus in decomposing ox blood outside of the 



body, K. P.KHNDT {('mlhl. Bakt. v. Far., J. Abt., 2.s [1900), No. 19, pp. 64f-651, 

 pi /)._The author jjreseiits a brief critical discussion of the literature of this sub- 

 ject. A sample oi blood was received from an animal which had died of anthrax, 

 and was subjected to culture for the purpose of making a positive diagnosis. The 

 blood sample was kept under observation for a number of days, and examinations 

 were made each day for the purpose of determining the conditions of the anthrax 

 bacillus. From these investigations it was demonstrated that clearly differentiated 

 anthrax bacilli were to be found in anthrax blood kept in a flask in the dark, at 

 normal temperature, for 13 days. Disintegration of the anthrax bacilli began in the 

 central portions. The segments which were stained blue gradually became less 

 receptive to the (-oloring matter and exhibited a granular disintegration. The 

 so-c-alled plasma capsule took the stain much longer. Anthrax bacilli with a sharp 

 contour, but without color differentiation, were to l)e observed 14 days after the 

 })li>od hud been drawn. 



The susceptibility of crosses of Algerian merinos to anthrax, ^Martinet 

 {Rec. Med. Vet., Paris, 8. set:, 7 (1900), No. 3S, pp. 108-111). — In order to determine 

 any possible variation in the susceptibility of different races of sheep to anthrax, the 

 author selected for his experiments a pure-bred merino, a lamb of which both 

 parents were merino crosses, and 2 lambs from crosses of the second generation. 

 The 4 aniinals were inoculated with anthrax virus which had undergone 2 passages 

 through rabbits. Three of the animals died of anthrax, but the time of resistance 

 varied and indicated that the resistant power toward the anthrax was 'in inverse 

 proportion to the amount of merino blood present in the animal. The first animal 

 died within 36 hours, the second within 74 hours, the third within 92 hours, while 

 the fourth remained without infection. Other experiments and observations were 

 made along the same line, with similar results. The author recommends crossing 

 of the pure merinos where anthrax is liable to cause losses. 



The origin of lingual actinomycosis in cattle, A. Bkeuer [Ztscltr. Fleischu. 

 Milclihyg., 11 {1900), No. 4, pp- 103-111).— The author describes in detail the ana- 

 tomical structure of the tongues of cattle as related to the development of actinomy- 

 cosis in this organ. During this stud}' it was observed that the frequency of cases 

 stood in a rather constant relation to the age of the animal. Actinomycosis of the 

 tongue was never observed in animals under 2 years of age, while the number of 

 cases increased rapidly after 3 years, and in cattle of from 8 to 10 or more years of 

 age the tongue was almost always affected in cases of this disease. The author 

 believes that the cause of frequent actinomycosis of the tongue in cattle is to l)e found 

 in the anatomical structure of this organ. Numerous changes take place, especially 

 during old age, in the dorsal ridge of the tongue, and the author states that the 

 disease invades this (>rgan in consequence of these changes. 



Experiments with Texas fever and southern cattle ticks, E. C Schroeder 

 and W. E. Cotton {U. K Dept. Agr., Bureau of Animal InduMrii Rpt. 1899, pp. 33- 

 52). — Grou-iiKj noninfeded ticks and afterirards infecting them. (pp. 33-41 ). — An attempt 

 was made to grow ti(;ks on animals immune to Texas fever. Horses, mules, dogs, 

 sheep, goats, rabbits, pigeons, and guinea pigs were used without success. Ticks 

 which were taken from a permanently infested field containing cattle recently 

 recovered or sick with Texas fever were placed on a young calf without causing a 

 development of the disease. The second generation of ticks were grown on the 

 same calf with the same result. The third, fourth, and fifth generations were grown 

 on adult cattle without producing Texas fever; while another portion of the fifth 

 generation from adult ticks which were grown on cows from North Carolina, when 

 placed on 2 northern cows, produced Texas fever, Avith death in one case. Further 

 experiments were conducted along the same line, from which it is concluded that it 

 is possible to obtain a supply of southern cattle ticks which can be grown on suscep- 



