VETERINARY SCIENCE AND PRACTICE. 189 



f( inu of the disease with apparent recovery of external al^scesses in some cases. Feed- 

 ini; experiments with sheep gave negative results. The author believes that the 

 disease has existed in this country for many years. Of 16,000,000 sheep slaughtered 

 in Chicago, Kansas City, and South Omaha during the years 1S97-1900, inclusive, 

 only 3,236 were condemned for this disease. 



The disease is infectious and due to the bacillus of Preisz, which is pathological to 

 mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and sheep, Ixit not to pigeons and chickens. It prevails 

 in certain districts in the western part of the United States, and all classes of sheep, 

 whether pure blood, lireeded, or common stock, are susceptible. A l)i1:)liography of 

 the subject is added. 



The organism of sheep pox, E. Nocard ( Compt. Rend. Sac. Biol. Paris, 53 

 {1901), Xn. ,), pp. 50, .51). — The author's investigations on tWs disease indicated 

 that the blood of animals affected with sheep pox is not virulent at any period of the 

 disease. Experiments were tried on 3 sheep, in inoculating them with the blood 

 from affected animals. All 3 sheep remained without infection, and a subsequent 

 inoculation with fresh virus demonstrated that the injections of blood had had no 

 effect in producing an immunity against sheejj pox. 



Staggers in sheep, J. D. Stewart {Agr. Gaz. New South Wales, 11 {1900), No. 12, 

 pp. 1112-1117). — Out1)reaks of a disease in sheep commonly known as "staggers" 

 were reported from Narrabri. The disease was ascril^ed to several causes, such as 

 micro-organisms and im'proi)er feeding, and the poisonous effects of marsh mallow. 

 Various tissues of affec-ted sheep were subjected to microscopical and bacteriological 

 investigations with the result that no micro-organisms were found. A chemical 

 analysis was made of marsh mallow, since this plant constituted one of the chief 

 elements of the feed of the affected sheep. The protein contents of the plant were 

 found to be rather high, and it is suggested that this is due to the presence of an 

 alkaloid. The disease has been known for some time, and has been especially 

 l)revalent during the past 2 years. It affects sheep of all ages. The symptoms of 

 shivering or staggering become especially pronounced when the animals are driven 

 hurriedly. Under such circumstances a high temperature and rapid pulse and res- 

 l)iration are noted. Post-mortem examinations failed to determine with certainty 

 the cau.se of the disease. 



Experiments -with lime-and-sulphur dip ( V. S. Depf. Agr. , Bureau of Animal 

 Iiiiliistri/ Rpt. 1899, p)p. 506-508). — Experiments were made by AV. R. Southey to 

 ascertain whether the fleece of sheep was injured bj^ dipping in this mixture. 

 Samples of wool were submitted to experts, who reported that the wool was unin- 

 jured, although slight traces of the dip were to be detected. 



A comparative study of the biological characters and pathogenesis of 

 Bacillus X, B. icteroides, and the hog-cholera bacillus, W. Reed and J. 

 Carroll {.Tovr. E.vpt. Med., 5 {1900), No. 3, pp. 215-270, pi. l,Jigs. .^).'-The authors 

 previously called attention to the resemblance of these bacilli and the similarity 

 of the lesions produced in guinea pigs, rabbits, and dogs by B. icteroides to those 

 caused by the hog-cholera bacillus. As a result of this work B. icteroides was con. 

 sidered a varietj^ of the hog-cholera bacillus. The present paper contains details of 

 observations itpon which these conclusions are ba.sed. B. X is considered as belong- 

 ing to the colon group. It is most pathogenic for guinea pigs when injected into 

 the ])eritoneal cavity. The bacillus is pathogenic for rabbits in quantities of from 1 

 toocc, whether injected into the body cavity or subcutaneously or intravenously. 

 Ral)l)its died in from 16 to 43 days after inoculation. 



B. icteroides and the hog-cholera bacillus are facultative, anaerobic organisms, which 

 are decolorized by Gram's method, and do not liquefy gelatine. Details are given 

 of the morphology of these bacilli and of their behavior in different culture media. 

 Both bacilli possess a considerable range of pathogenesis for animals. The hog- 

 cholera bacillus is pathogenic, in some degree, for mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, i)igeons, 



