894 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



tioA of serum treatment for curative purposes was successful in about 50 per cent of 

 cases. When the serum was employed for preventive purposes it was found that a 

 subsequent exposure to the disease or direct inoculation produced merely a slight 

 fever without a regular course of the disease. 



Contribution to a study of Texas fever, J. Lignieres {Rec. Med. Vet., Paris, 

 8. aer., S {1001), No. 15, pp. 4T 8-483). — During extended studies of this disease the 

 author discovered 2 forms of the blood parasite which causes the disease, and it 

 was shown that these forms vary to such an extent that vaccination with blood 

 from an animal infected with one form of the parasite does not produce immunity 

 against an attack of the other form. Both forms of blood i)arasite may be carried in 

 the same species of tick {Rhipicejjhalus annulatus) . Several inoculation experiments 

 were made to gain evidence on this point, and the experiments were quite conclusive 

 in demonstrating the two forms of blood parasites. The author concludes that these 

 forms are not merely variations in the virulence of one variety of blood parasite, but 

 are distinct varieties. This would offer an explanation for the observed fact that 

 immune animals when moved to other localities may become infected with a fatal 

 form of the disease. In sudi cases it would be only necessa'V to assume that the 

 animal had become immune to one form of the parasite, and that upon Ijeing removed 

 to another location became infected with the other form. Further studies along 

 this line are promif-ed by tlie author. 



Anthrax and preventive inoculation in Louisiana, W. H. Dalrvmi'LE {Joht. 

 Coiirp. M('<1 iind TV/. Arch., ,.'..' {19(il), Nui<. 10, pp. 613-618; 11, pp. 708-713).— This 

 paper was read before the thirty-eighth annual meeting of the American Veterinary 

 Medical Association. The author devotes special attention to a discussion of t he various 

 methods by which anthrax becomes disseminated. Among these means of distri))u- 

 tion, mention should be made of horseflies and animals that feed on carrion. The 

 necessity of destroying all carcasses of animals dead of anthrax is urged l)y the author. 



Spore formation of anthrax bacillus in an atmosphere of nitrogen, E. Jacob- 

 it/ ( Cfiitlh. Balct. n. J'di:, 1. Aht., .io {1901), Xo. 6, pp. 232-239). — Experiments were 

 undertaken l)y the author to test the soundness of conclusions which ha<l Ijeen stated 

 by Klett that spore formation is a regular phenomenon in cultures of anthrax bacillus 

 maintained in an atmosphere of nitrogen. The author conducted his experiments 

 with great precaution so as to prevent the possible introduction of hydrogen, oxygen, 

 or other gases during the period of the experiment. All these experiments showed 

 uniformly that the anthrax bacillus in an atmosphere of pure nitrogen never forms 

 spores, at least when grown on agar, but that spores are readily formed when oxygen 

 is allowed to gain entrance. 



The danger of anthrax from the manipulation of horsehair, and its pre- 

 vention, A. Scott {British Mrd. Jour., 1901, Xo. 2116, pp. 136, 137). — The author 

 reports several cases of anthrax which arose from handling infected horsehair from 

 Russia. Attention is called to the necessity for great precaution in handling hair 

 which may possibly be infected. The disease may be transmitted by the dust which 

 arises from the hairs by discharges which may be dried on infested hairs, ^nd such 

 hair is a constant source of danger, even when all the processes of manipulation have 

 been completed and the hair is made up into various articles of furniture. In order 

 to prevent the development of this disease among employees in furniture factories, it 

 is suggested that all operators should wear overalls or other outside garments which 

 may be removed upon leaving the factory; that no one with any cut or abrasion of 

 the skin should be allowed to work unless such abrasions may be perfectly protected 

 from contamination; that all suspicious cases of illness be immediately reported to 

 competent physicians in order that proper diagnosis may be made, and that bales of 

 hair should be immediately immersed in water upon being received, and should be 

 boiled for about 30 minutes in order to destroy anthrax germs which may be upon 

 the hair. It is also recommended that all dust and refuse from such factories be 

 burned in order to prevent further spread of the disease. 



