898 EXPERIMENT STATION KECORD. 



condition in the blood of affecteil animals. The various stages in the development 

 of the parasite are described in detail. 



"Staggers" among horses in the northeastern counties of North Carolina, 

 T. Butler [BuI. Nortli rurolhni Slate Bd. Agr., ,i2 [1901), No. 9, pp. 25-35). — During 

 August and September about 500 horses died in the northeastern part of the State 

 from this disease. An investigation was made of the symptoms, cause, and patho- 

 logical changes of the disease. The author considers the disease to be the same as 

 what is commonly referred to as cerebro-spinal-meningitis, mold poisoning, or 

 forage poisoning. The cases which were studied indicated that the disease was 

 caused by poisons produced by molds or bacteria in decomposing vegetable matter, 

 and gained entrance to the animals in their food or water supply. In a few cases 

 moldy corn fodder was plainly indicated as the cause of the trouble. Other casas 

 ■seemed to be developed as the result of eating moldy oats, and it is stated that oats 

 were generally moldy during the season throughout the State. A detailed descrip- 

 tion is given of the clinical symptoms and post-mortem findings in cases of the dis- 

 ease. Treatment is usually unsatisfactory for the reason that the exact nature of the 

 poison which causes the disease is still unknown and the disease ordinarily runs its 

 course too rapidly to allow effective administration of medicines. Aloes or calomel 

 may be given during the first stages of the disease, in conjunction with cold applica- 

 tions to the head and internal administrations of bromid of potash or iodid of potash. 

 In preventing the development of this disease, attention is called to the desirability 

 of avoiding the use of moldy fodder. The author gave some attention to the sup- 

 posed connection between mosquitoes and the disease, which has been suggested by 

 some stock owners.' Xo foundation was discovered for this belief. It appears also 

 quite improbable that any poisonous wild plants were concerned in producing the 

 trouble. 



Chickens and their diseases in Ha^waii, T. F. Sedgwick {Hawaii Sta. Bui. 1, 

 j)p. 23). — In the introduction by J. (i. Smith attention is called to the high prices 

 demanded for eggs and poultry in the Honolulu markets. The cause of these high 

 prices is chiefly the prevalence of a number of diseases among poultry. The most 

 important disease among poultry in the Hawaiian Islands is chickenpox, locally 

 known as sorehead. The symptoms of the disease are described in detail and atten- 

 tion is called to the difliculty of recognizing it in its earlier stages without careful 

 examination. In treating the chickenpox the use of disinfectants is recommended, 

 among which mention may be made of carbolic acid, Bordeaux mixture, turpentine, 

 and whitewash. Infected fowls may be treated with local applications of potassium 

 permanganate, nitrate of silver, sulphur, sulphate of copper, carbolic ointment, or 

 oxid of mercury. A discussion of the subject of chickenpox l)y J. J. Green is 

 reprinted in the bulletin. Brief notes are given on diarrhea, cholera, colds, dis- 

 temper, roup, intestinal worms, and lice. A historic account of the origin and intro- 

 duction of domestic fowls into Hawaii is given, and it is suggested that jjy improve- 

 ment upon the native chickens valuable breeds could be obtained which would have 

 some resisting power to chickenpox and other local diseases. Brief suggestions are 

 made regarding the kind and (juantity of food ami suitable shelter for chickens. 



Bacteriological studies on the etiology of an epidemic disease among chick- 

 ens in Tyrol, A. Lode and J. GRrsER ( Centbl. Bait. v.. Par., 1. Abt., SO {1901), No. 16, 

 pp. 593-604). — A serious outbreak of an infectious disease among poultry was observed 

 in a number of small towns and an investigation of these outbreaks seemed to indi- 

 cate that the disease was introduced from Italy. The death rate in outbreaks of the 

 disease was very high, reaching, in some cases, 95 per cent. The course of the dis- 

 ease was in most cases run very rapidly, the fowls sometimes dying within a few 

 minutes after the first symptoms were observed. After a thorough disinfection of 

 infected chicken quarters, a practical control was obtained over the disease. The 

 authors undertook a bacteriological study of material from fowls w hich had died of 



