VETERINARY SCIENCE AND PRACTICE. 993 



ligation at the laboratory of the veterinary division. A detailed report is given on 

 the inspection of horses for unsoundness in selecting animals for military use, on 

 inspection of dairies, veterinary inspection, and cruelty to animals. 



An accomit is given of an investigation of a plague among rats occurring in Auck- 

 land. The appearance of the bacillus and the behavior on different media are 

 described. A number of inoculation experiments were made in order to determine 

 the virulence of the plague bacillus for rats and other experimental animals. These 

 experiments indicate that little is to be feared from infection of rats and guinea i)igs 

 with the plague bacillus. In several instances artificially-infected rats were killed 

 and eaten by other rats and the infection was not transmitted. 



Brief notes are also given on a trip to Europe for the purpose of securing Shorthorn 

 dairy cattle free from tuberculosis and improved stallions for service in the Colony. 



Summary of results of experiments with tuberculous cows, C. S. Phelps 

 {Conncdicut Storrs Sta. lipt. 1900, })p. 175-187). — The author summarizes results of 

 experiments with 4 cows upon which several preliminary reports have already been 

 made (E. S. R., 11, pp. 890, 891; 12, pp. 1086, 1087). At the tenth application of 

 the tuberculin test, March 19 and 20, 1900, none of the cows reacted. Another test 

 made on September 28 of the same year gave a reaction in 1 cow. Detailed notes 

 are given on the progress of the disease in the different cows. In the early part of 

 the fourth year 3 of the cows began to show signs of decline, but the fourth contin- 

 ued to give a good flow of milk and appeared to be in a vigorous state of health when 

 killed in November, 1900. All of the cows were slaughtered and post-mortem 

 examinations were made by Dr. N. S. Mayo. The disease was found to be general- 

 izeil in 2 of the cows and somewhat restricted in the other 2. 



In May, 1900, 3 calves from healthy cows were selected for further experiments on 

 the infectiousness of milk of the tuberculous cows. The calves were placed in a 

 small pasture and all possible precautions were taken to prevent transmission of the 

 disease in any way except by the milk. The calves did not react to the tuberculin 

 test on May 24 or on September 28, after having been fed over 4i months on tuber- 

 culous milk. After the second test the calves were fed no more milk. One calf 

 died on November 29 and was found on post-mortem examination to be tuberculous. 

 The other calves were kept by themselves during the winter, and after having been 

 tested with tuberculin in February, 1901, without reaction, were sent to pasture in 

 May of that year. 



As in previous reports on this subject, the author concludes that the danger of 

 the spread of tuberculosis through the milk of infected animals is not so great as 

 generally supposed. This is especially true during the earlier stages of the disease; 

 after the tuberculosis has become generalized the danger is greater and all reason- 

 able precautions are necessary to prevent the spread of the disease from such long- 

 standing cases. It is recommended that all cows be tested with tuberculin and that 

 those which react should be separated from the rest, and that the nonaffected 

 animals should be subsequently tested at least once per year. 



The extent to which tuberculin investig-ations among cattle in Sweden 

 have been useful, L. G. L. Kkoxer {K. Laudt. Abid. Ilavdl. Tidskr., 4'' [1901), 

 No. i^, jrp. 134-145). — Since 1897 the Swedish Government has exi)ende<l from $H,760 

 to $21,000 annually for the investigation and eradication of tu])erculosis among cattle. 

 The early investigations showed that about 30 per cent of the animals which were 

 examined were tuberculous. Large herds showed a greater percentage of reacting 

 animals. In 1897-98 the percentage of reacting animals in herds of from 2 to 15 

 was 25.5 per cent; in herds of from 16 to 30, 28.4 per cent; in herds of 31 to 60, 37 

 per cent; in herds of 61 to 100, 47.8 per cent; and in larger herds, 54.4 per cent. Of 

 all the animals exanuned al)out 37 i)er cent were found free from tuberculosis. The 

 isolation of nonreacting animals and feeding calves on pasteurized and boiled milk 



