EURAL ENGINEERING. 393 



about 14 days after infoctiou. The spirochetes pass through developuiental 

 stages in the fluid of the body cavity, where the author succeeded iu following 

 their reproduction by multiple longitudinal divisions. The resultant forms are 

 very tine and slender; and resting stages are also observed. Longitudinal 

 division also occurs in the salivary glands. No spirochetes could be found iu 

 the ova." 



Guinea-worm in domesticated animals, R. T. Leiper {Jour. Trap. Med. and 

 Hiiy. [London], 13 {I'JIO), Ao. 5, pp. 6'J, 66). — A mature guinea -worm is re- 

 ported to have been found in a leopard in Northwest Rhodesia, although dra- 

 coutiasis had not previously been observed in Africa south of the equator. 

 The occurrence of this parasite in the lower animals is reviewed, and it is 

 shown that there is little doubt but that the guinea-worm is able to infest and 

 attain maturity in the dog and horse, if not in all domesticated animals. 



The classification of the piroplasms, with a description of two new species, 

 C. Franca (Arch. R. Inst. Bact. Cuniara I'cstana, 3 (1910), ^o. 1, pp. 11-18, 

 pi. 1; (lbs. in Bui. Inst. Pasteur, 7 (1909), No. 23, pp. 1029, 1030).— The author 

 considers the piroplasms to constitute a family, Piroplasmidae, with 5 genera, 

 namely: Piroplasma containing /'. horis, ( = /'. higeinlnunr), P. oris, P. canis, 

 P. pitheci, P. muris, and P. avicularig; Theileria, including T. annulata, T. 

 parvu, T. ntutan.s. and T. dama; NicoUia, including X. quadrigemina ; Nuttallia, 

 n. g., including A^ equi and A^. hcrpestcdis; and Smitliia, n. g., including S. 

 microti, n. sp., a parasite found in the blood of a field mouse (Microtus in- 

 ecrtua) from the vicinity of Lisbon. 



A bibliography of 24 titles is appended. 



The biolog'ical detection of echinococcus disease, J. Putzu (Centbl. Bald, 

 {etc.}, 1. Aht., Oriy., 5Ji (1910), No. 1, pp. 77-S.J). — In 5 out of S cases diagnosed 

 clinically as echinococcus disease, the Bordet-Gengou complement binding re- 

 action was positive in 4 instances and negative in 1, while with the seropre- 

 cipitin test 3 were negative and 2 positive. In the 3 other cases, which on 

 autopsy showed no evidence of the disease, the complement binding reaction 

 was absent in all instances, while the seroprecipitin reaction was twice positive 

 and once negative. In this work it was found that the best antigen was 

 hydatid fluid from shee[). 



The bionomics of helminths, W. Nicoll (Brit. Med. Jour., 1910, No. 2582, 

 pp. 1. 529- 1 53'/). — A i>aper read before the Society of Tropical Medicine and 

 Hygiene. 



RURAL ENGINEERING. 



Irrigation experiments and investigations in western Oregon, A. P. Stover 

 (U. .S. Dcpt. Ayr., Office E.vpt. Stas. BuL 226, pp. 68, figs. 13). — The physical 

 characteristics of the Willamette, Umpqua, and Rogue River valleys are de- 

 scribed, the streams and stream flow, toiwgraphy, soils, and climate of each 

 are discussed, and experimental investigations conducted at several points in 

 the Willamette Valley are reported, in which the irrigation and cultural meth- 

 ods employed are described, directions given for the preparation of land for 

 irrigation, and the climatic conditions during the period of the investigation 

 stated in full. 



In experiments conducted in cooperation with the Oregon Experiment Sta- 

 tion at Corvallis, the effects of water were noticeable at once in the increased 

 vigor of the plants, although, as at other points, it was difficult to ascertain at 

 exactly what date irrigation should take place as the atmosphere is never 

 excessively dry and the dew is sutficiently heavy to prevent the crops from 

 wilting or changing color. In average years, however, regular applications 

 should be made throughout the dry period beginning not later than July 1 with- 

 out reference to showers. Approximately 1 ft. of water should be applied in 



