276 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. [Vol.37 



taurin alone, the results being similar but even more marked than in the experi- 

 ments with guinea pigs. Histologic examination of the organs in treated ani- 

 mals showed arrested tubercles, absence of caseation, disappearance of the 

 tubercle bacilli and lesions, and evidence of repair by connective-tissue in growth. 

 The controls showed advancing lesions, caseation, and numerous bacilli. A 

 number of the treated animals showed slight evidences of tuberculosis, but in 

 no inconsiderable number were the tissues essentially normal microscopically. 



Suppuration in cattle and swine caused by Bacterium pyogenes, A. R. 

 Waed (Cornell Vet., 7 {1911), No. 1, pp. 29-42, pi. 2).— This di.scussion of the 

 general characteristics of the lesions and of those found in swine and in cattle 

 is based upon investigations and an extensive review of the literature in con- 

 nection with a list of 15 references appended. 



"Bacillus pyogenes differs from the common pyogenic organisms in that it 

 possesses the peculiarity, under certain conditions, of stimulating the pro- 

 liferation of connective tissue to form tumor-like masses similar to granulation 

 tissue, and of subsequently inducing the necrotic changes leading to the forma- 

 tion of an abscess within the newly formed tissue. This" tj-pe of suppuration as 

 a consequence of the preliminary tissue proliferation follows a slow chronic 

 course. In this peculiarity the development of the lesions of B. pyogenes bears 

 a general resemblance to the changes occurring in tuberculosis and in actino- 

 mycosis." 



B. pyogenes is deemed undoubtedly the most common suppurative organism 

 affecting swine. Abscesses caused by It may develop in all parenchymatous 

 visceral organs, the walls of the gnstro-intestlnal canal, the musculature, and 

 the subcutis. It is also said to be quite as important in cattle as in swine. 



The diastase in the saliva of the ox, C. C. Palmer {Vet. Alumni Quart. 

 [Ohio State Univ.], If (1916), No. 2, pp. -i-J-52).— Previously noted from another 

 source (E. S. R., 36. p. 82). 



The diagnosis of infectious abortion of cattle (Bang's disease) with spe- 

 cial reference to the intradermal abortin test. — I, Review of Bang's disease, 

 J. Reichex and M. J. Habkins {Jour. Ainer. Vet. iled. Assoc., 50 (1917), No. 7, 

 pp. 847-862, figs. 4)- — This Is a general discussion of the subject with regard 

 to history, symptoms, bacteriological examinations (microscopic and cultural), 

 and biological tests (serological and diagnostic reagents), together with de- 

 tailed tabulated data on the use of the " abortin " test as introduced by the 

 British commi.«;sion (E. S. R., 22, p. 584) and also tested by Meyer and 

 Hardenbergh (E. S. R., 31, p. 380). 



The abortin used was prepared by removing from six to eight strains of 

 Bacillus abortus, which were grown in lUako bottles of neutral glycerin agar 

 at 37° C. until their maximum growth was obtained, with sterile physiological 

 salt solution, collecting as one mixture, heating to 60° for one hour, and cen- 

 trifugalizing. The killed bacteria were then once more washed with physio- 

 logical salt solution and the emulsion shaken up in a mechanical mixer with 

 a definite amount of the saline and filtered through four thicknesses of sterile 

 cheesecloth. The filtrate was so diluted that each cubic centimeter included 

 approximately 5.000,000,000 bacteria, cultured for sterility and preserved with 

 0.5 per cent phenol. It was applied in the test in a manner similar to the 

 intradermal tuberculin test as u.sed by Haring and Bell (E. S. R., 30, p. 883). 



It is indicated tliat the Intradermal test is hardly destined to assist in 

 establishing a diagnosis, as far as the individual animal is concerned, but as 

 an aid in determining whether or not the infection actually exists In a herd it 

 is a valuable test for the practicing veterinarian. "As much can be said for 

 a positive reaction in the test as a positive reaction In any of the serological 

 tests, and when tlie history of the herd is such as to arouse the suspicion that 



