1916] VETERINARY MEDICINE. 77 



of the treatment is likely to occur, and it is doubtful whether the treatment ever 

 effects an absolute cure. In view of its uncertainty and of the slow recovery of 

 weight in the most favorable cases, treatment can not be advised except in 

 special circumstances. 



"As a rule the most economical plan is to destroy the subjects of Johue's 

 disease as soon as the disease is manifested by distinct clinical symptoms. 

 This course is indicated not only by the uncertainty and expense of treatment, 

 but also because clinically diseased animals, even when under treatment, are 

 highly dangerous unless strictly isolated. 



" In the case of specially valuable animals, such as pregnant pedigree cows, 

 treatment may justifiably be tried, in the hope that it may carry the animal 

 over the period of parturition, even if it does not effect a cure. The treatment 

 may also be justified in cases in which the disease has been diagnosed in ap- 

 parently healthy animals by testing with avian tuberculin or ' Johnin,' and their 

 slaughter is not considered expedient by the owner." 



See also a previous note (E. S. II., 31, p. 2S3). 



Studies on Texas fever. First communication, C. Sa and A. Cunha {Rev. 

 Vet. e Zootech., 5 {1916), No. 6, pp. 2SS-303, pis. 4). — From studies on the 

 methods of immunization it is concluded that late injections of trypanblue do 

 not immunize against Texas fever without serious danger to the life of the 

 animal. An early curative injection obviates this danger without in any way 

 affecting the immunization of the animal. Early injections are therefore 

 recommended. 



A bibliography is included. 



The occurrence of pleoraorphism. and mutation among members of the 

 hemorrhagic septicemia group of organisms, J. P. M'Gowan and Chung Yik 

 Wang {Jour. Path, and Bad., 20 {1915), No. 1, pp. 21-JtO, pis. 2).— The authors 

 show " how an organism of the hemorrhagic septicemia group, by an increase 

 of virulence through passage, has also concurrently been endowed with an in- 

 creased biological activity on artificial media, whereby it grows much faster 

 on these media and produces acid and gas fermentation in some carbohydrate 

 media where it only produced acid or no change previously. It would seem to. 

 be essential for the success of this passage that the organism be taken directly 

 from one animal to another without intervening growth on artificial media." 



Vaccinations against hemorrhagic septicemia, J. B. Habdenbergh and F. 

 BoERNEE, Je. {Jour. Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc, 49 {1916), No. 1, pp. 55-59). — From 

 experiments carrietl out on twelve herds of cattle and one of sheep the authors 

 liave concluded that " the use of 48-hour cultures of Bacillus bovisepticus sub- 

 cutaneously in the dose of 0.5 cc. for sheep and 1 cc. for cattle is harmless. 

 The immunity conferred by this vaccination has not been thoroughly demon- 

 strated, but the sudden checking of losses in several herds may be evidence of 

 some value. Incubation at 42.5° C. [108.5 F.] for 17 days failed to render 

 the strains avirulent for rabbits in the dose of 0.2 cc." 



A further contribution to the knowledge of the sheep disease, Septicsemia 

 pluriformis ovium (hemorrhagic septicemia), and its control by serum vac- 

 cination, H. Raebiger, a. Spiegl, and K. Schern {Dent. Tierdrztl. Wchnschr., 

 23 {1915), No. 47, pp. 406-409, figs. 2; abs. in Jour. Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc, 49 

 {1016), No. 1, pp. 112, 113). — A specific serum was obtained from three sheep 

 which had been given repeated intravenous injections of virulent strains of 

 Bacillus ovisepticus. The serum was tested on white mice and found to protect 

 them against a 1-cc. injection of a 24-hour bouillon culture of the bacilli. 



The results of the use of the serum in 13 herds are submitted in tabular form 

 and briefly discussed. The record of a case in a lamb, together with the autopsi- 

 cal findings, is also reported. 



