1916] VETEEIXARY MEDICINE. 487 



Stimulation of the production of antibodies, it can not be interpreted in terms 

 of the current conception of tlie action of vaccines. We are entering, therefore, 

 a new and interesting development in the study and treatment of infectious 

 diseases." 



The etiology of rat-bite fever, F. G. Blake (Jour. IJxpt. Med., 23 (1916), 

 No. 1, pp. 39-60, pis. 7, fig. 1). — "Rat-bite fever is a specific infectious disease 

 following the bite of a rat. It occurs in Asia, Europe, and America. The 

 etiological organism is Streptothrix muris ratti, first de.scribed by Schottmiiller 

 in 1914. His observation is confirmed by the isolation of an identical strep- 

 tothrix in the case here reported. Invasion of the blood stream by S. muris 

 ratti occurs in rat-bite fever. The case here reported developed a powerful 

 agglutinin for 8. muris ratti. Pathological change.s occur in the myocardium, 

 kidneys, liver, and adrenals showing areas of degeneration and infiltration 

 with polynuclear leucocytes, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and endothelial cells. 

 Ulcerative endocarditis may occur in rat-bite fever and be caused by the 

 <S. muris ratti." 



The etiology and treatment of rat -bite fever, W. Tileston (Jour. Amer. 

 Med. Assoc, 66 (1916), Xo. 14, pp. 995-998, figs. 4).—" In a typical case of rat- 

 bite fever, organisms were t<^und in the blood, closely resembling the Strepto- 

 thrix tnuris ratti of Schottmiiller and Blake. They were present in each febrile 

 paroxysm and absent in the intervals. They were readily demonstrated by 

 dark-field illumination, but with difficulty by .staining methods, probably on ac- 

 count of a strong tendency to fragmentation. Blood cultures and inoculations 

 of animals with the blood were negative. The administration of salvarsan was 

 followed by immediate cessation of the paroxysms. An abortive case of rat-bite 

 fever is reported." 



Chinese animal hides, skins, and bristles, .J. R. Shand (Amer. Jour. Vet. 

 Med., 11 (1916), Xo. 8, pp. 609-615). — This article briefly considers the sanitary 

 conditions to be contended with when hides and skins are imported into the 

 United States from China, and suggests remedies for handling the situation. 

 The methods used for disinfecting the hides and other material in China are 

 briefly discussed. 



On the resistance of Bacillus anthracis spores to high temperature, R. H. 

 Malone and Eleanor Shanly (Proc. and Trans. Roy. Soc. Canada, 3. ser., 9 

 (1915), Sect. IV, pp. 85-88). — The results obtained in the experiments here 

 reported have led the authors to conclude that there is no correlation between 

 any one growth characteristic and the heat resistance of the spores, that strains 

 of B. anthracis and individual spores of the same strain vary in their heat-resist- 

 ing power, and that there is no specific thermal death point for anthrax spores. 



Experiments upon the transmission of rinderpest, A. R. Ward, F. W. 

 Wood, and W. H. Boynton (Philippine Bur. Ayr. Bui. 30 (1914), PP- 31, pis. 2, 

 figs. 6). — Previously noted from another source (E. S. R., 31, p. 677). 



The development of ideas regarding the preparation and use of antirinder- 

 pest serum, A. R. Ward (Jour. Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc., 49 (1916), No. 4, pp. 

 456-470. figs. 3) — This article discusses the development of the serological 

 treatment of the disease and reports some results obtained in the Philippine 

 Islands by the use of serum from animals that had merely been immunized in 

 the field, and not hyperimmunized. A bibliography of 24 references to the lit- 

 erature cited is appended. 



On the heat resistance of bacterial spores, with a consideration of the 



nature of the spore-like bodies seen in Bacillus tuberculosis and allied 



forms, Eleanor Shanly (Proc. and Trans. Roy. Soc. Canada, 3. ser., 9 (1915), 



Sect. IV, pp. 12 1-1 40. pi. 1. fig. 1). — This paper includes a discussion of the 



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