19161 VETERINAEY MEDICINE. 779 



in 14 cases it was decreased from 2 to 24 per cent (an average of 12 per cent), 

 and in 34 cases it was increased from 2 to 256 per cent (an average of 41 per 

 cent). For the entire 51 samples there was an average increase of 24 per cent. 

 In 27 comparisons made on samples showing from 1(X),000 to 500,000 organisms 

 per cubic centimeter, in 9 cases clarification caused a decrease of from 2 to 36 

 per cent (an average of 12 per cent), and in 18 cases an increase of from 3 to 

 187 per cent (an average of 43 per cent). In 14 comparisons made on samples 

 showing over 500,000 per cubic centimeter, in 3 cases the bacterial content was 

 decreased by clarification from 5 to 40 per cent (an average of 24 per cent), 

 and in 11 cases increased from 4 to 102 per cent (an average of 29 per cent). 



In 52 comparisons of the cell content, clarification caused a decrease of from 

 7 to 73 per cent (an average of 39 per cent). The average cell content of the 

 unclarified milk was 297,481, and of the clarified milk 177,442 per cubic centi- 

 meter. The percentage of cells thrown out showed no relationship to the 

 original cell content, the percentage of fat, or the temperature of the milk. 



Large numbers of bacteria were found in all the samples of slime studied. 

 In 11 tests on clarifier slime, using a 1-cc. sample, the counts ran from 31,000,000 

 to 1,445,000,000 per cubic centimeter, while on 36 samples of 1 gm. each the 

 counts ran from 103,500,000 to 20,000,000,000 per gram. The cell content of 

 clarifier slime also was constantly high. In 3 tests, using a 1-cc. sample, there 

 were from 830,000,000 to 1,120,000,000 per cubic centimeter, while in 36 samples 

 of 1 gm. each there were from 565,000,000 to 1,295,000,000 per gram. Neither 

 the bacteria nor the cells were constantly present in greater numbers in any 

 part of the slime. 



Clarified pasteurized milk gave larger numbers of colonies on agar plates than 

 unclarified pasteurized milk in 14 cases out of the 21 tried, while in the remain- 

 ing 7 cases the unclarified pasteurized milk gave the higher counts. The larger 

 numbers of colonies from the clarified samples were ascribed to the breaking 

 up of the clumps as a result of the clarification. 



The clarifier slime showed a certain amount of dirt, even when the milk 

 clarified was produced under conditions that must be regarded as much above 

 the average, and masses of red blood cells were occasionally found even when 

 the milk was produced under careful conditions. 



The ratio between the pounds of milk clarified and the amount of slime was 

 very variable. This is explained, to a certain extent, by the fact that the 

 milk came from various sources and presumably was produced under very 

 different conditions. 



" Since in the majority of cases clarification (either with or without pas- 

 teurization) causes an increase in the apparent numbers of bacteria in milk, 

 it is necessary that in the bacteriological control of milk supplies this fact be 

 taken into consideration. The increase may be a large one but, since it is 

 only an apparent and not a true increase, high counts on clarified milk should 

 not be considered as serious as approximately the same counts on unclarified 

 milk. Serious contamination from a clarifier is not an impossibility and must 

 be considered in dealing with clarified milk, but high counts on clarified milk 

 evidently have a different significance than approximately the same counts on 

 unclarified milk, due to the breaking up of the clumps during centrifuging." 



VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



Larkspur poisoning of live stock, C. D. Maksh, A. B. Clawson, and H. 

 Maksh iU. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 365 {1916), pp. 91, pis. 15, figs, ig).— This mono- 

 graphic work is divided into three parts. The first part (pp. 1-28) gives a 

 liistorical summary and review of the literature, and discusses the alkaloids 



