280 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOBD. 



The milk supply of the city of Milwaukee and its control by the health 

 department, S. M. Gunn {Milivaukce Bur. Econ. and Efficiency Bui. 13, 1912, 

 pp. JfS, pis. 2). — ^A report of investigations of the Milwaukee milk committee. 

 This includes data on the wholesale and retail milk supply, sanitary condition 

 of milk plants, scoring of dairy farms, bacteriological condition of milk, and 

 other items of direct importance to the welfare of the city. 



Sterilization of milk and butter, A. Gautier (Rev. Electrochim. et Elcc- 

 trom^tal., 7 {1913), No. 3, pp. 59, 60). — A description of an electrical method 

 of sterilization of milk and butter, for which the advantages are claimed of 

 cheapness, con%'enience. and effectiveness. 



Report of dairy expert, P. H. Suteu (Rpt. Dept. Agr. So. Aust., 1911, pp. 

 .'{3-^8). — A report of butter and cheese manufacture and sale in this State, and 

 of examinations of numerous samples of butter for export purposes. 



The most serious defect found was staleness of flavor as a result of over- 

 ripening of the cream. Of 3S7 samples tested for moi-sture the highest water 

 content was 20.8 per cent, the lowest 8 per cent, and the average 11.85 per cent. 



There follows a discussion of the value of testing and grading the dairy herd 

 and of the operations under way at the Turretfield dairy and stud farm. 



[Ferment serum], G. Fascetti (Indus. Latt. e Zootec, 11 (1913), Nos. 7, 

 p. 101; S, pp. 116, 117, 133, figs. 4). — This is an extended article on the various 

 phkses of the preparation and use of ferment serum for cheese making. It in- 

 cludes a discussion of the selection of the lactic ferment, the preparation and 

 keeping of the serum, its degree of acidity, the quantity to use, and other 

 related subjects. , 



VETEEINARY MEDICINE. 



Stock poisoning due to scarcity of food, C. D. Marsh (U. S. Dept. Agr., 

 Farmers' Bui. 536, pp. 4). — This calls attention to the fact that stock seldom 

 eat poisonous plants except when compelled by the scarcity of other feed. It 

 emphasizes the fact that stock should not be turned out upon the range where 

 there is little to eat except poisonous plants and that they should be kept away 

 from areas definitely known to be infested with such plants. When stock are 

 trailed from one place to another, they should so far as possible be driven 

 through a country with plenty of good feed, or care should be taken to see that 

 they are well fed before a drive is made through infested territory. 



Larkspur, or " poison weed," C. D. Marsh, A. B. Clawson, and H. Marsh 

 (U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 531, pp. 15, figs. 5). — This is a brief account 

 of the most practical results of investigations, a preliminary account of which 

 has been previously noted (E. S. R., 27, p. 180), and a detailed report of which 

 is forthcoming. 



With the exception of the loco weeds there is probably no poisonous plant on 

 cattle ranges of the West that has caused such heavy losses to stockmen as has 

 larkspur. It is pointed out that as the losses occur almost entirely in the 

 months of May and June, though some may occur in the early part of July, 

 poisoning can be largely prevented by keeping cattle away from the poison 

 areas until about the end of the first week in July, when the plant disappears. 

 Horses and sheep are not injured by grazing on larkspur areas. Many of the 

 cases in which poisoning is not severe will recover if care is taken to turn the 

 animal after it falls so that the head will be higher than the rest of the body, 

 and to see that it is not further disturbed. Any attempt to get the animal upon 

 its feet or to drive it rapidly is almost certain to be followed by fatal conse- 

 quenc-es. " If the animal bloats badly it should be relieved by paunching, that 

 is, thrusting a trocar into the rumen in the manner which is practiced by so 



