VETERINARY MEDICINE. 477 



The use of the antitryptic power of blood serum for diagnostic purposes, 

 M. Berkar and E. Ra.itsits {Berlin. Tierdrztl. Wchnschr., 29 {1913), No. 9, 

 pp. ISJf-loS). — After reviewing the work done in regard to the antitryptic power 

 of blood serum under normal and pathologic conditions in man and animals, 

 the authors consider its use as a diagnostic agent, especially for diagnosing 

 pregnancy, as the reaction had not been used for domesticated animals. 



It is shown that with normal animals such as horses, white mice, bovines, 

 dogs, cats, and rabbits, a lower antitryptic index (from 0.6 to 0.8) is obtained 

 than with man. No relation was found between the body temperature and the 

 antitryptic index. The index was not affected by the sex of the animal or by 

 the process of blood letting. 



Chronic diseases, especially those in which pus is present, and tuberculosis 

 often show an increase in antitryptic power of the blood serum. No increase 

 was noted in acute infectious diseases. In pregnant herbivorous animals a 

 strong antitryptic index was never noted. In 2 dogs it was somewhat higher 

 than the normal. In gravid tuberculous cows the reaction is often very marked, 

 but, on the other hand, a marked antitryptic index may be present in the sound 

 nongravid animals. Normal values are also observed in both cases, conse- 

 quently it is concluded that the antitryptic activity of the blood serum can not 

 be relied upon for diagnosing disease or pregnancy in animals. 



Primary serum toxicity, R. Doerr and F. Weinfurter {Cenfbl. Balct. [etc.], 

 1. Abt., Orig., 67 {1912), No. 1-2, pp. 92-100).— By repeated blood letting at 

 short intervals, the primary toxicity produced by rabbit serum in guinea pigs 

 can be increased threefold and more. After attaining a maximum toxicity, 

 however, it decreases even if the withdrawing of blood is continued. Injection 

 of Witte's peptone or colloidal silicic acid increases the serum toxicity of 

 rabbits for a short time only. Starvation does not increase the toxicity. 



Studies on cotton-seed meal toxicity. — II, Iron as an antidote, W. A. 

 Withers, J. F. Brewster, et al. {Jour. Biol. Chem... 15 {1913), No. 1, pp. 161- 

 166).— In the course of experiments continuing work previously noted (E. S. R., 

 29, p. 76), the authors were led to the hypothesis that the toxic principle of 

 cotton-seed meal was a constituent group of the protein molecule containing 

 loosely bound sulphur which exerted its toxjc effect upon the iron of the blood. 

 Experiments already performed as bearing on this hypothesis will be published 

 in a later paper, and the present paper deals principally with the efficiency 

 of iron as an antidote for cotton-seed meal poisoning. The iron was fed in 

 the form of citrate of iron and ammonia. 



Comparing the results obtained with the feed, it was found " that the iron- 

 fed rabbits consumed nearly 5 times the amount of meal which proved fatal 

 to the average rabbit without iron, and more than twice as much as the 

 greatest amount of meal necessary to kill the rabbit which ate the most meal ; 

 that the iron-fed rabbits have survived more than 3 times as long as the 

 average rabbit without iron, and nearly twice as long as the hardiest rabbit ; 

 that every rabbit fed iron and meal gained in weight and each rabbit fed meal 

 without iron lost in weight." 



Each of the 22 rabbits receiving cotton-seed meal without iron died (average, 

 13 days), while each of the 11 rabbits taking iron with cotton-seed meal 

 survived. 



Experiments are in progress with hogs and the results will be reported later. 



Examination of milk from newly lactating animals for its enzym content 

 and the use of the enzym method for controlling' the milk supply and in 

 veterinary medicine, E. Gruber {Untersuchungcn ilber den Enzymgchalt der 

 Milch frischmilchender Kiihe und die Verwendbarkeit der Ensymmethnde in 

 der Milchkontrolle und der iierdrztUchcn Praxis. Inaug. Diss., Tierdrztl. Eochsch, 



