586 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.43 



ease in swine, based upon the results of work at the California Experiment Sta- 

 tion. 



In the outbreaks investigated, the author and Hayes have found a microor- 

 ganism, indistinguishable "from Bacillus abortus Bang, to be responsible for 

 disease in swine in Califoi'nia. Tills organism has been consistently found in 

 the afterbirth and vaginal discharges of the sow and in organs and body 

 fluids of the aborted pigs, in most cases to the exclusion of all other bacteria. 

 Abortion infections in sows have also been caused by the injectiwi and feeding 

 of this organism. 



Infectious abortion of SAvine, Tj. P. Doyle and R. S. Spray {Jour. Infect. 

 Diseases, 27 {l'J20), No. 2, pp. 165-168).— This report of investigations at the 

 Indiana Experiment Station is summarized as follows : 



" The history of eight herds indicates that infectious abortion of swine is a 

 serious and increasingly important source of loss to the swine industry. 

 Inoculation of two guinea pigs with triturated afterbirth from an aborting sow 

 resulted in an infection, as demonstrated by the development of agglutinins 

 and typical lesions. At the time of inoculation the blood of the two guinea 

 pigs did not agglutinate a Bacillus abortus (Bang) antigen. Four weeks after 

 inoculation the blood agglutinated this antigen completely in all dilutions up 

 to and including 1 : 500. An organism was isolated from the liver and spleen 

 of both guinea pigs, which, except for slight cultural peculiarities, is indis- 

 tinguishable morphologically, culturally, or agglutinatively from typical B. 

 abortus. 



" Rabbit antiserum for four cattle strains and for this swine strain gave 

 cross-agglutination to the same titer as with the homologous antigens. Antigen 

 of the swine strain completely absorbed agglutinins from antiserum for each 

 of the four cattle strains. Antigen of the four cattle strains each completely 

 absorbed agglutinins from antiserum for the swine strain." 



Success with " galloserin " for fowl cholera in Rumania, Jahn {Berlin. 

 Tierdrztl. Wchnschr., 35 {1919), No. 30, p. 260). — Successful results are reported 

 in the use of a commercial vaccine " galloserin " both as a preventive and 

 curative measure for fowl cholera. Of a total of 2,062 sick and well fowls 

 thus vaccinated by the authoi-, less than 1 per cent succumbed later, and of 

 th'ese only the weakest and sickest. 



Blackhead in chickens and its experimental production by feeding' em- 

 bryonated eggs of Heterakis papillosa, T. Smith and H. W. Graybill {Jour. 

 E.xpt. Med., 32 {1920), No. 2, pp. 1J,3-152).— Thin report of work in continuation 

 of that previously noted (E. S. R., 43, p. 475) has led to the following con- 

 clusions : 



" Feeding embryonated eggs of H. papillosa to brooder chickens led to a 

 disease of both ceca, characterized by the presence of a core consisting of fecal 

 matter, coagulated blood, and emigrated cells from the mucosa. The walls of 

 the ceca were thickened as a result of cell invasion and multiplication, in- 

 vasion and multiplication of Amoeba mcleagridis or allied parasites, and more 

 rarely hemorrhage and edema. The respective parts played by H. papillosa 

 and the protozoa in starting the lesions and the source of the protozoa remain 

 to be defined. The invasion of the liver by the protozoa was insignificant." 



Eartliw orins : Tlie important factor in the transmission of gapes in 

 chickens, R. H. Waite {Maryland Sta. Bui. 234 {1920), pp. 103-118, figs. 6).— 

 This bulletin consists of an extensive review of the literature, together with a 

 report of experiments conducted at the Maryland Experiment Station. 



The experiments are believed to establish the fact that earthworms are the 

 important factor in the transmission of gapes, as contended by Walker,' rather 



iBul. Buflfalo Soc. Nat. Sci., 5 (1886), No. 5, pp. 47-71. 



