582 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.43 



quite common In this country, as it is known to be in Europe. A careful study 

 of 12 strains from cattle and one from a bog bas disclosed the following char- 

 acteristics, which have not been reported or have been in dispute: 



" B. pyogenes is gram-positive and pleomorphic, producing forms ranging 

 from short chains of streptococcoid elements to branching filaments. It is 

 hemolytic, producing the beta type of hemolysis in l)lood agar. It is not 

 hemoglobinophilic, though its growth is greatly favored by some higher protein 

 material, such as egg albumin, .serum, or blood. It ferments xylose in acUli- 

 tion to the substances previously reporte(^l. The coagulation of milk by B. 

 pyogenes is primarily an enzym coagulation, and the subsequent digestion of 

 tlie curd takes place in an acid medium. Tlie intravenous injection of rabbits 

 was invariably fatal. The lesions most commonly developed were tliose of 

 the bones. Paralysis was frequently produced, and in each case was taused 

 by lesions in the vertebrae exerting pressure against the ventral columns of 

 the spinal cord. Muscle abscesses were also frequently produced. The authors 

 regard the organism as belonging to the Corynebacteria rather than to the 

 inlluenza group." 



A bibliography of 34 titles is included. 



African coast fever, L. E. W. Bevan {Rhodesia Agr. Jour., 17 (1920), No. 2, 

 pp. 118-129, pis. 7, figs. 8). — This revision of the account previously noted (E. 

 S. R., 34, p. 879) includes colored plates showing the life history of the brown 

 tick {RMpicephalus appcndiculatus) . In addition to the brown tick, which is 

 the chief offender, the disease is transmitted by R. evertsi, R. simus, R. capensis, 

 and R. nitcns. 



Vaccination and serum prophylaxis for anthrax in the province of Milan 

 during 1918-19, L. Cominotti (Clin. Vet. [Milan], Rass. Polizia Sanjt. e Ig., 

 42 {1920), No. 15-16, pp. 499-503).— Jn the province of Milan 3,740 cattle were 

 vaccinated for anthrax during 1918-19, and of these 580 were revaccinated five 

 mouths after the first inoculatioij. In cases of no particular urgency simple 

 vaccination was employed, while in cases of immediate urgency serum therapy 

 was practiced, followed later by serum or simple vaccination. 



In administering the serum 20 cc. was injected subcutaneously at frequent 

 intervals, the temperature of the animals being taken twice daily. When the 

 temperature of the animal rose to from 41 to 42° 200 cc. of the serum was given 

 once intravenously. This was usually followed in a few hours by a drop in the 

 temperature. Eight days after the first injection of the serum the animals were 

 vaccinated in the ordinary manner, the vaccination being repeated on the 

 twelfth day with a doiible dose (5 cc). 



The author advocates a systematic vaccination by triple inoculations four 

 months apart of vaccines of increasing virulence in order to establish immunity 

 against severe forms of natural contagion. It is stated that there have been 

 no losses from anthrax in the province of Milan since this practice has been 

 adopted. 



Anthrax in cattle subjected to the inoculation of antianthrax serum or 

 to antianthrax serum vaccination, L. Cominotti (Clin. Vet. [Milan], Rass. 

 Polizia Sanit. e Ig., 43 {1920), No. 3, pp. 96-103) .—Attention is called to an 

 atypical form of anthrax noted in animals which have succumbed as the result 

 of the application of too small a dose of antianthrax serum. On autopsy such 

 animals present a different appearance from usual cases of anthrax, in that the 

 blood and spleen may contain no anthrax bacilli. In such cases the kidneys and 

 the tissues should be examined for the organism and for lesions due to infiltra- 

 tion. Cattle slaughtered on the first symptoms of anthrax may present a 

 similar atypical appearance and the spleen pulp react negatively on bacterio- 



