676 EXPEEIMENT STATION BECOED. 



tigators that hypochlorous acid is the most powerful antiseptic known. Prac- 

 tical methods of using this antiseptic have been devised. It can be used either 

 as a gas or as a solution. The advantage of using the gas is that it will 

 penetrate and will act at a distance. Both the gas and the solution, while 

 extremely potent against organisms and their spores, cause little or no harm to 

 the tissues. The effect of this antiseptic is purely local ; the decomposition 

 products are devoid of toxicity, and there is therefore no danger to be appre- 

 hended from absorption. A flow of lymph is induced from the wound as part 

 of the reaction of the tissues. Fetor is rapidly eliminated. If pain and irrita- 

 tion occur they can be easily controlled by reducing the concentration of the 

 antiseptic. 



"The practical advantages of this antiseptic for field use are: (a) It can be 

 used as a dry powder and therefore obviates the difliculty of procuring water ; 

 (b) it can be introducetl into the gauze pad of the first field dressing; (c) and 

 where water is available the same powder can be made up as a lotion for 

 general use. The constituents of the powder are inexpensive and easily pro- 

 cured ; and the preparation of tlie antiseptic is extremely simple." 



Forage poisoning due to Claviceps paspali on Faspalum, H. B. Bbown and 

 E. M. Ranck (Mississippi Sta. Tech. Bui. 6 (1915), pp. 3-35, figs. J8).— This 

 report of studies of the poisonous properties of C. paspali includes feeding tests 

 with guinea pigs and calves. It is shown that C. paspali, Ftisarium 

 hetcrosporum, and a species of Cladosporium grow on the heads of Paspaluin 

 dilafatum, the first as a parasite on the grass while the other two are largely 

 parasites of C. paspali. 



" C. paspali produces numerous sphacelial spores, by means of which the 

 fungus is spread freely to healthy heads by insects that feed on the ' honey -dew ' 

 of the fungus. The sclerotia of C. paspali lie on the ground during the winter 

 and serve to tide the fungus over from one year to the nest. 



" Feeding experiments with guinea pigs .«;howed the sclerotia to be poisonous, 

 producing characteristic nervousness and trembling; 1 gm. of the extract pro- 

 duced death in a few hours. The poison in the sclerotia retains its virulence 

 for months after they have been dried ; hay containing sclerotia will, apparently, 

 poison animals as readily as the grass. Feeding young or healthy Paspalum 

 grass or hay causes no trouble. Feeding Paspalum grass or hay infected with 

 C. paspali, and showing sclerotia, or fungus nodules, will result in poisoning in 

 cattle, and, if continued, will cause death. 



" One attack of Paspalum poisoning does not produce immunity against a 

 subsequent attack. Cattle seem to acquire a decided appetite for the disease<l 

 heads of Paspalum and even for the fungus sclerotia. Symptoms seem to indi- 

 cate that the trouble is due to a cumulative poison of some kind. Animals 

 poisoned by Paspalum should be taken from the pasture, given a regular dose 

 of Epsom or Glauber salts, and a change of feed. Paspalum poisoning may be 

 prevented by clipping off the diseased heads of Paspalum as often as sclerotia, 

 or fungus nodules, appear; this may be done with mowing machine or hand 

 scythe ; one to three mowings during the summer and fall will be necessary." 



A bibliography of 25 titles is appended. 



Precipitins in the diagnosis of anthrax, A. Ascoli (Yet. Rcc, 27 (1915), 

 No. 1400. pp. 575-577, fig. 1). — Certain bacillary constituents result from bac- 

 teriolysis in the organs or tissues from the carcasses of animals which have 

 been affected with anthrax. Such substances would naturally be expectetl to 

 exist in speciii^ens in inverse proportion to the number of micro-organisms 

 remaining intact. These substances can be recovered by serodiagnostic methods, 

 which will indicate anthrax protoplasm in a pulp or blood in which they exist. 



The author has found few active precipitant sera as ordinarily prepare*!, 

 but has developed a method by which good precipitant sera may be regularly 



