186 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



and enters violently into combination with free broinin. It forms combinations 

 with lead, barium, hydrochloric acid, ammonia, and yields the double acetyl 

 derivative. A tentative structural fornmla for the compound has been proposed. 

 A reliable chemical test for its presence has been found. Cicutoxin is a spasmo- 

 toxin, producing symptoms that may be separated into a prodromal, a paroxysmal, 

 and a paralytic stage. Death generally results in from 30 minutes to 12 hours. 

 The lethal dose of cicutoxin for the average rabbit is 175 mg. and ' 50 mg. per 

 kilo body weight ' for cats when administered per mouth. Cicutoxin attacks a 

 nerve center in the calamus scriptorius and kills by asphyxiation and exhaustion. 

 It is not a constitutional poison and the lethal dose can not properly be given in 

 terms of milligrams per kilo body weight. No antidote is known, and the most 

 reliable treatment at present consists in producing vomiting and allaying the 

 convulsions by means of a narcotic." 



Some observations on the theory and practice of dipping, W. F. Coopkk 

 and H. E. Laws {Parasitology, 8 (1015), Xo. 2, pp. l!)0-2n, pi. 1, figs. 2).— This 

 is a critical review of work done in the past, together with deductions drawn 

 from the available data. The subject is taken up under the headings of the 

 process of dipping, the effect of dipping on the tick, the effect of an emulsion In 

 a dipping fluid, the action of the emulsion, does the tick take up arsenic from the 

 blood or from the skin of the dipped host, cumulative action of arsenic in dip- 

 ping, the quantity of arsenic applied in dipping, the effect on pathogenic organ- 

 isms of arsenic in tlie blood of dipped animals, and dipping in relation to try- 

 panosoniiasi.s. Tabular data and notes are presented in several appendixes. A 

 list of 20 references is iiiclu<lo<l. 



Suppurative lesions in horses and a calf of California due to the diph- 

 theroid bacillus of Preisz-Nocard, I. C. II.vll and C. W. Fishek (Jour. Ama: 

 Vet. Med. Assoc, 1,8 {1015), No. 1, pp. 18-30, figs. 2). — The authors report hav- 

 ing observed, during the fall months only, a peculiar abscess formation in eleven 

 horses and one calf, simulating in at least one ca.se the ulcerative lympliangitis 

 of European writers. "The.se ab.sce.sses are usually, though not invarial)ly, lo- 

 cated in the prepectoral region and their depth in tin* tissues supports the idea 

 of a true lymi)hatic infection ; if unopened, however, they ultimately transform 

 into ulcers. Ulcerative lymphangitis is well known abroad, but till now has 

 remained unrecognized in the United States. Tlie disease we have found usually 

 yields to simple surgical treatment, but we Imve observed one refractory case. 



" Pure cultures of the specific cause were recovered from each of these cases 

 and their identity was proved with similar organisms recovered by us from sheep 

 afflicted with caseous lymphadenitis, i. e., the bacillus of Preisz-Nocard. 



" In certain cases the infections we have studied bear some clinical resem- 

 blance to farcy, epizootic lymphangitis, and sporotrichosis, but may be readily 

 differentiated from these by bacteriological analysis^ Further, orchitis in male 

 guinea pigs resulting from the inoculation of pus containing either B. mallei 

 or the bacillus of Preisz-Nocard needs offer no confusion in diagnosis if the pus 

 is studied microscopically and culturally." 



A list of 32 references to literature on the sub.1ect is appended. 



Dourine and the complement fixation test, E. A. Watson {Parasitology, 8 

 (1915), No. 2, pp. 156-183). — The purpose of this paper is to draw further atten- 

 tion to the value of the complement fixation reaction as a diagnostic test in 

 dourine and to recommend a method of procedure and technique arrived at witli 

 an experience of 15.000 tests for dourine made at the Veterinary Research 

 Laboratory, Lethbridge. Alberta. 



The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at Birkenhead (Rpt. Proc. Cnnf. 

 Birkenhead, Bd. Agr. and Piffhcries [fit. Brit.] and Dept. Agr. and Teelt. Insfr. 

 Ireland, 1914, Feb., pp. 27). — This is a report of proceedings at a conference on 



