780 EXPERIMENT STATIOX EECOED. 



should be employed in the Interpretation of complement-fixation tests with dog 

 serum. 



It is concluded that the nonspecific complement fixation by normal rabbit and 

 dog sera is probably due primarily to thermolabile and thermostabile antilytic 

 (anticomplementary) substances in the sera. 



The dialysis method for the determination of pregnancy in animals, with 

 special reference to the sources of error, M. Kahn (Arch. Wiss. u. Prakt. 

 Tierhcill:., Jfl (1915), Xo. 3, pp. 222-2.'fS). — The importance and value of an 

 early diagnosis of pregnancy and the difficulty of determining such a condi- 

 tion by a purely physical examination is pointed out. The theory of the origin 

 and mechanism of the defensive ferments produced by the parenteral introduc- 

 tion of foreign protein into the animal organism is also discussed, and the 

 technique of the method, including the preliminary testing of the dialyzation 

 tubes, preparation of the placental tissue, etc., is described in detail. 



From experimental data it is concluded that the dialysis reaction can bo 

 used for the diagnosis of pregnancy in horses and cattle from the first month 

 to full term, using the technique as described. Only such results as are ob- 

 tained with hemoglobin-free perfectly clear serum, properly prepared placental 

 substrate, and standardized tubes can be considered as trustworthy. 



The serum of nonpregnant mares and of geldings persistently showed a nega- 

 tive reaction. The same I'osults were obtained with cattle. 



Special attention is called to the fact that the prepared placental tissue of 

 the horse could not, in some instances, be used after 24 hours unless again 

 freed from ninliydrin reacting sub-stances by boiling in distilled water. The 

 importance of using dialyzation tubes which are Impermeable to protein yet 

 permeable to peptones, and which have been carefully standardized, is also 

 emphasized. 



Oleander poisoning- (Ztschr. Tclcrimirk., 27 (1915), 'So. 12, pp. 366, 367).— 

 Two cases of poisoning in horses, n>sulting in death and attributed to the eat- 

 ing of oleander leaves, are reported. 



The animals first refused food and soon became unable to stand. On exami- 

 nation the pulse was found to be weak, the heart sounds indistinct, the con- 

 junctiva congested, respiration labored, peristalsis suppressetl, and fever ab- 

 sent. On post-mortem no visilde patbologi(.'al changes except a small clot in 

 the heart cavity of one of the animals were evident. The stomach and in- 

 testinal contents revealed the presence of fresh green leaves, later identified 

 as oleander leaves. 



See also a previous note by "Wilson (E. S. R.. 21. p. 6S1). 



The use of medicaments in the treatment of diseases caused by nematodes, 

 A. Ratt.liet (Hcc. Med. V^t., 01 (1915), No. 15, pp. J,90^1S).—A summarizeil 

 account. See also a previous note (E. S. R.. 34, p. 576). 



Comparative tests of the action of certain common disinfectants, A. Kritski 

 (Schicciz. Arch. Tierhcilk., 57 (1915), A'o. 12, pp. 615-651, figs. 5).— Experi- 

 mental data obtained from comparative tests of a number of disinfectants are 

 submitted. The results are in part represented graphically. 



It is indicated that in general the cresol emulsions best fulfill the chief re- 

 quirements, viz, cheapness and bactericidal strength, of an efficient disin- 

 fectant. 



The disinfection of infected wood, E. Fleischer (^yicncr TicriirziL 

 Monatsschr., 2 (1915), No. 11, pp. J{97~507). — As the result of an Inve.stigation 

 to determine the value of various agents for the disinfection of wood the 

 author has demonstrated that stronger solutions of the disinfectants are 

 necessary in actual practice than were found to be satisfactory in the experi- 



