1919] VETERINARY MEDICINE. 683 



infection the animals could be kept alive for 40 days without the manifesta- 

 tion of more than limited signs of infection, wJhiile in control animals wide- 

 spread external and internal lesions developed by the fifteenth or eighteenth 

 day after infection. 



In a repetition of the experiments with homologues of xylene, cumene was 

 found to be more effective and toluene and mesitylene less effective than xylene. 

 Several essential oils were likewise found to be effective, although some were 

 useless on account of their irritating effect on injection. The author attrib- 

 utes the therapeutic effect of these substances not so much to their chemical 

 composition as to their physical properties, the mechanism consisting largely 

 of a stimulating effect on phagocytosis, which results in a progressive reduc- 

 tion in the number of bacilli followed by a decrease in the tubercular lesions. 



The treatment has also been applied with encouraging results in the human 

 subject in cases of localized tuberculosis of joints, glands, and bones. Daily 

 intramuscular injections of a 10 per c«it solution of xylene or cumene In 

 sterilized olive oil were easily tolerated and brought about a rapid improvement 

 in the tubercular lesions. 



The accredited herd plan in tuberculosis eradication, J. A. Kiebnan (f7. 8. 

 Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1918, pp. 215-220, pis. 2). — This is a brief account of the 

 manner in which tuberculosis is being eradicated through the accredited herd 

 plan. 



Contagious abortion Investigations, J. W. Connawat, A. J. Durant, and 

 H. G. Newman (Missouri Sta. Bui. 163 (1919), pp. 72-76).— Sixty-three herds, 

 comprising 856 animals, were given the complement fixation test during the 

 year, which with retests made a total of 1,981 tests in 29 counties. Of the 

 63 suspected herds investigated, samples from 45 gave a positive reaction. 



Bacterium abortus infection of bulls, J. M. Buck, G. T. Creech, and H. H. 

 Ladson (Jour. Agr. Research [U. S.], 17 (1919), No. 5, pp. 239-246, pis. 3).— 

 This is a preliminary report from the Bureau of Animal Industry, U. S. De- 

 partment of Agriculture, of an investigation to determine the frequency with 

 which abortus infection can be demonstrated in the generative organs of 

 bulls giving positive or suspicious reactions to the agglutination test for this 

 disease, and to determine whether or not pathological changes are commonly 

 associated with such infection. 



The procedure employed consisted in securing blood samples from the ani- 

 mals upon their arrival at one of the abattoirs for slaughter, and applying 

 the agglutination test to the samples. At the time of slaughter, those ani- 

 mals giving positive or suspicious reactions were autopsied and the organs of 

 the genital system tested culturally for the presence of B. abortus infection. 



The agglutination test for abortion disease was applied to 325 mature bulls 

 with negative results in 288 cases. Of the 37 bulls whose blood serum showed 

 the presence of B. abortus agglutinations, the presence of B. abortus infection 

 was demonstrated in four, with marked lesions in two. The findings In these 

 cases are described in detail and illustrated by photographs and photomicro- 

 graphs of the diseased organs. A description Is also given of the examina- 

 tion and findings of a fifth bull, together with a history of the development 

 of the pathological changes associated with the infection. 



As a result of the study reported the following conclusions are drawn : 



"B. abortus infection may involve organs of the generative apparatus of 

 bulls, producing chronic Inflammatory changes. Of the generative organs, the 

 seminal vesicles appear to furnish the most favorable site for the lodgment 

 and propagation of abortion infection. The presence of B. abortus infection 



