nn<J] VETERINARY MEDICINE. 770 



Some morphological and biological characters of the spirilla (Vibrio fetus 

 n. sp.) associated witii disease of the fetal membranes in cattle, T. Smith 

 and M. S. Tayloe (Jour. E.ipt. Med., 30 {1919), No. -J, pp. 299-311, pi. i).— In this 

 paper are reported furtlaer observations on the morphological and cultural 

 characteristics of the spirilla previously found to be associated with certain 

 cases of infectious abortion in cattle (E. S. R., 40, p. 383), together with 

 studies of the agglutinative affinities of the various strains. 



Twenty-two fetal and two calf strains of spirilla, obtained from one large 

 herd into which cattle from outside were introduced at irregular intervals, 

 were studied. Of the fetal strains, all but one agreed closely in morphological 

 and biological cliaracteristics, and all belonged to the same group with respect 

 to agglutination affinities. Of the two calf strains, one had definite agglutina- 

 tion reactions with the fetal strains and the other none. Both resembled the 

 fetal strains morphologically and culturally. 



Since the organism appears in both long spiral and short comma forms in 

 fetal fluids, but tends to assume the comma form in its early most active stage 

 of multiplication in cultures and has single polar flagella, it has been designated 

 V. fetus n. sp., although the terra spirillum is still used as a general expression. 



Attention is calUd to the fact that there is a decided difference between the 

 cultural characteristics of early and late cultures, the organisms gradually be- 

 coming sapropliytized. 



The etiological relation of spirilla (Vibrio fetus) to bovine abortion, T. 

 Smith {Jour. Expt. Med., 30 {1919), No. J,, pp. 313-323).— To determine whether 

 V. fetus, noted above, is a true agent causing disease of the fetal membranes 

 or simply an invader from the more external tract, or from the blood after the 

 fetus has been injured or killed by other nonbacterial agencies, four pregnant 

 cows were inoculated intravenously with agar cultures of V. fetus obtained 

 from aborted fetuses. After the birth of the calf the placentas and postpartum 

 discharges were examined for evidences of V. fetus and of Bacillus abortus. 



In two of the cases disease of the fetal membranes resulted, corresponding 

 with the lesions found in earlier cases associated with spirilla. Spirilla were 

 found in the early postpartum discharges of one of these animals. No evidence 

 of B. abortus was obtained. Although the other two cases were entirely nega- 

 tive, it is felt that strong evidence has been given in this study that V. fetus 

 is an etiological factor in bovine abortion. 



The bacteriology of bovine abortion, with special reference to acquired im- 

 munity, T. Smith {Jour. Expt. Med., SO {1919), No. 4, pp. 325-339) .—In this 

 paper the author has tabulated and discussed the bacteriological data obtained 

 in the study of cases of abortion in the herd mentioned in the above paper 

 and earlier contributions, with a view to determining the bearing of the bacterio- 

 logical results upon the nature of the infectious process leading to the death and 

 expulsion of the fetus and upon the acquisition of immunity by the cow against 

 later infection. The bacteriological examination included a relatively thorough 

 study of the fetus and of the membranes or swabs from the uterus. 



Of the 109 cases of abortion studied 62 were associated with Bacillus abor- 

 tus, 26 with spirilla, 2 with B. pyogenes, and 19 were either sterile or else 

 the digestive and respiratory tracts had been invaded during or after birth 

 with miscellaneous bacteria. On the assumption that purchased cows coming 

 from small herds were free from any immunity and that their first pregnancy 

 in the new herd was equivalent to that of a native heifer and may be counted 

 as first, the distribution of B. abortus and V. fetus in succeeding pregnancies 

 was as follows : 



B. aboitus was associated with the first pregnancy in 42 cases, with the 

 second in 14, v.ith the third in 5, and with the fourth in one case.. In pur- 



