VETERINARY MEDICINE. 279 



into the liost; and (2) direct evidence, including hemotoxins, toxicity of tlie 

 liquids of parasitic cysts, ascarid toxins, teniotoxins, and the bactericidal prop- 

 erties of helminths. A bibliography of 2 pages is appended. 



Investigations of a nematode and its faculty of producing papillomatous 

 and carcinomatous neoformations in the stomach of the rat, J. Fibiger 

 (Overs. K. Danske Vidensk. Selsk. Forhandl., 1913, No. 1, pp. 47-87). — A 

 hitherto unknown disease of the stomach and of the esophagus of the rat 

 (Mvs decum^nus), endemic in a single limited locality, was found to be caused 

 by an undescribed nematode of the genus Spiroptera. The adult nematode 

 infests the epithelium of the stomach and esophagus. 



The cockroaches Periplaneta americana and P. orientalis serve as inter- 

 mediate hosts. The eggs of the nematode which pass out in the excrement 

 of the rat are ingested by the cockroaches, develop, and the embryos become 

 localized in the striated muscles of the prothorax and the legs. The rats 

 become infested by eating cockroaches, and the embryos of the worm, set free 

 from their cysts, attack the epithelium of the stomach, sometimes also that of 

 the esophagus, tongue, and buccal cavity, and develop into the adult nematode. 

 The author's investigations lead him to conclude that all the anatomical 

 alterations are due to toxic products of the nematode. 



From the primary lesions caused by the nematode secondary metastases may 

 be produced in other organs; the metastases contain neither the parasites nor 

 their eggs. The development of the metastases is due to the faculty of the 

 epithelial cells of multiplying in other organs independently of the parasite. 

 The author thus confirms the view put forward by Borrel and Haaland that 

 nematodes may produce malignant tumors in rats and mice. 



A contribution to the study of nematode parasites of the dog's eye, A. 

 Railliet and A. Henry {Bui. Soc. Cent. M6d. Y6t., 90 (1913), No. 10, pp. 209- 

 215, figs. 6). — Following a review of the reports of 3 observations by others 

 of nematode parasites in the dog's eye, 2 relating to intra-ocular parasites and 

 1 to an extra-ocular parasite, the authors reix)rt on the occurrence of a fourth, 

 a female Ewmostrongylus vasorum, in the anterior chamber of the eye of a 

 dog at Laval, France. 



Combating contagious abortion, Hasenkamp (Arch. Wiss. u. Prakt. 

 Tierheilk., 39 (1913), No. 4-5, pp. 422-434, fig. 1).—A description of epizootics 

 of contagious vaginal catarrh and contagious abortion which occurred in all 

 of the districts of the Province of Westphalia. 



The light acute cases of vaginal catarrh were treated successfully with 

 Bengen's vaginal capsules, but the severe acute cases did not respond to this 

 treatment despite the fact that it was continued for weeks and the stables 

 were thoroughly disinfected. Bissulin also did no good. In 3 barns unsatis- 

 factory results were obtained with Gans' lymph. 



As the tampon method seemed to present some favorable features, it was 

 tried, and for preventing the tampon from being expelled, a special form of 

 apparatus was constructed which the author calls the tampon holder or re- 

 tainer. The tampons before insertion were impregnated with a 3 per cent 

 lysoform or sapoform solution, and were kept in the vaginal cavity for 24 

 hours. In severe cases a new tampon was inserted for 12 hours longer. In 

 about 5 days the lesions in the mucous membrane of the vaginal canal had 

 been removed. The method was used in 1,000 cases and was applied by 8 

 veterinarians. It is deemed advisable after the disease has been removed to 

 wash out the vaginal cavity with a 2 per cent solution of sodium bicarbonate, 

 especially before the animal is served. 



For combating contagious abortion in cows Schreiber's method (E. S. R., 

 28, p. 380) was used in 2 establishments, but found to be unsatisfactory. 



