680 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



The formation of hydrocyanic acid from linseed cake, G. D. Landeb {Jour. 

 Bd. Agr. [London], 17 (1911), No. 11, pp. dOJf-901). — Feeding tests were con- 

 ducted with sheep and one heifer. The results are summarized as follows : 



(1) A sheep had 1 lb. of the cake (containing 0.025 per cent hydrocyanic acid) 

 per diem for 36 consecutive days, with no result. (2) A sheep had 1 lb. for 31 

 days, 5 lbs. for 2 days, and after 7 days a further 5 lbs., with no result. (3) 

 A heifer 6 months old had 1 lb. per day of the dry cake for 4 days, 1 lb. per 

 day of the moist cake for 13 days, 2 lbs. per day of the moist cake for 2 days, 

 and 5 lbs. per day of the moist cake for 18 days, and after a 14 days' interval, 5 

 lbs. per day of the moist cake for 30 days, making a total of 2G1 lbs. of cake in 

 67 days containing 456.75 grains of hydrocyanic acid. No definite results hav- 

 ing been obtained, the cake was discontinued, and after about 6 weeks pure 

 potassium cyanid was fed as follows : KCN equal to 3.5 grains HCN in ordinary 

 food 4 days, KCN equal to 7.0 gcains HCN in ordinary food 1 day, and KCN 

 equal to 10.0 grains HCN in ordinary food 1 day; after an interval of 2 days, 

 KCN equal to 15.0 grains HCN in ordinary food 2 days ; making a total of 61.0 

 grains HCN in 10 days. No obvious results were obtained. Cyanid equal to 

 22.5 grains of hydrocyanic acid given in a gentian ball and inserted into the 

 rumen produced no result. This was followed the next day by 30 grains fed in 

 a similar manner, and was fatal within 2 hour.s. 



The author considers that linseed cake such as is usually employed is 

 harmless. 



Colchicin poisoning from the pasture, J. Halasz {Allatorvosi Lapok, 33 

 (1910), No. 3, pp. 25, 26; abs. in Berlin. Tierdrztl. Wchnschr., 21 (1911), No. 6, 

 p. 106). — During the months of July, August, and September a cow died almost 

 every day. The stomach contents were analyzed and gave a definite reaction 

 for colchicin. The symptoms and pathological findings are stated. 



Distillery slop diseases, J. Paechtnee (Ztschr. Spirifusindus., 33 (1910), 

 Nos. 46, p. 563; //S, p. 5S7 ; 50, p. 612; 51, p. 625).— The diseases known as 

 " schlempe mauke" (panaritium) or distillery slop disease, and distillery slop 

 cough, are discussed in regard to their etiology, symptoms, pathology, preven- 

 tion, and treatment, and compared with other conditions commonly mistaken 

 for them. 



Other diseases considered are white scours, infantile paralysis, purulent infec- 

 tion of the umbilicus, and abortion. 



The relation of g'lycogen and its cleavag'e products to symptomatic 

 anthrax, O. Moller (Berlin, Tierdrztl. Wchnschr., 27 (1911), No. 7, pp. 117- 

 119).— The author points out the relation which the glycogen of the muscles 

 may have to this disease. Rabbits which were fed on much carbohydrate (sugar 

 beets) were not very resistant to infection with this bacillus, while those which 

 were starved were remarkably so. The starved animals rarely showed the 

 typical swellings of the hind thighs, nor did the muscles emit the gritty sound 

 which is so characteristic of symptomatic anthrax. 



A new vaccine ag'ainst blackleg, A. Godoy (Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz, 2 

 (1910), No. 1, pp. 11-21, fig. ii).— The results of laboratory tests with a new 

 vaccine against blackleg are reported. The method of preparing the vaccine is 

 given. 



In regard to the occurrence of bacteria resembling Bacillus erysipelatis 

 in the bovine and fowl, R. Broll (Berlin. Tierdrztl. Wchnschr., 27 (1911), 

 No. 3, pp. J/1, 42). — The author isolated bacteria from a steer and a ben which 

 morphologically simulated B. erysipelatis, but the bacilli after being inocu- 

 lated into mice did not yield the pathological changes characteristic of erysipe- 

 las. The strain from the hen was very toxic. 



