386 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



An essentially new niethod of vaccination is proposed whicli consists in usiuK 

 the plenral exudate of rabl)its and guinea pigs Icilled by inoculation with the 

 streptococcus of stranjjles. The pleural exudate thus obtained is employed in 

 a hyi)er-inimunizing process, the exudate being, used first only after sterilization 

 and filtration and later without sterilization. Horses thus treated require a 

 high degree of immunity and furnish a vaccine which has given good results in 

 the several hundred cases in which it has been tried. 



Statistical data on dog distemper, D. Wirth (Ticrdrztl. ZcnfhL, 31 (1908), 

 yo. 13, PI). 200-203). — Opportunity was had to make numerous observations on 

 dog distemper at the veterinary high school in Vienna. The data thus collected 

 are presented in tabular form. It appears that the disease is not infiuenced by 

 the race of dog. Female dogs show a tendency to develop the nervous form of 

 the disease in a higher percentage than do male dogs. The mortality was no 

 higher in pups than in adult dogs. 



Report of the veterinarian, J. B. Paige (Massachuestts Sta. Rpt. 1907, pp. 

 156-163). — European fowl cholera of a mild type broke out on two farms in 

 one locality during the year. In one case the disease was stamped out by de- 

 stroying the flock, thoroughly cleansing the houses, and using disinfectants. In 

 the other case, cleaning the houses and the use of disinfectants appear to have 

 been efficient. While the source of contamination could not be determined, the 

 disease is supposed to have been introduced through fowls purchased from 

 traveling dealers In live poultry. 



A disease broke out in brooder chicks in one locality on Cape Cod, in which 

 the mortality ranged from 90 to 100 per cent, but never made its appearance 

 among adult fowls or young chickens aside from those brooded in brooders. 

 Numerous remedies employed proved of no avail and analysis of the soil for 

 suspected irritating poisonous substances yielded negative I'esults, but in experi- 

 ments made upon chicks by concentrating the sun's rays upon the legs and feet 

 by a lens, lesions were produced identical with those on brooder chicks. The 

 removal of all chicks to a location with vegetation sufficient to protect the 

 featherless and tender portions of the body from the heat of the sun, as recom- 

 mended, has apparently prevented the trouble. 



Fatal septicemia in young chickens or w^hite diarrhea, L. F. Rettger and 

 S. C. Harvey (Jour. Med. Research, IS (1908), No. 2, pp. 277-290).— The dis- 

 ease commonly known as white diarrhea has been confused with fowl cholera 

 and also with ordinary diarrhea which may be due to changes of climate and 

 improper rations. The virulent form of white diarrhea, however, according to 

 the investigations of the authors, is due to a bacillus which is closely related 

 to the coli bacillus, hog-cholera bacillus, and typhoid bacillus. The behavior 

 of the micro-organism on various nutrient media is described. When an infec- 

 tion has once become established it appears to be a difficult matter to eradicate 

 it, and it is likely to appear on the same premises for 2 or 3 years in succession. 

 There appears to be no cure for the disease, but a spread of infection may be 

 largely checked by thorough cleansing and disinfection of incubators, brooders, 

 and inclosures in which chicks are kept. 



Spirochetosis of fowls in southern Rhodesia, L. E. W. Bevan (Jour. Compar. 

 Path, and Ther., 21 (1908), No. 1, pp. .'i3-J,9, figs. 2).— The literature relating 

 to this disease is briefly reviewed. 



As a rule, fowls affected with spirochetosis die within a few hours. They 

 suffer from thirst and pronounced weakness from the time of appearance of the 

 first symptoms. The chief post-mortem lesion is anemia. Apparently the dis- 

 ease is associated with Argas persicus, which may be instrumental in transmit- 

 ting it. In preventing infestation of the premises with this tick it is recom- 

 mended that adult fowls be inspected and quarantined before admitting them to 



