192 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Brit'f sugjjestions are made with regard to a i)raftical method hy which liealtliy 

 lanil)s may he ()l)tained from diseased ewes. 



Parturient paresis in sows and its treatment according to Schmidt's 

 method, K. K<;i:BER(i {Xor.'<f:. ]'et. Tkhnhr., 15 {'190.>'}, No. 1, pp. 29, .iO). — Tlie author 

 descril)es the symi)toms observed in cases of this disease in sows. In one instance a 

 test was made of the recent method of treatment, wliich consists in inimping air into 

 the udder. Tiie symptoms were reheved within a short time and complete recovery 

 to<)k ])la('e. 



Mai de caderas, M. Elmassiax and E. Migone {Ann. Inst. Pasteur, 17 {1903), No. 

 4, pp. 241-267, figs. 4)- — This disease is due to the presence in the blood of the pro- 

 tozoan organism known as Trj/panosoma equina. This organism is described in detail 

 and notes are given on the most approved methods for fixing, staining, and studying 

 it. Mai de caderas occurs in a number of clinical forms, the more common of which 

 runs a tolerably rapid course. The disease also occurs in chronic and paralytic forms. 



Notes are given on the symptoms that are characteristic of these different forms 

 and upon the pathological lesions which are produced during the progress of the dis- 

 ease. The liver, spleen, and pancreas become much injected and swollen, while the 

 lymphatic system is not affected. In addition to the horse, mule, and ass, which are 

 most susceptible to the disease, a number of other animals may be infected, and the 

 susceptibility of these animals varies from that observed in monkeys to the absolute 

 refractoriness of birds. Aside from the horse tribe, the susceptible animals are as 

 follows: INIonkey, white and gray mice, white rat, capibara, guinea pig, rabbit, dog, 

 sheep, cattle, pig. 



A study of the disease of South American horses known by the name of 

 mal de caderas, J. Lignieres {Contribution dVHiide de la trypariosonifisedes cquldU's 

 Sud-Americaiv.s connue sous le nom de '^mal de cadera." Buenos Aires: 1902, Coni 

 Brothers, pp. 120, pis. 3). — The author reviews in a critical manner the literature 

 relating to this disease. Notes are given on the microscopical structure of Try- 

 panosoma elmassiani, which is the causative organism of the disease. The author 

 discusses also the method of multiplication of this organism, its abnormal forms, and 

 the effect of various sera in agglutinating it. 



In a long series of experiments it was found that agglutination of the pathogenic 

 organism of mal de caderas could be brought about Vjy the sera of normal sheep, 

 pigs, rabbits, and horses, but more effectively by the sera of cattle, sheep, dogs, and 

 cats affected with mal de caderas. Asa rule agglutination took j^lace immediately, 

 and then became more pronounced by a gradual process. The organism of mal de 

 caderas when subjected to a temperature of 53° C. for 5 minutes or 45° for 8 minutes 

 was killed. It withstood a temperature of -44° C. for 5 minutes, but was destroyed 

 by the same temperature when applied for a period of 15 minutes. Subjection to 

 a temperature of — 20° for 5 minutes destroyed a considerable percentage of the 

 trypanosoma. 



Experiments were also made with a number of antiseptic substances, such as car- 

 bolic acid, lysol, boric acid, corrosive sublimate, and permanganate of potash. In 

 general the antiseptics had the effect of causing agglutination. This process was 

 most pronounced after the use of potassium permanganate. An extensive series of 

 inoculation experiments showed that a large number of animals are susceptible to 

 this disease. The susceptible animals according to the author's experiments, men- 

 tioned in the order of their susceptibility, include white mouse, white rat, gray 

 mouse, gray rat, dog, horse, rabbit, cat, sheep, cattle, dog, pigeon, duck, domestic 

 fowl, and frog. The method of infection by this disease has not been determined. 

 The author suggests the possibility of the organism being carried by Stomoxys calci- 

 trans. The blood of infected animals when taken from the stomach of this species 

 of flv was found to contain the organism of mal de caderas in a virulent condition. 



