VETERINARY SCIENCE AND PRACTICE. 617 



Meningo-encephalitis in rabbits, P. Misch {Arch. Path. Anat. u. Physiol. 

 IVirchow'], 172 (1903), No. 1, pp. 158-174)-— Detailed notes are presented on the 

 course and outcome of a number of cases of this disease in rabbits. The scanty Hter- 

 ature of the subject is critically reviewed. Abscesses were found in the cerebellum, 

 with evidences of fresh suppuration. These lesions in the brain caused the various 

 abnormal movements of affected animals. An exudation was observed upon the 

 surface of the brain. 



Cocci were isolated from the cerebro-spinal fluid and cultivated under artificial 

 conditions. Rabbits inoculated intravenously with bouillon cultures of this organism 

 died within from 1 to 3 weeks with symptoms identical with those observed in cases 

 of spontaneous infection. 



An attempt to explain the susceptibility of rabbits to anthrax, O. Bail 

 and A. Petterson [Centhl. Bakt. n. Par., 1. Abt., Orig., 34 {1903), Nos. 5, pp. 445- 

 45'J; 6, pp. 540-550). — A detailed study was made of the blood of rabbits for the 

 purpose of detecting the presence of any property in normal blood which could 

 explain the known susceptibility of these animals to anthrax. 



As the result of these experiments it is concluded that the marked destruction of 

 anthrax bacilli by rabbit serum in vitro does not take place in the body at all, or at 

 least only under special conditions. The reason for this difference in the action of 

 the serum in and out of the body is that the intermediary body contained in the 

 serum while the blood is in contact with the organs of the body is always united 

 with the cell receptors in accordance with Ehrlich's theory. 



The affinity of the intermediary body for the cell receptors is greater than that for 

 the anthrax bacilli. As a result of the intermediary body, a complement of a 

 bacteriolytic nature becomes associated with the cell receptors, so that the bactericidal 

 complement contained in the serum is without effect, on account of the absence of a 

 suitable intermediary body. In view of these. facts it is readily understood why the 

 anthrax bacillus is not checked in its development inside the body of rabbits. 



The incineration of anthrax carcasses, L. Fabritius {Berlin. Tierdrztl. 

 Wchnschr., 1903, No. 4, P- 50). — Attention is called to the desirability of burning 

 bodies of animals dead of anthrax in order to prevent the further spread of this dis- 

 ease. In burning such bodies the author recommends that the carcasses be dumped 

 into ditches in such a manner that no material which may escape from the effect of 

 the heat will be in a position where it is likely to cause reinfection of other animals 

 with anthrax. 



Contagious malignant vaginitis of cattle -with special reference to the 

 necrosis bacillus, Ellinger {Berlin. Tierdrztl. Wchnschr., 1903, No. 2, pp. 25-29). — 

 The literature of this subject is critically reviewed. Contagious vaginitis, in the 

 author's experience, is usually associated with inflammation of the udder, calf diar- 

 rhea, and abortion. The author observed a large number of cases in cows, all of 

 which occurred soon after parturition. The cause of this disease, according to the 

 author's investigations, is the necrosis bacillus, which is found in abundance in the 

 vaginal secretions. 



Notes are given on the pathological anatomy, differential diagnosis, and course of 

 the disease. The treatment recommended by the author consists in thorough and 

 repeated irrigation of the vagina with a 2 per cent solution of lysol or creolin, together 

 with the use of tampons saturated with Lugol's solution. In preventing the disease 

 attention should be given to strict quarantine and disinfectant measures. Incipient 

 septicemia may be checked in many instances by intravenous injections of CoUargol. 



The treatment of parturient paresis by means of the air catheter, Zehl 

 {Berlin. Tierdrztl. Wchnschr., 1903, No. 1, pp. 5, 6). — Notes are given on 15 cases of 

 this disease which the author treated by forcing air into the udder. In all these 

 cases recovery took place within a reasonable length of time, but in 13 out of the 15 

 cases a decided improvement or almost complete recovery was noted within 3 hours 



