AGEICULTUEAL ENGINEEEING. 621 



Horseshoeing, J. W. Adams (U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 179, pp. 31, figs. 

 18). — A systematic discussion of the problems of horseshoeing of most concern to the 

 farmer and horse raiser. The subjects discussed include the anatomy of the foot and 

 hoof, the ijhysiological relations of these parts, the formation and various abnormal 

 forms of the feet, the form and preparation of the shoe, the rubber pad, bar shoe, hot 

 fitting, and various peculiarities in the form of the hoof as related to the requirements 

 in the form and thickness of the shoe. 



A monograph of the tsetse flies, E. E. Austen [London: British Mns., 1903, 

 pp. 1X^319, pis. 10, figs. 16). — This volume contains an elaborate monograph of the 

 genus Glossina, of which the following species are recognized: G. f>aUidipes, G. longi- 

 pennis, G. morsitans, G. longipalpis, and G. fusca. This genus of flies is confined to 

 Africa and its distribution is described in detail in connection with a map. 



The author discusses the life history, habits, and systematic position of these flies, 

 and presents bibliographies of literature relating to tsetse fly and the Trypanosoma 

 of nagana, and kindred species. The mouth parts of Glossina and Stomoxys are 

 described by H. J. Hansen. In appendices to the volume the author presents 

 abstracts of some of the more important literature relating to tsetse flies, with notes 

 on native methods of protecting animals against attacks of these flies, the geographical 

 distribution of nagana and trypanosomiasis on the Upper Niger. 



Spirillosis of fowls, E. Marchoux and A. Salimbeni (Ann. Imt. Pasteur, 17 

 (1903), No. 9, pp. 569-580). — An outbreak of an infectious disease occurred in Rio 

 Janeiro and caused the death of large numbers of chickens. This disease was found 

 to be due to a spirillum which was also pathogenic to geese, ducks, guinea fowls, 

 pigeons, turtle doves, and sparrows, but not to guinea pigs or monkeys. Affected 

 fowls exhibit diarrhea, loss of appetite, a pale comb, and in acute cases die suddenly 

 in convulsions. A certain percentage of chronic cases recover. 



The pathogenic si)irillum is found in the blood of affected birds, and the disease 

 may be transmitted by inoculation with such blood. The disease is also produced 

 by injection of the spirillum in cultures or of the excreta of affected birds. Under 

 ordinary conditions Jrf/asj9ersicus is the carrier of the infection. The virulence of 

 the spirillum is greatly diminished or lost after a period of about 48 hours. Success- 

 ful vaccination may be produced by the use of blood and virulent serum preserved for 

 from 48 hours to 4 days, or after heating for from 5 to 10 minutes at a temperature 

 of 55°. The serum of animals which have recovered from the first attack possesses 

 strong inununizing properties, and the same serum in vitro exercises a pronounced 

 agglutinative action. 



AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING. 



Report upon the administration of the public works department in Egypt 



for 1902, W. Garstix et al. {Cairo: Puhlic Works Ministry, 1903, p)p- 476, pis. 15, 

 (h/ms. 11). — This includes a summary account and detailed reports of operations in 

 the different departments of the Public Works Ministry during the year. The fea- 

 tures of the report of the greatest agricultural interest are those dealing with the irri- 

 gation service. 



The report of this service includes, among other topics, a discussion of the more 

 efficient utilization of the Nile supply during the low water of 1902 by means of rota- 

 tion in the use of water, the pumping of water for irrigation and drainage, the duty 

 of water, drainage for removal of excess of water and alkali, and the filling and 

 utilization of the water of the recently completed Nile reservoirs. 



The report on the soil and water of the Wadi Tumilat lands under reclamation 

 includes a discussion of situation, climate, geology, early history and present condi- 

 tion, nature and effect of the injurious salts present, cause of deterioration, and 

 reclamation. Analyses of samples of the alkali efflorescences, the soil, and the drain- 

 age water of these lands show that the harmful salts present are sodium carbonate, 



