VETERINARY SCIENCE AND PRACTICE. 723 



be complete. The author maintains that immunization can be 1)rought about either 

 by the use of active cultures of tubercle bacilli, or with dead and desiccated bacilli. 

 It is also held that it is not necessary to make intravenous inoculations in order to 

 obtain immunity. 



Attention is called to the possibility of applying this method of immunization in 

 the treatment of human tuberculosis. During the author's experiments it was found 

 possible to prepare a vaccine material which produced a tuberculous inflammation 

 when injected hypodermically, and immunity resulted from the substances developed 

 at th;^ point of injection. 



The cause of error in diagnosing tubercle bacilli in blood clots, F. Bezax^on 

 ET AL. {Compl. Rend. Sue. Biol. I'ctris, 55 {1903), Xo. 5, pp. 203, 204). — The authors 

 allude to the fact that in the examination of clotted blood from tuberculous animals 

 organisms may sometimes be observed in colonies and may resemble in all essential 

 respects the bacillus of tuberculosis. This resemblance may include the staining 

 reaction, acid-fast condition, and other characters. The authors maintain that it is 

 frequently necessary to resort to experimentation in the laboratory in order to 

 determine definitely whether one is dealing with tubercle bacilli or other acid-fast 

 bacilli. 



The legal requirement for the determination of tuberculosis in all living 

 animals, Thiro {Berlin. Tieravztl. Wdmsclir., 1903, No. 17, pp. 279-282). — Attention 

 is called to the extreme difticulty met with in attempting to diagnose tuberculosis 

 ante-mortem. Such diagnoses must depend upon a physical examination, bacterio- 

 logical examination of sputum, and of the superficial lymphatic glands, etc. In the 

 opinion of the author it is in many cases absolutely impossible to give a correct diag- 

 nosis from an examination of the living animal, and it is urged that the legal require- 

 ment of a positive diagnosis will lead to many faulty diagnoses and to loss of 

 reputation on the part of veterinarians. 



The action of dead tubercle bacilli and the toxins of tubercle bacilli, 

 V. Klixgmuller {Berlin. Klin. Wclmschr., 40 {1903), Xo. 34, pp. 778-780).— In order 

 to determine the cause of swellings and pathological changes at the point of injection 

 of tuberculin, the author made a careful study of these tissues. It was found that in 

 numerous cases typical tuberculous formations were present w'ith epithelioid and 

 giant cells. It appears, therefore, that tubercle bacilli in some form may be present 

 in the tuberculin. 



During the author's investigation 10 samples of tuberculin were examined, and in 

 4 samples tubercle bacilli and disintegrated fragments were found. After subjecting 

 these samples to live steam at a temperature of 105° C. for 1 hour and filtering 

 through moist cotton batting, bacilli were still present, and were only removed after 

 filtration through clay filters. Inoculation experiments showed that the tubercle 

 bacilli in samples of tuberculin were not alive and were not capable of producing 

 tuberculosis. It is believed, therefore, that the alterations caused at the point of 

 injection of tuberculin are due to the presence of dead tubercle bacilli. The toxins 

 of the tubercle bacillus are thus capable of producing tuberculous alterations in the 

 tissue. 



Generalized tuberculosis in hogs, K. Muller {Ztschr. Fleisdi- u. Milchhyg., 13 

 {1903), Xo. 11, pp. 350, 351). — Notes are given on the lesions and pathological 

 anatomy in cases of generalized tuberculosis in hogs. In 1 case, which is described 

 in detail, it was found that the hog had received large quantities of raw' milk as food. 



The diagnosis of anthrax and blackleg, R. Ostertag {Ztschr. Fleisch- u. 

 Milchhyg., 13 {1903), Xo. 7, pp. 313-216). — The author agrees with the contentions of 

 certain veterinarians that the requirement of a bacteriological diagnosis of anthrax 

 and blackleg is unnecessary and sometimes unreliable. It is argued, however, that 

 as a rule the bacteriological test gives reliable results and it is urged that the law 

 does not werk any excessive hardship upon veterinarians. 



