292 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



In the present number an account is given of the use of Echinacea in veterinary 

 practice; the digestive action of bile in some domestic animals; calcium sulphid in 

 the treatment of poll evil and fistulous withers, and the effects of certain drugs upon 

 the blood pressure and cardiac inhibition in the horse. The last-named article has 

 already been abstracted from another source (E. S. R., 15, pp. 118, 119). 



In the treatment of poll evil and fistulous withers with calcium sulphid it was 

 found that doses larger than 10 or 15 grains daily tended to increase the discharge and 

 hinder the healing process. A convenient method of administering this drug is in 

 gelatin capsules, and in general no good results can be obtained without a standard 

 quality of the drug. 



Annual report veterinary department of station, J. C. Robert (Mississippi Sta. 

 Rpt. 1904, p- 26). — In vaccinating 305 pure-bred cattle against Texas fever 12, or about 

 4 per cent, were lost. Several of the animals, however, were too old for successful 

 vaccination. Blackleg vaccine has been distributed with beneficial results. 



Treatment of four anemic diseases in domesticated animals by means of 

 artificial hemoglobin, Evers {Berlin. Tierarztl. Wchnschr., 1905, No. 11, pp. 201- 

 205). — The author has carried on a number of experiments with artificial hemo- 

 globin, also known as Damholid, in the treatment of Texas fever, lung-worm disease 

 of sheep, anemia in dogs, and perverted appetite in cattle. 



The author has treated 74 cattle for Texas fever by means of hemoglobin with a 

 loss of only 2 animals. In 1904, 31 cattle were treated and all recovered, although 8 

 of this number were in a hopeless condition before treatment. Similarly satisfactory 

 results were obtained in the treatment of other anemic diseases. The author 

 believes that artificial hemoglobin gives the same beneficial effects when adminis- 

 tered by way of the mouth as when inoculated subcutaneously or intravenously. 

 Administration by way of the mouth was therefore preferred when the expense was 

 not too great. 



The classification and nomenclature of diseases known under the name 

 actinomycosis, J. Lignieres and G. Spitz (Bui. Soc. Cent. Med. Yet., 82 (1905), Xo. 

 4, pp. 64-93). — From a study of the organisms obtained in different forms of acti- 

 nomycosis, with reference to their morphology, biology, and pathogenic properties, 

 the author comes to the conclusion that there are 3 groups of organisms causing 3 

 distinct diseases which are commonly referred to under the name actinomycosis. 



The first group is Actinomyces bovis, also known as Streptothrix (Actinomyces. This 

 organism produces the ordinary typical form of actinomycosis in cattle. The second 

 group includes Streptothrix Israeli, S. spitzi, and the species of Streptothrix studied 

 by Doyen. This organism does not produce infection when inoculated intrave- 

 nously. Positive results, however, are always obtained after subcutaneous inoculation 

 of cattle, sheep, hogs, dogs, rabbits, and various experimental animals. 



Actinobacillosis constitutes the third group and is due to actinobacillus. The cul- 

 tural peculiarities of this organism are described in considerable detail. The bacillus 

 causes serious infection in nearly all species of animals after intravenous inoculation. 

 Subcutaneous inoculation also causes the formation of abscesses in dogs, rabbits, 

 horses, and other animals. 



The biology of the micro-organism of actinomycosis, J. H. Wright (Jour. 

 Med. Research, 13 (1905), Xo. 4, pp. 349-404, pis. 10).— The literature relating to 

 actinomycosis is critically discussed in connection with a bibliography of 109 titles. 



The author's experiments were made with actinomyces from 13 human and 2 

 bovine cases. Particular attention was given to a study of the morphology of the 

 micro-organism under various conditions and on different culture media. In inocu- 

 lation experiments rabbits and guinea pigs were used for the purpose of comparing 

 the effects of bovine and human actinomyces. The results of these inoculations were 

 not constant. Some races of the micro-organism produced relatively extensive lesions, 

 while in other cases the effects were much less pronounced. 



