702 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



care there is no hope of cure. In the early stages, however, a recovery may be 

 brought about by the application of an ointment of biniodid of mercury. 



Bacillus necrophorus and its economic importance, J. E. Mohler and G. B. 

 Morse ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Anim. Indus. Rpt. 1904, pp. 76-116) .—An elaborate 

 review is presented of the synonymy, history, and literature of this bacillus in con- 

 nection with the bibliography of related articles. 



The organism occurs normally in the intestines of hogs and perhaps also of the cow 

 and horse. Notes are given on its morphology, motility, staining, biology, behavior 

 on different culture media, and chemical activities. It is destroyed by exposure to a 

 2 per cent solution of carbolic acid for 2 minutes, a 1/2000 solution of bichlorid of 

 mercury for 9 minutes, or a 1 per cent formaldehyde solution for 13 minutes. The 

 authors described in detail the pathogenic properties of this organism and the special 

 pathology as shown in cases of necrobacillosis of the skin in rabbits, guinea pigs, 

 and other animals, and also in the hoof and digestive tract. 



An account is also presented of other diseases caused by the necrosis bacillus, such 

 as necrotic stomatitis, ulcerative anovulvitis, necrotic vaginitis, necrotic metritis, 

 foot rot of cattle and sheep, joint ill, avian diphtheria, etc. The deep ulcers in the 

 intestines in cases of hog cholera are apparently due to the necrosis bacillus, and the 

 organism has also been isolated from chickens affected with diphtheritic roup as well 

 as other birds. As a prevention against this organism the authors recommend the 

 thorough application of antiseptics. 



Poisoning- of cattle by molds, Bayer ( Wchnschr. Tierheilk. u. Viehzucht,49 (1905), 

 No. 50, pp. 793, 794).— The author presents some of the details of symptoms and 

 pathological lesions observed in 5 cattle which were affected by eating clover badly 

 damaged by certain common molds, especially Aspergillus glaucus and PeniciUium 

 ylaucum. The symptoms were great weakness, reddened mucous membrane of the 

 mouth, loss of appetite, paralysis of the throat, and diarrhea. 



Enzyms in cornstalks and their relation to cornstalk disease, T. M. Price 

 (U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Anim. Indus. Rpt. 1904, pp. 66-75).— On account of the 

 suddenness with which death occurs in many cases of so-called cornstalk disease, it 

 was suspected that the presence of prussic acid in cornstalks might be the cause. 



Cornstalks were obtained from a field where a number of cattle had died of corn- 

 stalk disease, but upon direct analysis for prussic acid this poison could not be deter- 

 mined. Negative results were also obtained from an attempt to find a glucoside 

 which might break up into prussic acid. Attention was then directed to the possible 

 presence of enzyms, and a peroxydase was found with the properties of catalase. 

 Further analyses showed that neither diastase, invertase, lactase, maltase, cytase, or 

 lipase were present. The cornstalk enzym lost its power of splitting up glucoside 

 when subjected to a temperature of 78° C. The proteolytic enzym was broken up at 

 68° C. The cornstalk enzym appeared to have the same resisting power toward 

 heat as that obtained from bitter almonds. 



The author believes that these investigations, while not conclusive, indicate the 

 presence of an enzym in cornstalks which may give rise to the formation of prussic 

 acid by splitting up glucosides. This would account for a certain percentage at least 

 of the cases of cornstalk disease. 



A recent outbreak of sheep pox, Teetz (Berlin. Tierarztl. Wchnschr., 1905, Xo. 

 49, p. 830). — In outbreaks of this disease it is recommended that a strict quarantine 

 be enforced, so that healthy animals may not be exposed to the disease. When 

 quarantine is maintained with sufficient stringency it is possible to make incisions in 

 the swollen parts of the skin in infected sheep and treat the wounds so that the 

 mortality is reduced to a very low percentage. 



Report of the work against scabies of sheep and cattle in 1904, C. O. 

 Goodpasture (U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Anim. Indus. Rpt. 1904, pp. 447-460) .^During 



