560 OSTRICH CHICK DISEASES. 



being taken ; in other instances, the beak was found to be kept 

 continually open. In some cases small whitish nodules, varying 

 in size (averaging size of a pin's head), are to be fi-und on the 

 buccal mucous membrane and other positions in the mouth. 



In visibly-affected chicks the temperature was found to be 

 irregular, a characteristic being the marked variations between 

 the morning and evening temperatures 3 to 5 degrees Fahr. ( in 

 healthy chicks the rule is to find a difference of about 2 degrees 

 Fahr., 102-104 degrees Fahr.). 



Death is usually ushered in with a pronounced fall of tem- 

 perature. 



Death occurs in a few days from the appearance of the 

 symptoms. 



It is the exception to find an affected chick recover. 



Lesions are chiefly confined to respiratory tracts i lungs and 

 air sacs). It is usual to find on close examination of the lungs 

 at least some nodules, yellowish-white in colour, varying in size 

 that of a pin's head. 



The inoculation of potato medium \\\{\\ infected tissues 

 results in a growth of aspergillus within 2.} to 48 hours, visible 

 on close examination with the naked eye. 



Prevention consists in the use of — 



(i) Non-infected incul:)ators ; 



(2) Non-infected bedding in chicks' sleei)ing boxes; 



(3) Infected eggs should be removed from incubators as 

 well as chicks from infected incubators. 



For sterilising purposes boiling water has given satisfactory 

 results. 



Observations and experiments have shown that aspergillosis 

 is responsible for the more prevalent of the chick diseases, 

 namely, yellow liver and chick fever. 



ACOKANTHERA VENENATA. — The last Report of the 

 Director of Veterinary Research, Pretoria, contains an account 

 of an investigation of the physiological action of Acokanthera 

 venenata Don, undertaken by Dr. J. H. Burn, of the Wellcome 

 Laboratories, for the Imperial Institute. The experiments were 

 made with a solution of the bitter principle corresponding to a 

 I per cent, infusion of the plant in water. Half a milligramme 

 of the bitter substance (corresponding to half a gramme of the 

 plant) was found to be the minimum lethal dose for a 25 gramme 

 frog. For a 300 gramme guinea-pig the minimal lethal dose 

 was 3 milligrammes of the bitter substance, and the cause of 

 death in such a case was paralysis of the respiratory centre. 

 Only with much higher doses was the heart found to be tightly 

 systolic. The Acokanthera bitter principles are extremely like 

 those which occur in digitalis, and this resemblance comes out 

 in full detail when the preparation is examined on the isolated 

 perfused mammalian heart. 



