VETERINARY SCIENCE AND PRACTICE. 791 



this disease, which consists in the death and faUing off of the tip of the tail and 

 sometimes the whole tail. It has been observed especially in cows and young pigs. 

 The cause of the disease is not well understood, but apparently a number of causes 

 might produce this affection of the tail. Among such causes may be mentioned 

 mechanical injuries which result in the interruption of the blood circulation in the 

 tail, the presence of ammonia vapor in unusual quantities, and ergot. The author 

 reviews the literature relating to this subject and describes an outbreak of the 

 disease among pigs in Roumania. 



The clinical value of a leucocyte count in the diagnosis of septic infections, 

 CI. D. Head {Jour. Comp. Med. and. Vet. Arch., ;SI {1900), No. 3, pp. 129-134).— Oavq- 

 ful counts of the leucocytes in healthy dogs showed a variation of from 6,600 to 9,600 

 per cubic millimeter, with an average of about 8,000. The presence of septic infec- 

 tion causes a more or less pronounced leucocytosis. In dogs and rabbits a great 

 increase in the number of leucocytes was noted during septic processes. In one 

 case the number per cubic millimeter rose to 36,300 from a normal average of 9,200. 

 Attention is called to the diagnostic value of a leucocyte count in veterinary practice. 



Water hemlock poisoning, E. F. Ladd {North Dakota Sta. Bui. 44, pp- 563-569, 

 fig. 1). — On account of the unusual dryness of the season, it is reported that animals 

 grazed in low marshy places more extensively than in ordinary years. Water hem- 

 lock is frequently found in such localities, and several cases of poisoning have been 

 apparently traced to the action of this plant. In the case of 2 cows good evidence 

 was ol)tained against water hemlock. An examination of the blood and stomach 

 contents revealed the presence of the active principle of water hemlock. 



The article contains a reprint of a previous paper on the same subject (E. S. R., 11, 

 p. 287). 



Poisoning from Glyceria spectabilis infested with TJstilago longissima, 

 J. Eriksson {Ztschr. Pflanzenkrank., 10 {1900), No. l,pp. 15, 16').— About 100 cattle fed 

 with this grass developed symptoms of poisoning within Ig hours after feeding. 

 Nearly all of the animals recovered after about 3 hours. In another locality 3 cows 

 ate a quantity of this grass and were affected so severely that the owner slaughtered 

 them. The grass in both cases was badly smutted. 



Treatment of tuberculosis by muscle plasma or zomotlierapy, J. Hericourt 

 and C. RicnET {Her. Sri. [/'or/.s], 4. ser., 13 {1900) , No. 10, jip. .W6-30S). — The authors 

 conducted experiments upon 16 dogs with 18 other dogs as checks. The experiments 

 showed that cooked meat did not have the same effect as raw meat upon tuberculous 

 animals. The dogs were fed upon raw meat, and in nearly every case resisted the 

 progress of the disease to a greater extent than did the checks, and in many cases 

 final recovery took place. 



Treatment of infectious diarrhoea of calves with tannoform, SchiImmhof 

 {Berlin. Tierarztl. Wchnschr., 1900, No. I4, pp- 161, i^^).— Immediately after the birth 

 of calves the author gave 0.05 gm. calomel mixed with sugar, and 15 minutes later 4 

 gm. tannoform mixed with sirup and meal. These doses were given 3 times on the 

 first day, twice on the second day, and once on the third day. Fairly satisfactory 

 results were obtained in checking the disease. 



A review of contagious abortion, P. P. Smith {Jour. Comp. Med. and Yet. Arch., 

 21 {1900), No. 3, pp. 151-155). — Brief historical notes on the development of the 

 knowledge concerning this disease. 



Schmidt's treatment of parturient paresis, A. G. Alversox {Jour. Comp. Med. 

 and Vet. Arch., 21 {1900), No. 3, pp. 168, 169). — The author gives short notes on 6 

 cases in which he administered potassium iodid infusions with success in only one case. 



Parturient paresis, A. H. Haktwig {Jour. Comp. Med. and Vet. Arch., 21 {1900), 

 No. 3, pp. 142-145). — The author reports results of applying the Schmidt method in 

 the treatment of this disease. Detailed notes are given on 6 cases in which potassium 

 iodid infusions were injected into the udder with recovery in 5 cases. In one case 



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