382 



Miscellaneous Notes. 



[august, 



Importation of Dogs into French West Africa. — By a decree dated 29th May, 1908, 

 dogs imported into French West Africa are required to be accompanied by a 

 certificate from the authorities of the place of origin stating that no case of rabies has 

 occurred in the district during the previous six months. 



Purchase of British Cattle for Japan. — The Board understand that several 

 Japanese buyers of cattle have recently visited this country, and they are informed by 

 the Japanese Consul- General that Messrs. Nozawa and Co., Broad Street House, New 

 Broad Street, London, E.C., act as intermediaries for Japanese buyers over here. 



Rabies in the United States. — In a Circular (No. 129), issued by the Bureau of 

 Animal Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, on " Rabies and its 

 Increasing Prevalence " ; it is stated that rabies is " constantly spreading and causing 

 increased financial loss, human suffering and death year by year. There is abundant 

 evidence to warrant the statement that not a single State is free from the disease." 

 The remedy suggested is the muzzling of dogs, but this requires legislation on the part 

 of each of the separate States, and at the present time there are many obstacles to be 

 overcome before this can be secured. 



Reference is made in the course of the bulletin to the diagnosis of the disease by 

 laboratory methods, and the method of post-mortem examination is described. Until 

 recent years the only method of diagnosis was by the inoculation of rabbits, but 

 inoculation is not now resorted to in the Laboratory of the Bureau, if the so-called 

 "Negri bodies" are found. In 1903, Negri, of the University of Pavia, Italy, 

 published the results of his researches and claimed to have found the causative agent 

 of the disease, which consisted of cell inclusions, now known as Negri bodies, in the 

 large nerve cells. The relation which these bodies bear to rabies has since been 

 confirmed by many investigators, and they are at present considered pathognomonic 

 of the disease. Whether or not they are the real etiological factor in the production 

 of rabies still remains to be proved. 



Berlin Hop and Barley Exhibition. — The Institute for Experimental Research in 

 Brewing ( Versuchs-und Lehranstalt fiir Brauerei) will hold an International 

 Exhibition at Berlin from the 10th to 18th October next. All samples of barley 

 and hops must form part of the 1908 crop, and must be certified to have been grown 

 by the exhibitor himself. The entrance fee for each sample is 2s., which must be 

 sent with a notice of entry on the proper form so as to reach the Exhibition 

 Committee by the 1 7th September at the latest. The regulations state that each 

 sample of barley sent in must weigh at least 30 kilos. (66| lb.), and of hops at least 

 4 kilos, (nearly 91b.). The entry form, however, gives the weight of the samples 

 as 50 kilos, (no lb.) to be accompanied by specimens of ears corresponding to the 

 sample. The barley samples must not be hand-picked, but machine sorted in the 

 usual way, nor may they be sulphured or otherwise preserved, hop samples must not 

 be sulphured or otherwise preserved, except in the case of samples sent by sea, i.e., 

 from America or the United Kingdom, when the fact must be expressly stated. An 

 exhibitor can enter several samples of barley or hops provided they clearly differ as 

 regards variety, growth and treatment. Collections of samples from growers or from 

 societies, and exhibits showing experiments in cultivation, may be shown, but not 

 entered for competition. All exhibits must be delivered by 26th September. 



An exhibition of brewing plant and of dray-horses will take place at the 

 same time. 



All communications should be addressed to the " Verein Versuchs-und Lehranstalt 

 fiir Brauerei, Institut fiir Garungsgewerbe," Seestrasse, Berlin, N. 65. Copies of the 

 regulations and other particulars can be obtained from the Offices of the Board, 

 8, Whitehall Place, S.W. 



Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society. — This society has been formed on 

 similar lines to the English Agricultural Organisation Society, to develop the organi- 

 sation of agriculture in Scotland through the co-operative purchase of requirements, 

 and the manufacture and sale of the products of agriculture. It does not engage in 



