504 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol XXVI, No xo 
contrasted with the darker stained normal fibers. In the dorsal columns 
slight change could be observed in the outer portion of Burdach's 
columns near the periphery and close to the dorsolateral groove. No 
changes were noted in the columns of Gall. The yellowish tint 
in the medullated fibers extended into the lateral columns, gradually 
fading out, and entirely disappearing in the ventral columns. After 
staining with osmic acid according to Heller's method, the degenerative 
changes, as indicated by the brownish black deposits or clumps, were 
more in evidence. A large number of black clumps were present at the 
dorsolateral groove, the point of entrance of the extra medullary fibers 
constituting the dorsal roots. The clumps gradually decreased in num¬ 
ber as the fibers entered the gray substance of the dorsal horn, and 
almost entirely disappeared in the ventral horns. 
The degeneration of the medullated fibers is quite as apparent and 
may bear some significance to the clinical symptoms. The largest 
number of black clumps were found in the medullary fibers of the outer 
dorsal column known as Burdach’s column, or funiculus cuneatus. The 
distribution of the black clumps was not uniform, but varied as to 
outer and inner, external or internal, situation of the fibers. There 
was also a difference in the size of the clumps, the larger ones suggesting 
more complete, and the smaller ones less complete, degenerative changes. 
The largest number of black clumps were present in the fibers nearest 
to the dorsal roots or in the outer and external portion of Burdach's 
columns. The number of clumps diminished in the direction of the 
dorsomedian septum and also in the direction of the gray commissure. 
In the inner portion of the dorsal column known as Gall's column, or 
funiculus gracilis, fewer black clumps were present than in Burdach’s 
column, and they almost entirely disappeared in the fibers nearest to 
the dorsomedian septum and in the fibers in the region of the gray 
commissure. The clumps varied in sizes, a few of the larger ones being 
intermingled with the scattered smaller clumps. 
It can be seen from the above described distribution of the black 
clumps that the degeneration in the medullated fibers was present to 
a greater degree in the dorsal columns, to a less extent in the fibers of 
that portion of the lateral columns nearest to the dorsal roots, and 
scarcely effected the fibers nearest to the ventral roots and the fibers of 
the ventral columns. In other words, the degenerative changes were 
confined largely to the dorsal and lateral tracts of the cord. 
SUMMARY 
P^A study of the serology, the cerebrospinal fluid, and the pathologica 7 
changes in the spinal cord of a stallion dead of dourine infection con¬ 
tracted naturally is reported. This animal was under observation from 
1913 to 1921. The serological study covers a period of eight years, 
samples of blood serum being drawn at intervals and subjected to the 
complement-fixation test for dourine. 
The spinal fluid of this animal was subjected to the colloidal gold test, 
a test for globulin and a cell count. The spinal fluid was also subjected 
to a complement-fixation test for dourine, a significant feature of which 
was the fact that complete fixation of complement was obtained with 
0.05 cc. of spinal fluid, whereas complete fixation of complement was not 
obtained with 0.2 cc. of blood serum. 
