ABSTRACTS AND REPOI~TS.

used as vaccin lymph on the human subject, and found that it provoked an eruption indistinguishable from that which is set up by ordinary cow-pox matter. They accordingly concluded that they had succeeded in actually transforming, by a process of attenuation, the virus of small-pox into that of cow-pox.

M. Chauveau has since shown that this conclusion was erroneous. He obtained a sample of the transformed small-pox matter from MM. Etemod and Haccius, but instead of testing its effect on the human subject he had recourse to comparative inoculations on the bovine species. He rejected the human subject as a reagent because in man the primitive eruptions produced by the virus of small-pox and that of cow-pox are identical. It is only when there is a secondary generalised eruption that one can distinguish genuine small-pox. In the ox, on the contrary, the lesions produced are altogether different. When a cow is inoculated with cow-pox virus by subcutaneous punc­ture at places where the skin is fine and thin, such as the sides of the vulva or the perineum, the effect is as follows: after about a week there appears a beautiful pustule, umbilicated at its centre, circled by a nacreous zone, and circumscribed by a very distinct red areola. This pustule soon becomes covered by a large crust, which finally falls off leaving a whitish cicatrix. Inoculation with the virus of small-pox has quite different effects; it produces a hemispherical or conicalpapltle, which is never umbilicated, but always prominent at the centre, where it supports a small brownish concretion corresponding to the point of puncture. Its evolution is much more rapid, and when the papule disappears it is effaced without the formation of a crust.

Taking advantage of these differences, M. Chauveau has been able to demonstrate that the lymph supplied by MM. Etemod and Haccius does not produce in the cow the eruption characteristic of cow-pox but that of small-pox; and that the belief that they had obtained a vaccinal lymph by passing small-pox virus through a series of calves, was unfounded.-Reclteil de MM. vet.

THE FUNCTION OF THE THYROID GLAND.

M. LAULANIE in a communication to the Societe de Biologie (May 1891) makes known the result of certain experiments carried out by him in order to throw light on the function of the thyroid glands.

The theories brought forward to account for the result of the total ablation of the thyroid bodies in the dog are three: the vascular theory, the hcemo­poietic theory, and the secretory theory.

The lesions of cerebral ancemia constantly found at the autopsy of animals that have succumbed as a result of double thyroidectomy, and the symptoms exhibited during life that may be referred to this ancemia, have suggested the first of these theories, which places the cerebral circulation under the control of the thyroid bodies. But Munk has shown that decortication and ligature of the vessels of the gland, which ought to prevent its action as a regulating centre, do not interfere with the health of the animal.

M. Laulanie gives reasons for rejecting the hcemopoietic theory also, and he holds that the vascular theory, while not rigorously proved correct, has most in its favour.

His experiments were carried out on eleven dogs, on all of which he performed double thyroidectomy. Ten of these died after the usual period and with the classical manifestations, but he was able to detect in them certain other results which have not been noted by previous observers. The first of these facts relate to the urine. This was secreted in medium quantity,

ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS.

markedly alkaline, strongly charged with biliary salts, and eminently toxic and convulsant.

These characters of the urine drew attention to the kidneys, and examina­tion of these organs showed that they were the seat of acute lesions. These consisted in fatty degeneration of the epithelium of the pyramids of Ferrein, and intense congestion, affecting both cortex and medulla and sometimes leading to actual h:emorrhages. Parallel changes were present in the liver, and M. Laulanie regards these lesions as lending support to the view that the thyroid bodies have a secretory or excretory function, for they correspond closely with the toxic hepatitis and nephritis seen in infectious maladies.­Revue Veterinaire.

THE DANGER OF ADMINISTERING PHYSOSTIGMIN IN PREGNANCY.

HORNER describes two cases in which abortion followed the administration of physostigmin to pregnant mares.

CASE I.-A mare at an advanced stage of pregnancy showed symptoms of colic from some unknown cause. After an administration of -lo gramme of physostigmin in 2 cc. of water the respirations became hurried, there were muscular tremors, perspiration and straining. After half-an-hour f:eces were passed, the mare became quieter, and respiration less hurried; but after another hour intermittent pains set in, and at the end of two days abortion took place.

CASE n.-Another mare received the same dose in similar circumstances, and with similar consequences. F:eces were passed after twenty-five minutes; after three-quarters of an hour strong pains set in, and lasted for half-an-hour. After this the mare became quiet and began to eat, but on the following day pains again set in, and abortion occurred a day later.- Woclzenschrift f Tlzierll. u. Vie/IZ.

DISINFECTION OF THE VETERINARY SURGEON'S HANDS.

WRITING in the Repertorium /ttr Tlzierlzeilkunde, Professor Hoffman says that the hands may be completely disinfected by the following method. (1) By means of scissors or knife, remove the dirt from under the nails or the fold of skin at their roots. (2) Thoroughly cleanse the hands by five minutes' brushing with soap and water; the brush should be a stiff one. (3) Rinse the hands with clean water. (.-1-) Brush the hands for five minutes in 3 0/0 creolin water. (5) Do not dry the hands, or use for that purpose an anti­septic towel.

EPIZOOTIC OUTBREAK OF ACTINOMYCOSIS ON A FARM.

STENON records in the Annales de Medecine Veterillaire an instance in which for about five years the animals on a particular farm presented in the inter­maxillary space, at the root of the ear, on the surface of the parotid gland, and on the jaw, tumours varying in size from that of a hen's egg to that of an orange. They were multi-lobulated, movable, and slightly painful; at first