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spondent in New York, and secure another who is not so partisan, and who will take into consideration scientific attainment and other meritorious qualifications rather than the windows in the college building. The criticism also alludes, in somewhat sneering terms, to the recent graduation of the Demonstrator of Anatomy in the Columbia Veterinary College. We would here state that this gentleman was appointed at the instance of Dr. Spitzka, the late editor of this journal, whose assistant he had been, and of whose fitness for the position Dr. S. was, therefore, well qualified to judge.

We notice that there is now under discussion in Congress a bill having for its object the prevention of contagious disease among cattle throughout the United States and Territories. We earnestly hope that this bill will pass in some such form as will make its provision practical in the application. We think that some such quarantine regulations, such as at present exist re-. garding persons, should be established in regard to the entry at our ports of cattle and other kinds of live stock, and that the general government will appoint a well qualified commission with power and means necessary to stamp out such destructive contagious diseases as may at present exist among the flocks and herds of our country.

COMMENCEMENT, COLUMBIA VETERINARY
COLLEGE.

The commencement exercises of the above institution took place at Chickering Hall, Friday evening, March 26th. The auditorium was well filled with students, graduates, and friends of the college. The audience, a large number of whom were ladies, manifested great interest during the entire proceedings. The stage, which was occupied by the faculty, trustees, and

invited guests, was elaborately decorated with beautiful floral designs and rare exotic plants. After an introductory overture by the orchestra, the names of the following gentleman were announced as having successfully passed the junior examination :

Mark L. Fry, Eli Judson Peck, William Soula, John Campbell Wallace, Emil N. Suvale, John H. Dancer, Louis Marks, Flavius Josephus Smith.

With a few appropriate remarks President Hadden presented each gentleman with a Junior Certificate, as evidence of his proficiency. The degree of Doctor of Veterinary Science was then conferred on John Lindsay, Long Island; Nathaniel Foote Thompson, N. Y. City; John Alex. McLaughlin, Jr., New Jersey; Charles D. House, New York. Honorary Degrees were conferred on Prof. Manly Miles and C. L. Hardin.

The awarding of the prizes was awaited with undisguised anxiety by the competitors and their friends; the names of the successful candidates being kept a profound secret until the owners were summoned on the platform to receive their reward from the hands of Prof. Hawkins.

The gold medal, awarded to the senior student taking highest rank on the general final examination, was bestowed on John Lindsay.

Honorable mention was made of John A. McLaughlin, Jr. The silver medal, designed for the student of the Junior Class showing highest proficiency on the final written examination, was awarded to Mark L. Fry.

In this connection honorable mention was made of John H. Dancer and John C. Wallace.

A valuable silver medal, presented by Prof. James Hamill to the student passing the best examination in the art of scientific shoeing, was awarded to John A. McLaughlin, Jr.

The anatomical prize, a case of instruments, offered to the student preparing the best anatomical specimen for the College Museum, was awarded to N. F. Thompson.

The jurisprudence prize was carried off by John Lindsay.

The Valedictory, which was of more than usual merit, and very ably delivered, was pronounced by Nathaniel Foote Thompson.

The exercises closed with an address from Prof. Fordyce Barker, of Bellevue Medical College, and an oration by Congressman Dr. Geo. B. Loring, of Massachusetts.

Owing to the shortness of time before going to press, we are compelled to dispense with even a brief report of the addresses, but they will appear in full in a future number.

Dr. Spitzka in his withdrawal from the editorship of this periodical expresses the hope that the same encouragement which has been kindly extended to himself be extended also to his

successor.

ANTHRAX AND THE GERM-THEORY OF DISEASE.

The distinguished president of the Societe de Biologie, M. Bert, suggests that there are two entirely distinct infectious elements in the blood of cattle perishing from anthrax; one, which is responsible for the virulent effects, is of a chemical nature, and is precipitated by alcohol; the other consists in the bacteria, and produces merely a local affection; it may, however, prove fatal. From his experiments, he concludes that the bacteria are neither the essential nor the necessary results of the disease, as there may be few bacteria, and an intense constitutional affection on the one hand, and many bacteria, but a less intense disease on the other. He is necessarily forced to the conclusion that two different affections are confounded as anthrax. The one is the genuine affection which is analogous in its virus to glanders and variola ; the other is micro-parasitic. Both conditions may,and frequently do co-exist, we presume because the" chemical" poison produces such a state of the blood as to render it a favorable soil for the developement of micrococci and bacilli. The researches of Mr. Bert

are to be considered as an important feature of the reaction which is now taking place against the over-strained germ-theory of disease. We have no doubt that a careful comparison of the results obtained by different observers will show that molecular movements and microcytes have frequently formed the basis for new "germ-theories" in some cases, and the accidental presence of bacteria, such as are found even normally in the oral mucus, in others (diphtheria). A judicious study of the finer chemistry of the fluids in infectious diseases would probably lead to more definite and more valuable results. The very remarkable discovery of Bollinger, that in the Emphysema contagiosum of the Bavarian cattle, marsh gas was produced in the subentaneous tissues as well as in the living blood and lymph, and the resistance which animals of certain species show to certain infectious diseases, are suggestive in this direction. Those provided with an acute sense of smell are well able to distinguish between the odors of the blood and parenchymatous fluids of the horse and cow, the cat and dog, man and the chick. We have been able to detect a specific odor of these fluids in many wild animals.* These differences in odor probably depend on subtle chemical differences, which may exert an influence on the reception of the more or less chemically complex body which constitutes the virus. It is remarkable in this connection that the specific odor of small-pox, scarlatina, measles (like freshly picked geese), and other diseases, are analogous to animal odors, or even can be identified with these.

* The bear and baboon have an odor which is a modification of that of the dog; the turtle, alligator, iguana, and snake can be classed together and resemble another sauropsidean, the bird. The frog, toad, and salamander, as well as the proteus, differ from the above, but resemble each other. The deer is more like the cow, the hippopotamus and elephant like the horse, the paca like the rabit, &c.

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I-CASE OF ACUTE ARTICULAR RHEUMATISM. By G. H. BERNS, D. V. S.,

CONSULTING SURGEON TO HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT COLUMBIA VETERINARY

COLLEGE.

On Thursday, November 14, 1879, about 4 P. M., a bay gelding, from 12 to 14 years old, and in good condition, the property of Messrs. Hetfield & Ducker, of Fulton street, Brooklyn, was brought to my Infirmary, suffering, as the owners thought, from flatulent colic.

The animal was very restless, pawing and stamping with his fore feet constantly, temperature but slightly elevated, respirations and pulsations increased in frequency, visible mucous membranes injected, pupils somewhat dilated.

Examination per rectum revealed a distended condition of the bladder, and as gentle pressure upon that organ did not cause the animal to void his urine, the catheter was employed, and a considerable quantity of a rather light-colored urine was drawn off.

Although the diagnostic symptoms of colic were absent, I concluded that there might be some abdominal irritation, and an anodyne and laxative drench was administered, composed as follows:

R., Tr. Opii. Aether Sulphuric one oz.; Olei Lini Oss.

Enemas of warm water were ordered, and patient sent home, with instructions to repeat the above drench in an hour, if the symptoms continued.

Saw my patient again at 7 o'clock; found him still pawing and neighing when his attendant approached; ears pricked; pupils fully dilated; temperature, 105. Respirations and pulse very much accelerated, conjunctiva and Schneidlerian membrane quite vascular. There were no kicking at the belly, no anxious looks to the flanks, no attempts to lay down, no passing of small quantities of fæces; in short, none of the characteristic symptoms of colic.

Administered 2 grs. of sulphate of morphia, and ordered Tr. aconite in 10 drops, and Tr. opium in 2 drachm doses, to be given every hour during the night.

Saw patient again at 9 A. M. the following day, and was told that he had been quiet all night; had drank a pail of water and eaten a few carrots.

The conjunctiva was still more vascular. Respirations, 40; pulse, 95, strong and corded; temp., 105. All the symptoms of excitement had disappeared; the pupils had become somewhat contracted (probably from the effects of the opium); he pre

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