were set in a very little water near the south window of our botanical laboratory. During a part of August the weather was unusually cool, but at other times and in September it was very warm. The sand was exposed in this way, drying out once or twice, till the middle of November when it was dried and kept in a cool room over winter and not disturbed till June 25, 1885.

This was the first freezing to which any of the seeds had been exposed. On the date last given the sand was again moistened and exposed in test plates. Some seeds germinated promptly and were occasionally removed for about three weeks when, on the 21st of July, the sand was well dried in the sun from the next day till July 25. The sand was again moistened during very warm weather when two seeds, besides those below marked, germinated. These two were both those of pepper grass.

The sand will still be kept over next winter and again tested.

If we are unable to give good reasons for the long time required for some seeds to germinate, we cannot fail to see that it is beneficial to the plants. If all started promptly at once, they would crowd each other and most must perish. If they come straggling along at different times some of them will find favorable conditions for growth and the production of more seeds, one good crop of which will stock the earth for years to come.

Amaranthus retroflexus, L. Pigweed, 19 germinated in 1884, 2 in 1885. Ambrosia artemisiafolia, L. Rag-weed, 0 germinated certainly. Several empty rotton coverings or shells were seen.

Brassica nigra, Koch. Black mustard, O certainly.

Bromus secalinus, L. Chess cheat, O certainly. Several old kernels, with chaff adherent, were found, but all were decayed and empty. In at least three instances one or more dead slender roots were found, showing that they had sprouted and died while in the bottles under ground.

About the next two species there was some confusion, but certainly some of each germinated in 1884 and in 1885.

I give the numbers about in the right proportion.

Capsella Bursa-pastoris, Moench. Shepherd's Purse, 43 in 1884, 7 in 1885. Lepidium Virginicum, L. Peppergrass, 36 in 1884, 11 in 1885.

Erechthites hieracifolia, Rof. Fire weed, such as springs up freely about new clearings, O certainly.

Euphorbia maculata, L.

Spotted spurge, O certainly. In 1884 quite a number of seeds were found and they seemed plump and sound, but none sprouted.

Lychnis Githago, Lam. Common cockle, such as infests wheat fields, 0 certainly. Many old empty coverings were seen.

Anthemis Cotulu, L. May-weed, 14 germinated in 1884, 12 in 1885.

Malva rotundifolia, L. Common mallow, 1 (?) germinated. Many empty

seed-coats were seen.

Oenothera biennis, L. Evening Primrose, 40 germinated in 1884, 1 in

1885.

Plantago major, L. Common broad-leaved plantain, 0 certainly. Some empty seed-coats seen.

Polygonum Hydropiper, L. Smart-weed, 3 certainly. Many empty seed

coats were seen.

Portulaca oleracea, L. Purslane, 19 germinated in 1884.

Quercus rubra, L. Red oak, 0 certainly. All dead after three years. Rumex Crispus, L. Narrow or curled dock, 44 germinated in 1884, 1 in

Selaria glauca, Beauv. Fox-tail. Pigeon-grass. This is the species requirstarting last of the two common weeds; 13 germi

ing most heat and the one nated in 1884, 21 in 1885. Stellaria media, Smith. Thuja occidentalis, L. empty seed-coats seen.

Trifolium repens, L. White clover, 2 in 1884. This small number is quite surprising.

Verbascum Thapsus, L. Common mullein, 38 germinated in 1884, 4 in

1885.

NOTE-AS will be seen, the above experiment is not yet complete, but the new law demands of me two bulletins a year, and with the short time for preparation this is the best I can do.

July 31, 1885.

W. J. BEAL,

Prof. Bolany and Forestry.

BULLETIN NO. 6.-VETERINARY DEPARTMENT.

DISEASES OF FARM ANIMALS.

In compliance with section 2, of an act passed by the Legislature recently adjourned, providing for the dissemination of information gathered by certain departments of this college, I beg to submit for consideration, some very favorable results, I have obtained from the application of cold, wet packing, in the treatment of parturient apoplexy, or milk-fever. Before, however, taking up the practical part of the subject, I may be pardoned, if I notice some of the chief characteristics by which this disease may be recognized; for this is a complaint which is not familiar, except indeed, by name alone, to many of those breeders who only raise one or two animals annually, and unfortunately the number of animals that are invaded by it, is on the increase from year to year, in direct ratio with the improvement in milch cattle. It is very important that it should be detected, as soon as it makes its appearance, for I do not know of any disease where the old adage of a "Stitch in time, etc.," can be more appropriately applied, than to the one under consideration, and the remedy which I shall further on allude to, has in those instances that I have applied it, "nipped the disease in the bud."

SYMPTOMS.

In those cases which I have had an opportunity of observing in the early stage, the first evidence of something being wrong was an exhibition of general restlessness, and loss of appetite, accompanied in many instances by rigors, or in other words a chill; which is often more or less confined to the hind quarters; this is usually followed by what is called by veterinarians, paddling of the hind feet, which consists in an uneasy movement of them, during which they are lifted, first one, then the other, from the ground, and put down again, not exactly with a kick, but rather a paddling like motion. At this stage there is usually a profuse discharge of tears from the eyes, the countenance is one of anxiety and distress, when singularly enough, the mother seems

to lose all interest in her offspring, and will not notice it. If the affected animal is required to walk, it will do so with a staggering gait, or will even drop behind, and fall down.

The secretion of milk is much diminished, or perhaps stopped altogether. The above may be considered as the symptoms of the first stage, to be followed, however, in somewhat rapid succession by those of

THE SECOND STAGE,

In which paralysis, and impairment of those organs which control consciousness are most noticeable. The unfortunate animal will lie or fall down, and is often unable to rise, although it may make frequent attempts to do so, but eventually gives up, completely discouraged. At this point the head will be flung around to the right side and kept there persistently. The muscles upon the side of the neck become firmly contracted; even when the head is brought, by force, into its natural position a sort of kink will appear in the side of the neck towards which the head is thrown, and which I have seen remain for some days after the animal was able to walk about. In other instances I have seen cases where the animals would rest their heads upon their horns, thrown back against the floor. In these cases care must be taken by the attendant to prevent the animals from breaking off the flints, or horn cores, by the force they occasionally use in flinging their heads about.

IN THE THIRD STAGE

The animal drops into a profound sleep, when it will lie almost motionless, breathing it may be, with a loud, snoring sound, the cheeks becoming inflated at every expiration, things go from bad to worse until death eventually closes the scene. Once in a while, though, one will meet with a case where this profound sleep appears to do the animal a great deal of good, for it will awaken, to make a rapid recovery.

The foregoing manifestations, together with others, not perhaps so perceptible, will be observed to a greater or less extent in every pure case of this disease.

TREATMENT.

Before describing the manner of applying the pack I would like to say a few words as to how I came to adopt this form of treatment. In short, some time ago I was called upon to visit a cow attacked with some unknown disease (unknown to the owner.) I was not long in determining that I had a case of parturient appoplexy to deal with, but in passing my hand over the animal's body, during my examination, I observed it to be bedewed with moisture, which I thought was water, it being a wet day, and asked the owner how he came to leave so sick a cow out in the rain; to which he replied that "she had not been out in the rain, but had been in the stable where I was then examining her, since she was first taken." I must admit I was somewhat astonished, but a closer examination revealed that the moisture was sweat from the skin, and not rain-water. This most unusual occurrence caused me to reflect before proceeding with my usual treatment, but soon concluded that nature was doing all she could to throw off, as it were, the disease, and did not feel disposed to interfere, with any of my own medicaments, but rather tried to help nature in her effort, by placing plenty of dry straw around the cow, and a light, warm blanket over her, and after attending to some of her more immediate wants,

it being late at night, I left her, not before, however, telling the owner to come for me if she showed any evidence of not progressing favorably, and explained to him why I did not there and then give the cow some medicine. The next morning she was much better, and in the afternoon was able to walk about, although paralyzed and unable to rise the night before. With careful feeding she made an excellent recovery. This case and others have made a very strong impression on me that the diaphoretic (a remedy which causes a discharge of perspiration from the skin) form of treatment is the sheet anchor in this disease, but the difficulty was to get one, whose virtues were not more than counterbalanced by other circumstances. I have often longed to try the Turkish bath, in these cases; unfortunately this kind of diaphoretic, is not one that can be carried about conveniently, so that it becomes impracticable. I have tried the hot blanket with variable success. The difficulty with them is the trouble of applying them properly, and it is hard to get attendants to make the changes at the proper times, or to do so in such a way as to prevent the animal from getting a chill; then the hot water is often inconvenient, the boiler perhaps being some distance from the stable, with many minor difficulties, perhaps too numerous to mention. The cold wet pack has from time to time been brought under my notice, and eventually I was induced to try it, and I must say that in my experience it has done all that could be desired. Then it can always be procured; not only that, but it can be procured readily, which is an invaluable advantage in this disease, for before the malady has had time to prostrate the animal, you have it headed off as it were, and before other remedies would have time to act, with this one the animal is often on a fair way towards recovery.

Before applying the cold wet pack, the owner or attendant must make up his mind to do the work thoroughly, or perhaps it will be better not to do it at all. So for the benefit of those who wish to try it, I shall now describe the manner in which I proceeded in detail. Before putting on the sheet I consider it a good plan to rub the animal, say for four inches on both sides of the centre of the spine, and from the withers to the tail, with the best mustard, made up as for table use, and rub in for about fifteen minutes. This may be left on for two days. To apply the pack, take say a bed sheet and ring it out of cold water and wrap it around the cow; every part but the head may be covered; if one sheet is not large enough sew two together. On top of the sheet place say two pair of the lightest and warmest blankets that can be obtained. Nothing could be better than these light cotton batting comforters, so popular now in every household. Over all place an oilcloth of some kind, or other close fabric that will keep the heat in. Those parts of the body, the legs, etc., which are not covered by the sheet must be covered with straw, or other material, for they must be kept warm. In the course of half an hour or so after the pack has been applied, the body will be thrown into a profuse perspiration, and will continue so for an hour or so, but as soon as the skin begins to get cool, then preparation must be made for a second pack, and the changing must be quickly affected, or too long exposure will do more harm than the next pack will do good. If the wet sheets can be changed without removing the top coverings, all the better. Some animals are exceedingly restless during the progress of this disease, and it is these that give so much trouble, and require constant watching to keep the pack in its place. Others will show much uneasiness of the head, which may be modified by tieing cold wet cloths around and across their horns. With regard to the length of time the pack requires to be applied I cannot say; in my own experience the symptoms have always

been relieved in twelve hours, some times in half that time. After it is taken off care must be taken that the skin is kept moderately warm. While the symptoms last the cow must be kept from throwing itself over on its side; this may be done by packing sacks filled with straw against its sides. The milk should be drawn several times a day, and the bladder emptied; this latter operation generally requires the assistance of a veterinarian to show the attendant how to do it. When certain complications occur, such as distention of the rumen with gas, etc., the remedies which are calculated to relieve them must be used, but I think these should be left to a veterinary surgeon. But to return once more to the pack I may say that I have had experience with it which justifies me in saying that it will often overcome the disease without any other treatment, and even if it does not in all instances, it will at all events keep it in abeyance until proper veterinary assistance can be procured. When the animal recovers it should be fed for a few days, say a week, on soft diet and receive a little daily exercise.

Since the above was put in type I have received the following account of some experiments I tried in the spring to prevent abortion. Mr. Turner's communication speaks for itself, and does not require comment from me, except that I think great credit is due to him for persevering with the treatment as he did in the case of the pure Hereford heifer:

E. A. A. Grange, Veterinary Surgeon:

MY DEAR SIR :-In reply to your request for information as to the effect of the viburnum prunifoleum (black haw) which you prescribed for our cows threatening abortion, I am pleased to say that the results were highly satisfactory. We have had in all, I believe, twenty-two cows and one mare to which we administered the remedy with final recovery in all cases but two. In addition to the above cases regularly treated, we had about thirty-five heifers to which we administered the remedy as a preventive, the herdsman thinking that he discovered in them a slight tendency to the disorder. As you know the abortion at our farm was in some respects peculiar, the cows beginning at from five to seven months to have every outward appearance of approaching full term, springing bag, etc., in such a way that we should think nothing wrong were it not for many of them showing in this way for three weeks before the premature birth would occur; before or after which the cows showed no signs of illness, eating well and appearing bright and all right every way. Two calves that came at seven months were well cared for and saved all right, and are now as thrifty as any young ones; but all others were lost up to the time that you gave me the prescription of black_haw, since which I begin treatment as you directed as soon as an animal shows the first symptoms, giving two ounces of the powder two or three times daily to each animal affected, and continuing usually for about a week, after which we have usually had no trouble, and the cows have carried to full term all right. In the case of the pure Hereford cow that you saw we had more trouble, as she was so persistent in her efforts to abort that we continued the treatment until we had given her seven pounds of the powder before she resumed her normal condition. We also tried the remedy with a Clydesdale mare that came in one day from work with distended udder, and every appearance of early approaching parturition, although it was only about eight months since she was covered by the horse. I ordered her taken out of the team and given rest in a paddock, and administered two-ounce doses three times daily of the viburnum, which was administered for five days, since which she has appeared all right. The experience I have had thus far leads me to think you have finally discovered a specific for the destroying malady, and I think if taken in time few cases will be found that cannot be controlled by your prescription. Yours Truly,

SPRINGDALE FARM, Lansing, Mich., Aug. 19, 1885.

September 1, 1885.

JAMES M. TURNER.