lung abscesses from 3 carcases in a survey of 73 bovine pneumonic lungs (Johnston and Sim- mons 1963).

Grossly the older lesions resembled those of bovine tuberculosis (Bishop and Fenstermacher 1933; Awad 1958; Awad and Karib 1958; Cohrs 1967; Jubb and Kennedy 1970). Many of the lesions were suspected as being those of tuber- culosis (Table 1). As half of the lesions were found in the thoracic cavity, infection may have occurred by the respiratory route.

summary From 280 lesions from normal cattle at

slaughter, 10 were found to contain thin, branch- ing, Gram-positive organisms belonging to the Ncrcardiu/Sfrept~myces group and this was con- firmed by culture in 3 cases. Macroscopically, the older lesions were similar in appearance to those of tuberculosis. Microscopically, all lesions contained numerous foreign body giant cells and thin, branching organisms. The older lesions also contained areas of necrosis, caseation, mineralisation and fibrosis.

Acknowledgments The author is grateful to Mr W. T. K. Hall,

Mr K. F. Trueman and Miss A. Thomas for assistance in the preparation of this communica- tion.

References Awad, F. I. (1958)-J. comp. Path. 68: 324. Awad, F. I. and Karib, A. A. (1958)--261. vet. Med.

Bishop, L. M. and Fenstermacher, R. (1933)--Corizell Vet. 23: 288.

Bruhl, H. G. (1963)-Aust. vet. J. 39: 305. Cohrs, P. (1967)-“Textbook of the Special Patho-

logical Anatomy of the Domestic Animals”. 1st English edn, Pergamon Press, Oxford.

Johnston, L. A. Y. and Connole, M. D. (1962)--Azisi. vet. J. 38: 462.

Johnston, L. A. Y. and Simmons, G. C. (1963)--A~ist. vet. J . 39: 290.

Jubb. K. V. F. and Kennedv. P. C. 11970~-“Patholo~v

5: 265, abstr. in Vet . Bull. (1958) 28: 635.

of‘ the Domestic Animals”. Vol. 11,‘ 2nd edit&, Academic Press, New York.

Mostafa, I. E. (1967)-J. cump. Path. 77: 223. Munch-Petersen. E. (1954)-dust. ver. J . 30: 297. Tammemagi, L.; Si&ons,‘G. C., Kelman, R. and Hall,

(Received for publicatiori 3 November 1975)

W. T. K. (1973)--Aust. vet. J. 49: 507.

BOOK REVIEW BALLINA REFRESHER COUWE

The Ballina Refresher Course of the Post-Graduate Committee of the University of Sydney presented a variety of subjects at the meeting at the Agriculture Centre at Wollongbar, New South Wales. The Guest Lecturer was J. S. Wilkinson of the Faculty of Veterin- ary Science, University of Melbourne.

Dr Wilkinson’s presentation was on selected organ function tests, with special reference to microscopic examination of blood, joint and peritoneal fluids, urine and faeces; estimation of plasma constituents such as urea, protein, creatinine, glucose, calcium, phosphorus and enzymes; urine analysis; excretion of dyes as indica- tors of renal and hepatic function; and absorption of materials from the gut to measure gut function. The background physiology and pathology are discussed in this very useful compilation.

The vicissitudes of vaccination form the basis of Arthur Webster’s contribution on the use and abuse of veterinary vaccines in small and large animals, with practical aspects of immunity. His long experience with the development, manufacturing and marketing of vac- cines have made him uniquely qualified to discuss this most important aspect of the application of preventive veterinary medicine. His paper answers many of the

* Ballina Refresher Course. Post-Graduate Committee in Veterin- ary Science of the University of Sydney 280 Pitt Street Sydney New South Wales. Proceedings No. 26,’1975. $5 for sdbscriber; to the Foundation, $8 others.

queries which worry both the practitioner and the departmental veterinarian.

Skin diseases of horses come in great variety and complexity and present problems in diagnosis and treat- ment, as well as appeasing the client! Reg Pascoe has had a long experience with these diseases and his special interest in them is attested by the very helpful collection of coloured photographs which accompany his paper. It should be recalled that he has produced, for the Committee, a very good Veterinary Review on Equine Dermatoses, which covers much of the material presented at the Ballina Course-have you a copy?

Professor Trevor McClure, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, gives a full review of nutritional and metabolic infertility of grazing cattle, which includes an extensive bibliography, thereby ful- filling one of the many objectives of continuing educa- tion, that is directing the reader/listener to further refer- ence material.

The 4 contributions to this course include material difficult to locate readily elsewhere, presented in attrac- tive form -truly instructional and precisely the kind of continuing education fitted for the “short course”. There is scope for many more Ballinas!

As with all of the Proceedings of refresher courses presented by the Post-Graduate Committee there is a full index which enables the easy location of the topics presented.

H. McL. Gordon

Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 52, October, 1976 4.57