122 ANNUAL EEPQKTS OF DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTUEE. 



RABIES. 



Specimens submitted for examination for rabies came principally 

 from Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, and the District 

 of Columbia. The number of cases in the District has perceptibly 

 diminished. Of 117 suspected cases a positive diagnosis was made in 

 75, and in one case the material was so decomposed that no diagnosis 

 was possible. The j^ositive cases were G9 dogs, 1 cat, 1 cattle, and 1 

 sheep. A considerable number of persons, as well as a number of 

 animals, had been bitten by the atfected animals. In every instance 

 in which a person had been bitten, animal inoculation was made when 

 the microscopic findings were iiegatiA'e. 



BLAClvLEG VACCINE. 



Vaccine for immunizing cattle against blackleg is still in great de- 



mand. During the 3'ear, 3.339,815 doses were distributed free of 

 charge to stock owners. The powdered form of vaccine that has 

 been prepared by the bureau for many years is the only form dis- 

 tributed. Filtrates and agg-ressins, which many stockmen find very 

 satisfactory in the immunization of their calves against blackleg, 

 are being submitted to very careful tests to see that they possess the 

 required protective qualities. 



EXAMINATION OF BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS. 



Cooperating with the Office of Virus-Serum Control, Avhich con- 

 ducts the regulatory work in connection with the supervision of vet- 

 erinary biological products under the virus-serum-toxin law, the 

 Pathological Division lias continued to carry out the testing of cer- 

 tain products. During the year there were submitted for examina- 

 tion 139 samples representing 30 different kinds of serums, bacterins, 

 vaccines, and germ-free filtrates. Forty-two of these, or 30 per cent, 

 were rejected for reasons such as contamination with foreign organ- 

 isms or their products, insufficient attenuation of bacteria used in 

 vaccines, and lack of potency. Three hundred and thirty -seven cul- 

 tures of organisms intended for use in the manufa( ture of biological 

 products were also examined, of v.hich 72, or 21 per cent, were re- 

 jected because of contaminations and atypical cultural characteris- 

 tics. The division also furnished to biological houses from its stock 

 cultures many organisms of various t3'pes to be used in the manufac- 

 ture of their products. The suggestions made to the various firms 

 relative to their products, together with the report of the division 

 findings in each instance, have served to induce greater accuracy in 

 identifying cultures and testing their products, as it is exceedingly 

 rare to find a second sample imsatisfactory to test. The eifect of 

 such work is to exclude from the market unsuitable and impotent 

 products and in some instances products that are even dangerous to 

 the live-stock industry. 



POULTRY DISEASES. 



Extensive outbreaks of a highly infectious disease of jx)ultry were 

 reported from some of the Eastern States. Carcasses of fowls sub- 

 mitted to the laboratory for examination were found to be affected 

 Avith fowl tyj)h.oid, a disease quite similar to fowl cholera, tliough 

 caused bv a different microorganism. In severe outbreaks it is 



