240 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



meconium. The 'infection probably reaches the uterus by passing through 

 the cervix from the vagina before the seal is formed and persisting there 

 throughout pregnancy. 



"During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1919, 145 blood samples have 

 been sent to this laboratory to be tested for Bad. abortus anti-bodies. 

 The following shows the reactions obtained by the complement-fixation 

 test: 96 samples were negative; 41 were positive; 5 gave a partial reaction; 

 and 3 were not fit to be tested due to decomposition. 



"Besides the work on abortion a number of specimens have been 

 received from various parts of the State for bacteriological examination. 

 There are no records showing what was done in that line prior to my 

 return from the army. 



"Since February 10, 1919, 19 specimens have been examined. The 

 following gives the results of the examinations: 



Hemorrhagic septicemia 5 cases 



Pyemic infection -. 3 cases 



Tuberculosis '. . . . 1 case 



Actinomycosis 1 case 



Infectious mastitis . , 1 case 



"Two specimens were tumors and were turned over to Dr. Hallman for 

 diagnosis. 



"The six remaining specimens were of such a nature that no diagnosis 

 could be made." 



Aside from our efforts to maintain the pure research problems sup- 

 ported by the Adams funds, it has not been possible to accomplish much 

 along investigational lines except to give proper attention to routine 

 matters and satisfy the demands made upon us by our correspondents. 



Miss Northrup has been able to continue her studies into the nature 

 of food decompositions. She has the following report to make on the work 

 done by herself and under her direction: 



"Report on Studies of Spoiled Human and Stock Foods for the Fiscal 

 Year. 



"A quart can of spoiling corn was brought into the laboratory to 

 ascertain if possible the cause of the peculiar type, of spoilage. The corn 

 in the can appeared to the eye to be undergoing a sort of cellulose de- 

 composition. There was no unpleasant odor and the taste was but little 

 if any different from that of a good product. The consistency was very 

 different, however; the kernels felt rather slimy, the inside portion slip- 

 ped out of the seed coat like a grape out of its skin and felt smooth to 

 the tongue. On standing gas production was noticed. No bacteria were 

 observed in hanging drop. Cultures were made in various media but good 

 growth was observed only on starch agar and anaerobically in tubes of 

 sterile corn. An organism was isolated from starch agar and the fol- 

 lowing morphological and cultural determinations made. 



Morphology: Short rods in pairs or short chains often appearing like 



a streptococcus, single only occasionally. 



Starch agar slant: 24 hr. very fine, nearly translucent, pale white, round 

 colonies; moderate spreading growth. 12 da., very fine beaded growth; 

 no starch was decomposed. 



Dextrose agar slant: Round, white individual colonies, largerj^thail 

 on starch agar; growth moderate to abundant. 12 da., very fine beaded 

 growth resembling streptococcus colonies, somewhat opalescent, growth 

 practically covering the slant. 



