138 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



base definite conclusions as to its efficacy in this disease. In general, 

 if serum is to be of any value it nuist be used in the very early stages 

 of the disease or before the develoj>ment of symptoms, and then, 

 unless the type of organism responsible for the disease is known, a, 

 bivalent serum should be used. 



OTHER RESEARCH WORK. 



Microscopic examination of tubercular lesions in lymph glands of 

 swine slaughtered at an establishment under Federal meat inspection 

 revealed quite constantly the presence of acid-fast bacilli resembling 

 tubercle bacilli. Many guinea pigs were used for inoculation tests, 

 but in no instance did lesions of tuberculosis or any other disease 

 develop. Cultures from the original material in one case developed 

 into a tuberculosislike growth on hemoglobin-agar and Dorset's egg 

 medium. With this culture slight glandular lesions and enlargement 

 of the spleen were jDroduccd in guinea pigs, a local abscess in ral)bits 

 inoculated subcutancously, and nodules on the peritoneum of hens 

 and pigeons inoculated intraperitoneal ly. Other experiments on 

 calves and hogs are in progress. Tuberculin manufactured from cul- 

 tiires of this bacillus gives positive results to intradermic tests in 

 guinea pigs infected with the organism ; it also produces death in 

 such guinea pigs when injected intraperitoneally. Up to the present 

 it can not be definitely announced that this organism is a type of 

 tubercle bacillus. 



Tavo outbreaks of specific edematous emphysema in hogs occurred 

 within the last year on the same premises in the District of Columbia. 

 In each instance the infection followed hog-cholera vaccination. 

 From the local lesion there was recovered an anaerol^ic bacillus Avhich 

 corresponded quite closely in morphological, cultural, and pathogenic 

 properties to the bacillus of Ghon and Sachs described by Koves in 

 Hungary and Myer in this country. This organism lies intermedi- 

 ately between the blackleg bacillus and the malignant edema bacillus. 

 The disease produced by the organism has been referred to as black- 

 leg of swine and as specific gas phlegmon of hogs. 



DIAGNOSIS OF DOURINE, GLANDERS, TUBERCULOSIS, AND RABIES. 



The complement-fixation test has continued to be extensively em- 

 ployed in the diagnosis oi dourine, 18,468 samples of blood serum 

 having been tested, of which 257 gave positive reactions. 



Cooperative work for the control of glanders in the various States 

 was continued. The complement-fixation test was applied to 830 sam- 

 ples of blood serum forwarded by various State officials and prac- 

 ticing veterinarians, and 47 of these samples gave positive reactions. 



Laboratory examinations have been made of selected tissues from 

 799 cattle in wdiich no visible lesions of tuberculosis were found at 

 time of slaughter, even though they had previously given positive 

 reaction to the tuberculin test. Tubercle bacilli were demonstrated 

 in 197 cases, while none could be found in the specimens from the 

 remaining 602. 



A marked reduction in the number of suspected cases of rabies 

 submitted for examination was noted, the total number being 79 

 against 117 cases the year before. These cases came principally from 



