232 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



continued throughout the past year under the supervision of Dr. 

 Thomas A. AUcn, bureau inspector in Porto Rico, and Dr. Victor A. 

 Norgaard. territorial veterinarian and bureau inspector in Hawaii. 

 Tlie control of glanders and tuberculosis has received special consid- 

 eration in Hawaii. 



THE PATHOLOGICAL DIVISION. 



The Pathological Division, of wliich Dr. Jolm R. Moliler is chief, 

 is mainly engaged in the scientific investigation of animal diseases. 



COMPLEMENT-FIXATION TEST FOR GLANDERS. 



Prominent among the new lines of laboratory investigation con- 

 ducted by this division may be mentioned the complement^fixation 

 test as applied to the diagnosis of glanders. The results obtained 

 from the use of this method have been very satisfactory and have 

 proved it to be most reliable in the detection of occult or latent cases 

 of glanders. 



As a result of the recent publication of Bulletin 136, descriptive 

 of this test, different State and city laboratories have undertaken the 

 work of applpng it to the diagnosis of glanders, the bureau furnishing 

 detailed information to all those interested in the work, and also 

 material (glanders bacilli extract or hemolytic amboceptors) neces- 

 sary for the test. 



Samples of blood from horses suspected of being affected with 

 glanders have been received and tested daily at the laboratory. 

 About 1,500 tests have thus been made. The results show the speci- 

 ficity of the test, as normal horses and those affected with diseases 

 other than glanders gave no reaction, while those affected with glan- 

 ders gave positive fixations. 



A modification of the agglutination test has been employed in a 

 large number of cases in conjunction with the complement-fixation 

 test, to great advantage. In this modification the agglutination in 

 the test tubes is hastened by centrifu^alization, and the results may 

 be read after the tubes have been placed in an incubator for two 

 hours. Thus the two tests can be worked together without much 

 difficulty and greater accuracy of diagnosis can thereby be secured. 



GLANDERS IN LIONS. 



Blood from a Uon belonging to a circus troupe passing through 

 Kansas and Iowa was forwarded to this laboratory for examination. 

 The veterinarian in charge supplied the foLIo\ving information: 



Bleeding from the nose, ulcers in tie nostrils, sores on the legs, face, feet, and back. 

 Condition has existed for some six weeks. Twelve other lions similarly affected. 



The serum of tliis blood gave positive results to both complement- 

 fixation and agglutination tests for glanders. Cases of glanders in 

 zoolo^cal gardens among the carnivora are not infrequent, and in 

 most instances the disease assumes an enzootic form. The animals 

 of the feline family are more susceptible than those belonging to the 

 canine family. In almost all outbreaks the feeding of meat of horses 

 affected with glanders was the medium by which the disease was 

 disseminated. 



