BUREAU OP ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 237 



the kitchen of the section in which the tuberculous insane were kept. 

 Six of the animals kept under these conditions were found to oe 

 tuberculous at autopsy, and from their lesions cultures were obtained 

 that were satisfactory for study. Of tliis number two cultures pre- 

 sented the characteristics of the human type of tubercle baciUi. 

 They were not rapidly fatal to rabbits, were more or less long, curved, 

 and beaded in conformation, and were prompt to produce visible 

 growth when planted upon culture media. The bacilli obtained from 

 the remaining four hogs were short and straight, and caused the 

 death of the test rabbits in from 19 to 22 days, thus demonstrating 

 their bovine origin. 



The ophthalmic and intradermal tests for the detection of tuber- 

 culosis in cattle have received additional attention. These methods 

 thus far have not proved sufficiently superior to the subcutaneous 

 injection of tuberculin to warrant their general application in prac- 

 tice, although they are still being tested whenever suitable opportu- 

 nities are offered. A special preparation known as "phymatin" has 

 been used in the ophthalmic test and has given better results than the 

 alcoholic-precipitated tubercuhn. The ophthalmic and intradermal 

 methods of applying the tuberculin test possess so many advantages, 

 especially in the simpUcity of reading the results, that the absolute 

 acceptance of either one would be a great aid in the eradication of 

 tuberculosis. Both methods obviate the laborious operation of tak- 

 ing temperatures repeatedly during the day after the injection, and 

 no preliminary temperatures are required. 



Determined efforts are being made in certain sections of the country 

 to eradicate tubercidosis from among the dairy cattle of those regions. 

 In the course of the tuberculin testing necessary for the accomplish- 

 ment of this desired end there will occasionally be found animals that 

 apparently react to tuberculin but in whose bodies no lesions of 

 tuberculosis can be found at the time of autopsy. Lymph glands from 

 a number of these cases have been forwarded to the Pathological 

 Division for bacteriological examination, and in many instances it is 

 found that the tuberculin reaction was correct, although the tuber- 

 culous lesions were not well advanced. In this class of cases the 

 demonstration of living tubercle bacilli within the tissues affords 

 sufficient justification of the tuberculin reaction. 



RABIES. 



The diagnosis of rabies by the examination of brain tissues of sus- 

 pected animals forwarded to the bureau forms an important part of 

 the routine work of the Pathological Division. During the fiscal year 

 raj^ies has been diagnosed from various sections within easy reach of 

 Washington, and by studying the histories of the cases it can be 

 readily understood how rabies may exist in an enzootic form where 

 a large number of animals have been bitten and no adequate meas- 

 ures for control instituted. An instance of this is seen in an enzootic 

 occurring in and near Glencoe, Baltimore County, Md., from which 

 place reports have been received of the death of many cows with 

 rabiform symptoms. 



The methoa of diagnosis by the detection of Negri bodies in the 

 hippocampus major has been used almost exclusively. Examination 

 of cnanges in the plexiform ganglia has not been resorted to in a single 

 instance. The inoculation of rabbits has been necessary in fewer 



