110 ANNUAL EEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUKE. 



determined by laboratory study, and advice was given on methods 

 for eradication. 



Material received gave opportunity for special study of infectious 

 leukemia, fowl typhoid, and entero-hepatitis of turkeys. A pro- 

 tozoan organism similar in type to the coccidium but very much 

 larger was found in two outbreaks of coccidiosis in baby chicks. 

 These outbreaks were characterized by their acuteness and by marked 

 intestinal hemorrhage. Research with the limited material at hand 

 has not led to the identification of the organism. 



The intradermal test for the detection of Bacteriuin pullorum 

 infection in fowls was improved by the emplG3^ment of a product 

 precipitated with absolute alcohol from, a bouillon culture of the 

 organism and subsequently dissolved in a volume of carbolized dis- 

 tilled water equal to one-fifth the original volume of the culture. 

 The test compared favorably with the agglutination test and was 

 much simpler and less expensive to conduct. Work on this subject 

 was reported in Department Bulletin 517, "An Intradermal Test for 

 Bacterium Pullorum Infection in Fowls." 



Experiments on the prevention and treatment of white diarrhea 

 of baby chicks due to Bacterium pullorunfi infection, by means of an 

 antiserum, gave negative results. 



AUTOPSIES ON WILD ANIMALS. 



Within the year 122 specimens of wild animals from the National 

 Zoological Park were received for post-mortem examination. This 

 material included a rather wide variety of species belonging to the 

 three classes, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Of 6 reptiles, 3 were 

 affected with enteritis, 1 with intestinal necrosis, 1 with multiple 

 tumors, and 1 was undetermined. Of 71 birds, 14 were affected 

 with enteritis, 3 with gastro-enteritis, 1 with fibroma of intestines, 3 

 with pneumonia, 2 with anemia (cachexia), 2 with hemorrhage, 9 

 with tuberculosis, 6 with aspergillosis, 1 with septicemia, 20 with 

 quail disease, and 10 were undetermined. Of 45 mammals, 9 were 

 affected with enteritis, 1 with gastritis, 12 with gastro-enteritis, 3 

 with peritonitis, 4 with pneumonia, 5 with anemia (cachexia), 1 

 Avith hemorrhage, 4 with tuberculosis, 1 with septicemia, 1 with 

 uremia, 2 had been killed as unfit for exhibition, and 2 were unde- 

 termined. In several instances in which bacteriologic examination 

 of tissues of animals were made the causal organisms of the affections 

 were definitely determined. 



CONTROL OF BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS. 



Although the regulatory work in connection with the supervision 

 of veterinary biological products under the virus-serum-toxin law of 

 1913 is performed by the Office of Virus-Serum Control, the Patho- 

 logical Division has continued to carry out the testing of the various 

 products other than mallein, tuberculin, and hog-cholera serum and 

 virus. During the year 281 samples were examined, of which 21, rep- 

 resenting 12 products made by 8 establishments, were found unsatis- 

 factory. 



