170 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



and practicable method of immunizing exposed animals against this 

 disease. 



The demonstration of the occurrence of the bacillus of infectious 

 abortion in market milk, of its continued elimination with milk by 

 cows that have aborted, and that it causes well-marked, characteris- 

 tic lesions in small experiment animals, may throw much light on 

 the important question of infectious abortion among annuals, and has 

 added another argument to the many that have been discovered in 

 recent years in favor of the general pasteurization of the public milk 

 supply, as it is not yet known in what relation the abortion bacillus, 

 which can affect many species of animals, may stand to human 

 health. 



INVESTIGATING LOSSES OF SHEEP. 



Losses of sheep on the ranges of the West, through eating poison- 

 ous or narcotic plants such as the loco weed, and also from the dis- 

 eases known as bighead and necrobacillosis, have been very heavy. 

 The causes of these losses are being investigated by men of the Bu- 

 reau of Animal Industry who have been detailed to the affected 

 regions in order that they may study the outbreaks as they really 

 occur. 



DISEASES OF HORSES. 



Another matter which receives attention in the midst of the 

 affected area is swamp fever of horses, which occurs most seriously 

 in the lowlands of the river bottoms in the northern prairie States. 

 Forage poisoning of horses in the Middle West, as well as in several 

 of the Atlantic States, has for several years proved to be a baffling 

 and destructive disease and has received careful study, both in the 

 field and in the laboratory. Dourine among horses has suddenly 

 appeared on three or four occasions and has demanded prompt atten- 

 tion because of its contagious character. 



BABIES OF DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS. 



The supply of dogs and other animals affected with rabies seems 

 to be inexhaustible, and it is therefore necessar}' to make examina- 

 tions of suspected material without any cessation. It is safe to say 

 that many human lives have been saved through prompt and accurate 

 diagnosis in the case of animals that had bitten people, the persons 

 thus being informed when it was advisable for them to resort to the 

 Pasteur treatment to prevent the development of hydrophobia. 



Diseases of fowls and of pet stock are very important and are so 

 frequently referred to the bureau that one or more men are kept 

 constantly employed in dealing with them. 



