102 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



method of vaccination may be used safely under certain conditions; 

 these conditions cannot be followed profitably or safely at present by 

 the average hog raiser. 



The State furnishes serum free to the farmers where the disease 

 exists. It must be used by one who knows the disease and has been 

 trained in administering the remedy. 



Rabies is found in most all sections of Pennsylvania. It effects all 

 live-stock and occasionally poultry. Carniverous animals are the 

 most predisposed to it and are the ones that spread it. There has 

 been nothing new discovered in reference to handling this disease. 

 The laboratory diagnosis is considered positive. It is believed that 

 but few mistakes are made in ascertaining whether the animal was 

 or was not effected with the disease. Where a case of rabies is sus- 

 pected, the head of the animal may be sent to the laboratory of the 

 State Livestock Sanitary Board in Philadelphia and within twenty- 

 four hours the shipper can be notified definitely whether or not the 

 case is rabies. This information is frequently asked for and is of 

 vast importance in cases where persons have been bitten by animals 

 suspected of having rabies. There has not been as much rabies dur- 

 ing the past year as in some previous years. It is customary to kill 

 animals that have been bitten by dogs that were known to have had 

 the disease. The State allows no indemnity for damage done to stock 

 by rabid dogs. It is possible in some cases to indemnify the owners 

 for such losses from the local dog tax fund. It is also possible to 

 have the Pasteur treatment given to poor people and pay for it out 

 of the same fund. The most effectual way to control rabies would 

 be to destroy the worthless, homeless dogs. This would be a blessing 

 to the sheep industry, as well as assist greatly in preventing the 

 spread of rabies. It would seem that there might be some just law 

 provided that would compel people to confine dogs that are kept as 

 pets or for pleasure and force the killing of those that are homeless 

 or uncared for. 



Contagious abortion in cattle is still receiving much study. 

 Breeders are becoming more familiar with the way the disease is 

 conveyed from farm to farm and from animal to animal, and more 

 effectual sanitary precautions are being practiced in breeding herds. 



A rather extensive experiment was tried during the past two years 

 in the use of medicated methyline blue as a cure for the disease. 

 Many inquiries were received in reference to the treatment which 

 had been mentioned in a number of the dairy papers. The treatment 

 was first recommended by Dr. Eich, of Vermont, and the State sup- 

 plied with medicine with instructions for its use. Some of our 

 breeders claim to have had good results with the treatment, but the 

 evidence collected altogether has shown to be of no practical benefit. 

 The most effectual method known for combatting the disease is in 

 the line of antiseptics. Considerable work has been done by the State 

 in reference to diagnosing the disease. It has been found that the 

 blood examination or what is known as the complement fixation test 

 will show the infected animals in a high percentage of cases. When 

 the diseased animals are known, can be isolated and kept under anti- 

 septic conditions, it is possible to keep the disease from spreading to 

 other members in the herd and advantage can be taken of the fact 

 that aborting animals usually develop an immunity. They seldom 

 abort the second time and it is very unusual to find one that aborts 



