No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 1«3 



we use subcutaneous mallein. In the control of this disease, how- 

 ever, we are not satisfied to depend upon any one test and all horses 

 except those showing positive physical symptoms of the disease are 

 submitted to the ophthalmic test and the complement-fixation and 

 agglutination tests before they are destroyed or released from quar- 

 antine. 



Serum tests are highly satisfactory with the exception of the fact 

 that mules in most instances give an atypical complement-fixation 

 reaction, which makes it necessary that an investigator working on 

 these animals should have had a sufficient amount of experience to 

 enable him to distinguish between an atypical reaction and the true 

 complement-fixation reaction occurring in animals sutfering from 

 the disease. The Laboratory examined serum from 2512 horses and 

 mules during the year 1915. Ten specimens of pus or diseased tis- 

 sue from suspected glanders were examined during the same time. 

 Every horse or mule condemned by any of these tests has been autop- 

 sied unless the case showed positive physical symptoms and in every 

 case unmistakable lesions of the disease were found. 



A physical case of glanders is condemned and destroyed at once 

 and the premises cleaned and disinfected under official supervision. 

 The exposed stock is placed under provisional quarantine and tested. 

 If no further cases are discovered and everything indicates that the 

 case was one of ''street infection" we revoke the quarantine and 

 close the case. If, however, several cases are found when the ex- 

 posed animals are tested, these cases are disposed of as quickly as 

 possible and the stable retested after a lapse of sixty days. If no 

 cases are found at the time the retest is applied the case is closed. 

 If, however, additional cases are found the stable is continued under 

 quarantine for subsequent retests and further cleaning and disin- 

 fecting. Should the source of infection be located in another stable 

 it is handled in the same manner as outlined above. 



The following table shows the extent and general distribution of 

 the disease for two years: 



