No. 6. 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



139 



DISEASES OF POUI/TRY INVESTIGATED AT THE LABORATORY 



DURING 1915 



Diagnoses Determined 



Rocoived alive, returned (). K., 



Eiiter;ti!i 



Ileiiiorrhiisie enteritis 



Snipiirating aUscess 



Foreifrn body abscess, 



Conlngious epithelioma 



Quail disease, 



Peritonitis 



Tutern.il liemorrhage, 



rniHin\(iniii 



I{u|itured cloaeac, 



Fowl diphtheria 



Impaction crop 



Tuberculosis, 



Feed experiment negative, 



Museum 



Bacteriological experiment negative. 



Diagnosis not established 



Decomposed and discarded, 



IS 



9 



3 I 2 1 



■••I 5j 



20 I 1 



11 



1 I 50 



RABIES. 



The rabies situation has been much improved. The wisdom and 

 good results that followed the policy adopted in 1914, relative to 

 the prompt establishment and rigid enforcement of general quaran- 

 tines, is shown in the reduction of the number of cases of rabies. 

 The reduction in our larger cities is particularly gratifying as it was 

 brought about largely by the co-operation of the local police of- 

 ficials and the prompt enforcement of their dog ordinances. 



Numerous cases of rabies in Pittsburgh and vicinity are not 

 brought to our attention. About the only cases we are able to in- 

 vestigate there are from newspaper reports. Toward the close of 

 the year satisfactory arrangements for the prompt reporting of all 

 cases have been made witli the officials of the city of Pittsburgh and 

 the authorities of Mercy Hospital. As the result of this arrange- 

 ment we hope to reduce the number of cases of rabies in that city 

 as has been done in other large cities. 



As in previous years, the methods used in determining the diag- 

 nosis proved entirely satisfactory. The methods given below outline 

 the routine followed in diagnosing these specimens, and in following 

 the same we are often able to make a report by telegram within an 

 hour after the specimen is received. 



1. Microscopical examination of smears from hippicampus ma- 

 jor and cerebellum. 



2. Microscopical examination of sections from hippicampus ma- 

 jor, cerebellum, plexiform and sympathetic ganglia. 



8. Diagnostic inoculations from hippocampus major and cere- 

 bellum. 



If the first examination is negative, the material is examined by 

 method No. 2. In case both No. 1 and No. 2 prove negative they are 

 followed by inoculation according to method No. 3. This is done, 



