BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 31 



In Texas 418,566 cattle were inspected and identified by brands as 

 originating outside of the quarantined district and were permitted to 

 be moved for grazing to Northern States. 



Scabies in sheep. — The number of sheep inspected in stock yards, 

 at feeding stations, and at many places throughout the West, in order 

 to prevent the shipment of sheep aif ected with or that had been exijosed 

 to scabies, amounted to 11,186,661. The number of sheep dipped 

 under the supervision of Bureau inspectors was 1,017,162. The num- 

 ber of cars cleaned and disinfected was 791. For shipments of sheep 

 that were found free of infection certificates of inspection were given. 



BIOCHEMIC DIVISION. 



The routine work of this division in the jjreparation and shipment 

 of tuberculin and mallein has been continued. Large quantities of 

 tuberculin have been shipped, and a large amount of mallein has been 

 supplied, especially to the War Department and to State officials 

 entitled to receive it. According to the records, about 55,000 doses of 

 tuberculin have been sent out to 33 different States and 12,000 doses 

 of mallein to 25 different States. During a portion of the year stamp- 

 ing ink for meat has been prepared and 312 gallons shipped. 



A limited amount of tetanus antitoxin has been prepared in conjunc- 

 tion with the experiment station of the Bureau. A great deal of work 

 has also been done in connection with a comparative study of the tuber- 

 culosis germs from various sources. The virulence of the bovine germ 

 for monkeys has been established and a preliminary note on this work 

 published. Our Avork was the first recorded to show that the bovine 

 germ was pathogenic for monkeys. A number of different varieties 

 of the tubercle germ haA^e been obtained from children and adults in 

 the various hospitals of Washington City, and their morphological 

 and cultural characteristics and virulence for small animals, as well 

 as cattle, have been and are being tested. 



A very valuable piece of work has been done by Dr. M. Dorset, 

 assistant chief of the division, in suggesting the use of a solid medium 

 for cultivating the tuberculosis germ, namely, the substitution of eg,g, 

 for blood serum. The great ease with which this can be prepared and 

 the very satisfactory character of the results obtained make this work 

 of great imj)ortance. In addition to this, there has been published a 

 chemical analysis of tubercle bacilli derived from various animals. 

 This laboratory was the first to publish, some years ago, a report upon a 

 complete chemical analysis of the tuberculosis germs of human origin. 

 The work above referred to, which is a continuation of this line of 

 investigation, includes, in addition to the germs of human origin, 

 those derived from the horse, hog, cow, birds, and dogs. The results 

 of these comparative analyses are of importance, not only in corrobo- 

 rating our suppositions that the composition of the various tubercle 

 bacilli is influenced by their surroundings, but also in indicating 

 other points for further investigation in connection with the treatment 

 of this disease. 



The experiments in connection with hog cholera and swine plague 

 have also been continued both at the experiment station and in the 

 West. Progress has been made and new factors of importance dis- 

 covered. The feeding experiments of poultry have been continued 

 and the results of the work are about ready for publication. A num- 

 ber of routine examinations of various sorts in connection with the 

 work of the Bureau have also been made. 



It is proposed during the coming year to continue the routine work 



