EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 135 



REPORT OF THE BACTERIOLOGIST. 



Director C. D. Smith: 



Dear Sir— The work in bacteriolgy from November 1, 1897, to November 

 1, 1898, has covered a wide field. * With the exception of tuberculosis, 

 all of the experiments which will be included in this report were begun 

 since November 1, 1S97, and in large part are in progress at the present 

 time. However, we anticipate concluding some of the work in the near 

 future and getting it ready for the press. One experiment was concluded 

 several months ago. but, owing to the crowding of laboratory work, I have 

 been unable to get it ready, together with a didactic bulletin which I wish 

 to issue at the same time. 



The laboratory experimental work may be designated by the following 

 heads: ''Tuberculosis." "Crown Gall," "Gassy Cheese," "Hog Cholera," 

 "Cleanliness in Handling Milk." 



TUBERCULOSIS. 



The experiments involved in the investigation of this disease are 

 varied. 



Tuberculin Tests. — During the past year a bulletin has been issued 

 on the results obtained from the tuberculin tests of the College herd. 

 When we first took up the work, it was our purpose to study carefully the 

 reliability of the tuberculin test as it is commonly applied. To accom- 

 plish this, an extensive study of normal temperatures was essential, that 

 a correct judgment might be formed from the comparison. The normal 

 temperatures were taken in precisely the same manner as in the tubercu- 

 lin test. In the test of last spring it was found that had these extra nor- 

 mals not been taken nine animals would have been liable to condemna- 

 tion, whereas only one was condemned. These nine animals which showed 

 peculiar temperatures were again tested this fall, but they without excep- 

 tion proved to be all right. We hope to follow up this tuberculin work 

 until the evidence will be so definite and convincing that there will be 

 no possibility of error of interpretation. 



Milk from Tuberculous- Cows. — We have not yet detected any infectious- 

 ness from milk taken from the condemned animals, although tests have 

 been made at different times. It is our plan now to feed the milk to pigs 

 and calves for the purpose of demonstrating an infectiousness. If no 

 infectiousness exists these animals may be put upon the market as sound, 

 subject to inspection by us when killed. In this way we shall be able to 

 realize something from these animals and still have them under our super- 

 vision. Aside from this work, we hope to test for tubercle bacilli numer- 

 ous samples of milk and butter, perhaps cheese also, gathered from dif- 

 ferent parts of the State. My object in so doing is to form some idea of 

 the prevalence of tuberculous milk, butter and cheese. This, I think 

 should be done before any publication treating of tuberculous milk is 

 distributed. 



