136 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Urine and Feces. — These substances are receiving their attention. At 

 present there are some experiments under way which we are in hopes 

 will give us some light on the true possibility of infection from manure. 

 Owing to the presence of Septicseniic germs in the manure, work which 

 was begun one year ago has been rendered nil. This is one of the serious 

 obstacles a bacteriologist has to contend with. We have begun again, 

 but this time, from necessity, treating the manure to a sterilizing process 

 and then artificially inoculating it. This, of course, is not the natural 

 method, but it answers as a good substitute. 



Curative Treatment. — We are now watching the condemned animals at 

 our disposal with the expectation that some of them will recover under 

 proper hygienic treatment. This experiment is not far enough advanced 

 to base any claims upon it. As to other curative treatments, the one 

 begun by Prof. Grange was found worthless, and several begun by myself 

 —first upon small animals, for these animals we are able to study and 

 watch carefully — have proved likewise worthless. This is a repetition 

 of what has been going on for eighteen years. As to the serum treatment 

 which is being tried in several parts of the world, it will probably prove 

 very valuable in time for the treatment of human tuberculosis, but will 

 be too expensive for bovine tuberculosis for years to come. There is no 

 means of determining what the outcome of it will be. I have not at- 

 tempted it here, because of the extra expense it would involve, not only 

 in money but in time, which I have not at my disposal. 



Eradication of Tuberculosis from College Herd. — The result of the tuber- 

 culin test of last spring places us in a very hopeful situation, but we 

 must not be so elated as to forget that the next annual test may show a 

 very different state of affairs. 



If carelessness and indifference are going to be the product of a tem- 

 porarily successful issue, it were better that several animals had re- 

 sponded instead of one. There will be no preparation for an adverse situ- 

 ation due to neglect. Under no circumstances should the animal tuber- 

 culin test be omitted, or should disinfection be regarded as useless. If 

 one pure-bred cow is saved by disinfection, it not only pays directly for 

 the work and material, but indirectly checks the propagation of the dis- 

 ease. The best sanitary regulations should also be enforced, for as long 

 as the disease is prevalent, or the germ is at large, any indisposition of 

 an animal may lead to tuberculosis. The vigor and strength of an animal 

 must appeal to the mind in the same light as the vigor and strength of 

 man, if the greatest usefulness is to be attained. 



CROWN GALL IN PEACHES. 



Experimental work with the disease known as crown gall in peaches 

 was instigated and placed under my charge in November of 1897, by the 

 director of the Station, with the understanding that I was to do what I 

 could in discovering the cause of this disease, working under the assump- 

 tion that it is bacterial in nature. This was done with the full knowledge 

 that competent workers had been trying for years to ascertain the cause 

 but had not yet been able to discover it, and that years of work might 

 not lead to any more light on the etiology of the disease. 



It was my request that I repair to a locality where this disease was 

 prevailing, 'and tnere carry on my experiments and observations. 



