EDITORIAL. 



305 



Contagious abortion in cattle, a disease which entails a great deal 

 of loss in the cattle and dairy industries, was another subject to re- 

 ceive prolonged discussion. It was shown that this subject was not 

 only of direct importance to these industries but also of possible con- 

 cern in the realm of public health, inasmuch as the Bacterium abortus 

 has been detected by Schroeder and Cotton in many of the market 

 milks collected in the District of Columbia. As was pointed out by 

 Dr. Mohler, " the work done in the domain of infectious diseases has 

 shown how advantageous and even necessary is the cooperation of the 

 veterinarian and the physician." 



That such an association must exist was also illustrated in the 

 addresses with reference to tuberculosis. It is likewise interesting to 

 note that recently it has been reported that hog cholera may affect 

 man. How prominent a factor veterinary medicine is becoming in 

 the control of public health is shown by the fact that veterinarians 

 are being appointed in increasing number as members of local and 

 State health boards, and that some are occupying positions in mu- 

 nicipal and State bacteriological laboratories or as instructors in col- 

 leges teaching human medicine. 



The situation with reference to hog cholera affords still another 

 illustration prominently before the association. Although classical 

 researches have been made in regard to hog cholera by Dorset, Niles, 

 and McBryde in the laboratories of this Department, and much has 

 been accomplished by Federal and State veterinarians and others 

 in the way of checking and eradicating this disease, there is still 

 much difference of opinion as to the precise causative agent, and a 

 great deal of work is under way regarding it. 



During the last two years there have appeared from time to time 

 in various scientific journals articles by Dammann and Stedefeder, 

 Pfeiler, King, von Betgh, and others, dealing with the occurrence of 

 organisms in the blood and tissue of cholera hogs. Some of the 

 workers in this field have employed improved pieces of apparatus, 

 such as the ultramicroscope and ultrafilter, while others have utilized 

 the methods germane to the usual bacteriological work. The method 

 of vaccinating against rinderpest has suggested a way for protec- 

 tively vaccinating against hog cholera, and in the same way some 

 recent researches in other lines have afforded avenues for again at- 

 tacking the problem. For instance, only recently it has been re- 

 ported that a globulin plays a part in fowl cholera, and it was not 

 very many years ago that it was shown that a globulin contains much 

 of the active principles of diphtheria antitoxin. Whatever may be 

 the ultimate conclusion, from what has been said it is very apparent 

 that the veterinarian who studies the disease further must resort to 

 all available means at his command, and that very likely he will find 



