882 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.43 



the intradermal mallein test. In the four different series of studies reported 

 over 1,050 specimens were examined. The conclusions drawn from the exten- 

 sive data reported are as follows : 



"The injection of the prescribed dose (0.1 cc.) of intradermal mallein in 

 horses that have never been previously subjected to injections of mallein pro- 

 duces complement-fixing bodies in the blood serum of a much greater per- 

 centage of such animals than in those that have had numerous previous injec- 

 tions. In our test of the previously injected animals 33i per cent developed 

 complement-fixing bodies following the injection of 0.1 cc. of mallein. whereas 

 of the ' green ' hor.ses S3J per cent gave reactions to the complement fixation 

 test as a result of such injection. 



" There was a tendency toward a greater percentage of reactions among the 

 previously injected horses where twice the dose (0.2 cc.) of mallein was ad- 

 ministered. This did not hold true as regards the horses that had never been 

 previously injected. 



" Complement-fixing bodies may be demonstrated as early as 24 hours subse- 

 quent to the mallein injection, and may persist for 32 days subsequent to its 

 injection. The average animal, however, develops them after 4 to 7 days sub- 

 sequent to malleinization, and they persist for approximately 2 weeks after 

 their appearance. 



" Due to the fact that the greater percentage of animals at present in the 

 Army have been subjected to numerous intradermal mallein tests, it is believed 

 that, generally, comparatively little difiiculty will be experienced with sero- 

 logical tests subsequent to the mallein tests of these animals, particulary if 

 the blood specimen is procured immediately after the 48-hour reading of the 

 mallein test. Newly purchased animals, however, will undoubtedly give trouble 

 in this respect. 



" Where it is desired to supplement an intradermal mallein test with the 

 complement fixation tests for glanders, the blood specimen should be taken 

 immediately following the 48-hour reading of the mallein test. After this time 

 a period of approximately 30 days from the date of the mallein injection should 

 be allowed to elapse before taking the blood sample, as no reaction other than 

 negative obtained with a specimen procured sooner could be considered 

 reliable." 



The immunizing value of commercial vaccines and bacterins against 

 hemorrhagic septicemia. L. Van Es and H. 31. Maktin (Nebraska Sta. Re- 

 search Bui. 11 (1920), pp. 3-19). — This bulletin reports the results of a series 

 of experiments in which the immunity of rabbits injected with various com- 

 mercial hemorrhagic septicemia bacterins and vaccines was tested by subse- 

 quent inoculations with Bacterium hipolaris. In nearly all cases the vaccines 

 or bacterins were purchased directly from the manufacturer. The dosage used 

 was the one recommended on the label and was repeated from 1 to 12 times. 

 The degree of immunity produced was always tested by the use of B. hipolaris 

 cultures or material obtained from the same species as one upon which the 

 vaccine was supposed to confer protection. The preparations tested included 

 "Mixed Infection Bacterin," "Hemorrhagic Septicemia Vaccine (Avian)," 

 " Hemorrhagic Septicemia Bacterin for Cattle," " Hemorrhagic Septicemia 

 Combined Bacterin (Bovine)," ''Bacillus suiscpticus Bacterin (for swine 

 plague)," "Hemorrhagic Septicemia Vaccine for Cattle," "Hemorrhagic Septi- 

 cemia Vaccine for Swine," and " Swine Plague Bacterin." 



In only a few cases did the injections of the preparation produce any imme- 

 diate unfavorable effect on the test rabliits even when used in relatively large 

 doses. In the entire series of experiments, however, only 3 out of 187 animals 

 acquired immunity to B. hipolaris infection. The conclusion is drawn that the 



