BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 31 



arrangements have been made for a careful study of the bacteriologic 

 and biochemic factors in the production of flavor in butter and cheese. 

 This work will be continued as soon as possible. 



Investigations along the lines indicated above will necessarily be 

 continued during the coming year, and other subjects will be taken 

 up as the facilities of the division will permit. 



PATHOLOGICAL DIVISION. 



The work of the pathological division has been continued along 

 the same lines as during the previous year, with the exception that 

 increased facilities have made it possible to devote more time to the 

 investigation of pathological anatomy. The number of specimens 

 received from the members of the inspection division of this Bureau, 

 as well as from outside parties, have increased by more than 200 per 

 cent over that of any previous year. 



BLACKLEG. 



The preparation and distribution of blackleg vaccine have, with 

 the increased experience of the assistants detailed to this work, 

 become more of a matter of routine, without sacrificing any of the 

 care and attention which this line of the work demands. 



During the fiscal year there were prepared 1,582,625 doses of black- 

 leg vaccine, and of this amount approximately 42,000 doses were dis- 

 carded as not meeting the requirements for vaccine that is both safe 

 and effective. There were distributed 1,517,560 doses among 12,013 

 cattle owners. This is an increase of more than 50 per cent over the 

 previous j^ear, when the total number of doses sent out was 1,076,150, 

 The work in this connection has necessitated the preparation and 

 sending of 30,490 pieces of mail, as well as the filing and tabulation 

 of approximately the same number of letters and reports; also the 

 writing and filing of about 20,000 cards for the personal and geographic 

 card catalogue. 



From reports received, it is safe to conclude that the loss from black- 

 leg in all herds where this vaccine has been used will fall below 1 per 

 cent, although it is the general impression that the past year has been 

 what is known as a "bad blackleg year" throughout the entire coun- 

 try. It is gathered from information received from all States and 

 Territories that without vaccination the loss from blackleg would have 

 been greatly in excess of that which is generallj^ experienced. The 

 expenses in connection with the preparation and distribution of this 

 vaccine have not exceeded those of the previous year, when only 

 1,076,150 doses were distributed. 



RABIES. 



From numerous reports received from various parts of this country 

 it appears that rabies is greatly on the increase among dogs and other 

 domesticated animals. While there has been a decrease in the num- 

 ber of cases of rabies actually proved to have occurred in the District 

 of Columbia, losses from this disease have been general among the 

 horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs in Virginia and some of the Western 

 States, notably Colorado and Missouri, as a result of bites from rabid 

 dogs and wolves. 



An outbreak of rabies among the dogs at Rochester, N. Y., in which 

 at least one authentic case of rabies in man occurred, necessitated 



