480  RUPORT OF TYE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
cattle from the infected districts of the country, and in this way the any 
‘losses from this disease, which are now very heavy, might be almost. 
entirely prevented. : 
SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION OF DISHASHS, 
For a number of years a scientific investigation has been conducted 
by this Bureau of the Department into the nature of the more im- 
ortant contagious diseases of animals. Since this investigation was 
begun the ideas of the medical profession in regard to such diseases 
have been revolutionized and a new science has been built up. The 
work done here has been equal in scientific accuracy to that done in 
any part of the world, and has added much to this department of 
knowledge. 
More attention has been devoted to the study of hog cholera than 
other diseases because of the heavy annual losses which it causes. 
These investigations show that there are two distinct diseases which 
are popularly spoken of as hog cholera. 'The germs of these diseases 
have been isolated and studied, and we know the conditions under 
which they can exist and multiply outside of the animal, and how 
they can be destroyed in such situations. This isa long step in ad- 
vance, and it makes our knowledge of these maladies equal to that 
which has been acquired with the best studied diseases of people. 
True, we have discovered no medicine that will act as a specific and 
cure the plague, but the same may be said in reference to the con- 
tagious diseases of mankind. The value of such work must be found 
- principally in the methods of prevention which it suggests and makes 
possible, and which are really of much more value than any method 
of treatment could be. 
With hog cholera we find that lime is a most efficient disinfectant, 
and that by its use in very limited quantities the contagion may be 
destroyed in water, in organic accumulations, and inthe soil. Other 
methods of prevention, including inoculation and various proposed 
forms of treatment, have been tested without satisfactory results. 
There are several promising lines of investigation still unstudied, 
which will be taken up as rapidly as possible. 
The scientific investigations of the contagious diseases of animals 
should be extended and made to cover a wider field than is now pos- 
sible, both for the importahce of preventing these diseases and the 
light which such investigations throw upon the plagues which affect 
mankind. ‘There are many diseases which should receive a most care- 
ful study. Among these the most common are anthrax, glanders, 
and tuberculosis, the germs of which also affect people, and which, 
on that account, we have hesitated to study very extensively in the 
Department building where so many persons are employed, and 
where there are no facilities for safely disposing of the contagious 
material. The present laboratory is in the garret and can not be 
made suitable for this kind of work. For this reason the investiga- 
tions have progressed slowly, and many which should have been 
prosecuted have not been undertaken. There is no more promising 
field of scientific investigation than this, and none in which there is 
an opportunity to achieve results of more value to our people. 
INVESTIGATION AS TO THE CONDITION OF THE ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
Under this part of its duty the Bureau haseach year taken up one 
or more lines of investigation that have not been elucidated by the 
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