GLANDERS. 329 



Glanders. 



Diagnosis. The glanders bacillus is extremely difficult ~ 

 to detect in old, and even in new diseased tissue. Conse- 

 quently, direct detection, as in the case of tuberculosis, 

 cannot be made with any degree of certainty. The failure 

 in staining, and even in direct cultivation, renders it neces- 

 sary to resort to the animal experiment in doubtful cases. 

 For this purpose two procedures are available. 



1. Method of Straus. The suspected matter or secretion is dilu- 

 ted with sterile water, or bouillon, and injected intraperitoneally 

 into male guinea-pigs. The reaction is manifested in a few days by 

 a marked swelling of the testicles. The scrotum becomes red or 

 violet and adherent, so that the testicles cannot be pushed back into 

 the abdomen. Death occurs in a week or two. Bacilli may be isolated 

 by making agar streaks from the spleen. They are especially abund- 

 ant in the altered testicles. The marked swelling of the organs, 

 which is observed within three or four days, is taken as confirming 

 the diagnosis of glanders. 



2. Injection of mallein. The heated and filtered bouillon culture 

 of the glanders bacillus, when injected into a healthy animal, pro- 

 duces no rise of temperature, and at most a slight swelling which dis- 

 appears within 24 hours. In a glandered animal the local swelling is 

 extensive and painful; the lymphatic vessels which lead from this 

 part are likewise enlarged and painful. The swelling increases for 

 24-36 hours, lasts for several days, and finally gradually subsides in 

 about 8 or 10 days. The general condition of the animal is likewise 

 markedly changed. A marked stupor and profound prostration is 

 observed. The temperature rises 1.5-2.5 and reaches its maximum 

 between the 10th and 12th hour. A diagnosis can thus be established 

 within 48 hours. 



The two tests should always be carried out together, inasmuch 

 as each one by itself is subject to fallacy. Thus, the Straus reac- 

 tion is obtained in ulcerative lymphangitis of the horse. This dis- 

 ease resembles farcy but is due to a different organism. The diseased 

 animal is not affected by mallein. On the other hand, an injection of 

 mallein may give rise to fever in non-glandered animals. In such 

 cases, however, the local reaction is absent. It is evident, therefore, 

 that a positive Straus reaction and negative mallein test; or, a nega- 

 tive Straus reaction and increased temperature with mallein, would 

 -exclude glanders. 



