COLLECTION OF MATERIAL. Ill 



"That the order of the Postmaster General of December 27, 1897 

 (Order No. 677), amending Order No. 88 of February 5, 1896, prescrib- 

 ing the conditions under which specimens of diseased tissues may be 

 admitted to the mails is hereby further modified in the following 

 manner : 



" Specimens of diseased tissues may be admitted to the mail for trans- 

 mission to United States, State, or municipal laboratories, only when 

 enclosed in mailing packages constructed in accordance with the specifi- 

 cations hereinafter enumerated : Liquid cultures, or cultures of micro- 

 organisms in media that are fluid at the ordinary temperature (below 

 45 C. or 113 F.) are unmailable. Such specimens may be sent in 

 media that remain solid at ordinary temperatures. 



" Upon the outside of every package shall be written or printed the 

 words ' Specimen for Bacteriological Examination. This package to be 

 treated as letter mail.' No package containing diseased tissue shall be 

 delivered to any representative of any of said laboratories until a permit 

 shall have first been issued by the Postmaster General certifying that 

 said institution has been found to be entitled, in accordance with the 

 requirements of this regulation, to receive such specimens." 



The regulation includes not only cultures but " moist 

 specimens of diseased tissues." The specifications prescrib- 

 ing the manner of packing, which are minute and compli- 

 cated, may be obtained from local postmasters. 



