250 GLANDERS. 



Methods of Examination. Microscopic examination in 

 a case of suspected glanders will at most reveal the presence 

 of bacilli corresponding in their characters to the glanders 

 bacillus. An absolute diagnosis cannot be made by this 

 method. Cultures may be obtained by making successive 

 strokes on blood serum or on glycerine-agar (preferably the 

 former), and incubating at 37 C. The colonies of the 

 glanders bacillus do not appear till two days after. This 

 method often fails unless a considerable proportion of the 

 glanders bacilli are present. Another method is to dilute 

 the secretion or pus with sterile water, to varying degrees, 

 and then to smear the surface of potato with the mixture, 

 the potatoes being incubated at the above temperature. 

 The colonies on potato do not appear till the third day. 

 The most certain method, however, is by inoculation of 

 a guinea-pig, either by subcutaneous or intraperitoneal in- 

 jection. By the latter method, as above described, lesions 

 are much more rapidly produced, and are more character- 

 istic. If, however, there have been other organisms present, 

 the animal may die of a septic peritonitis, though even in 

 such a case the glanders bacilli will be found to be more 

 numerous in the tunica vaginalis, and may be cultivated 

 from this situation. 



