34 



mortality occurred. After this experience, the flock owner reported that 

 he had added the pen to his floclv, and asked that it be tested. Two 

 reactors were detected among the 12 birds. One of the reactors was not 

 layinir, while the other had laid 17 eggs in three weeks previous to the 

 time it was removed from the pen. Salmonella pullorum, the causative 

 organism, was isolated at autopsy from both birds and from 14 of the 17 

 eggs laid by one of the birds. After removal of these two reactors, 

 cleaning and disinfecting of the pens, no more losses from pullorum dis- 

 ease were experienced, and the chick mortality dropped to less tlian 5 

 per cent for the remainder of the breeding season. 



Lack of Attention to Detaih in the Field: — The blood collector is resi)onsible 

 for collecting the blood samples, and seeing that they are properly packed 

 and shipped to the laboratory. To a certain extent he is responsible for 

 the pro]ier numbering of blood vials, checking of the leg band numbers, 

 and proper banding of the birds, but part of this responsibility lies with 

 the poultrymen. 



The owner of the flock should hold himself responsible for seeing that 

 the assistants he furnishes are capable of putting on leg bands securely 

 and numbering blood vials accurately. Personal investigations in visiting- 

 flocks where the blood collectors were working, have shown that there is 

 a tendency on the part of the poultrymen and their assistants to carry 

 on a conversation during the blood collecting operations. Less trouble 

 would be experienced with duplicate numbers, missing numbers, etc., if 

 more attention were paid to seemingly minor details. It is only by a 

 combination of the maximum efficiency of the laboratory workers and 

 poultrymen that the best results will be obtained. 



The 1929-30 Testing Plan 



Very few changes in the 1928-29 testing plan will be made for the 

 coming testing season. The reader is referred to page 14 of Control Bul- 

 letin No. 43, where will be found descriptions of the various forms used 

 in connection with the testing program. 



One minor change will be made in the method of handling applications. 

 In order that the work may be placed on a better financial basis, and that 

 the present price for testing may be maintained, it has become necessary 

 to change the 30 day payment privilege to a cash payment plan. This 

 necessitates a new application card which will be similar to the one used 

 in 1928-29, with the exception of the statement regarding payment, which 

 will read as follows on the new card: 



1 promise to pay for service rendered at the rate of 10 cents lor 

 each bird tested and 1 cent for each leg band furnished immediately 

 upon receipt of bill. It is understood that no report will be sent 

 to me until the hill is paid in full. 



In order that as much time as possible may be saved in reporting re- 

 actors, bills for testing will be mailed as soon as all the blood samples reach 

 the laboratory, and if the check for the amount of the bill is sent im- 

 mediately very little time will be lost. 



Another ])lan, which is optional, is to be printed on the back of the 

 new application card, and is as follows: 



To faci'itate the promjit send'ng of rejiorts and eliminate delay 

 caused by the agreement th;it no rejiorts shall he sent until the bill 



