262 AGRICULTURAL BACTERIOLOGY 



of diseases that are frequently mistaken for anthrax, and, 

 since the advent of vaccines for the prevention of some of 

 these diseases, it is much more important than formerly 

 that a correct diagnosis be made. In cases that show typ- 

 ical lesions there is little danger of confusion; but cases 

 occur that are more or less atypical, and frequently a bac- 

 teriological examination of the tissues is necessary to de- 

 termine the cause of the trouble with accuracy. For this 

 purpose samples of the tissues must be forwarded to some 

 laboratory for examination. Such laboratories are main- 

 tained by many States in connection with the colleges of 

 agriculture. 



The tissues should be so packed that they will not be a 

 source of danger to those who must handle them in trans- 

 portation. The tissue should be placed in a jar that is 

 closed so tightly that no liquid can escape. The jar should 

 be packed in a mixture of sawdust and cracked ice and sent 

 at once to the laboratory. No disinfectant should be added 

 if a bacteriological examination is desired ; the putrefactive 

 processes must be delayed as much as possible by the main- 

 tenance of a low temperature. In order to avoid the dan- 

 gers due to the sending of the moist tissues, some of the 

 blood may be placed in a concave piece of glass, such as a 

 fruit- jar cover, and allowed to dry. 



Every animal that dies from an unknown cause should 

 be subjected to a post-mortem examination by a competent 

 person. In making such examination, it is well to proceed 

 on the supposition that the cause of death is due to an or- 

 ganism dangerous to man. The hands should be examined 

 for wounds, and in all cases it is well to coat the hands with 

 grease before beginning the examination. It should also 

 be remembered that the cause of the death may be traceable 

 to something that can be communicated to other a-nimals of 

 the herd, and the examination should not be made until 



