BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 123 



almost as destructive as cholera. Information as to methods for 

 control were given through bulletins and correspondence. 



Avian material forwarded to the laboratory for diagnosis showed 

 a variety of diseased conditions, the more miportant of which were 

 white diarrhea of chicks, diphtheria and chicken pox, enterohepatitis 

 or blackhead of turkeys, avian tuberculosis, and coccidiosis. Experi- 

 ments were conducted to determine the relationship of coccidiosis 

 of fowls and cattle. Fowls fed on material containing coccidia from 

 cattle failed to develop coccidiosis. 



AUTOPSIES ON WILD ANIMALS. 



During the year 80 specimens of wild animals were received from 

 the National Zoological Park (D. C.) for post-mortem examination. 

 Of 45 birds examined there Avere 12 cases of enteritis, 2 of septicemia, 

 1 of peritonitis, 1 of sarcomatosis, 1 of parasitism, 1 of anemia, 1 of 

 ptomaine poisoning, 2 of hemorrhage, 13 of tuberculosis, 3 of as- 

 pergillosis, 1 of cecal necrosis, and 7 undetermined. Of 35 mammals 

 there were 5 cases of pneumonia, 1 of bronchopneumonia, 1 of pleu- 

 risy, 3 of enteritis, 2 of gastroenteritis, 4 of septicemia, 1 of peri- 

 tonitis, 2 of tumors (adenomata sarcoma), 1 of parasitism, 3 of 

 anemia, 1 of septic metritis, T of tuberculosis, 1 of prolapse of rec- 

 tum, and 3 destroyed as unfit for exhibition (1 paraplegia, 1 extensive 

 local infection of internuxxilhiry region, 1 severely injured). 



PLANT POISONING OF STOCK. 



In the investigation of poisonous plants nearly all the field ex- 

 perimental work has been conducted at the experiment station near 

 Salina, Utah (provided by cooperation of the Forest Service), while 

 most of the laboratory work has been done at Washington. The 

 Bureau of Plant Industry has cooperated in the study of the plants. 

 Its representative not only identifies the plants studied but carries 

 on field investigations on their distribution and habits. 



The work of <jhemical investigation of plants, begun in the preced- 

 ing year, was considerably extended and advanced. More extended 

 work was done also on the pathology of the diseased animals, and this 

 has added to the laiowledge concerning the effects of the poisonous 

 principles. 



A large number of plants have been under investigation. Special 

 attention was paid to the " whorled milkweed " {Asclepias galioides), 

 which occasions extremely heavy losses of domestic animals in Colo- 

 rado and adjoimng States, and a bulletin on this plant has been 

 prepared for publication. Further work was conducted on the 

 sneezeweed {Dugaldia hoopesii), and additions were made to the 

 number of known loco plants. An investigation was also made of a 

 plant growing in the Southern States, Dauhentonia longifolia^ Avhich 

 seems to be an important sheep-poisoning plant in Texas. 



Among publications of the year was Department Bulletin 575, 

 " Stock-Poisoning Plants of the Kange," a popular treatise, with 

 colored illustrations, intended to aid stockmen in i*ecognizing and 

 identifying such plants. 



BRANCH LABORATORIES. 



The branch pathological laboratories at Chicago, Omaha, and Den- 

 ver have continued their work, which consists principally in making 

 diagnoses of obscure cases arising in the meat inspection. 



