BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 129 



and petroleum oil. In view of those facts and because the emergency 

 created by the war had passed, these experiments were discontinued. 



The investigations in drying meats have likewise been discontinued, 

 as there seems to be no pressing demand for meats in dried form 

 since the conclusion of the war. The studies Avere carried far enough 

 to indicate that meats could be dried and preserved in a dry state in 

 edible form if this should become necessary. 



A report on the composition and identification of meat extracts 

 was contributed to the Journal of Agricultural Research ( vol. XVII, 

 No. 1, April 15, 1919). This paper, which is intended especially for 

 chemists, health officers, and food-control officials, who have to con- 

 sider the purity and proper labeling of meat extracts, contains much 

 new information and gives directions for distinguishing extracts of 

 different origins. 



TUBERCULIN AND MALLEIN. 



There were furnished to various Federal, State, county, and city 

 officials 2,359,004 cubic centimetei^ of tuberculin for subcutaneous 

 injections, an increase of about 46 per cent over the amount distrib- 

 uted during the preceding fiscal year ; also 19,500 disks for the opthal- 

 mic test for tuberculosis and more than 5,000 doses of opthalmic 

 tuberculin in liquid form. In addition 26,000 dcses of intradermic 

 tuberculin were prepared and distributed to various bureau repre- 

 sentatives in the field. The opthalmic and intradermic tuberculins 

 were produced in an experimental way, but are not yet available for 

 general distribution. The methods used in the production of these 

 two special tuberculins have been developed as the result of the divi- 

 sion's research work, which is still proceeding, with the object of pro- 

 ducing a more efficient and active tuberculin than any heretofore 

 available. 



Laboratory investigations are being conducted to determine the 

 influence of different nutrient materials upon the growth and activity 

 of the tubercle bacilli, the object being to simplify and at the same 

 time to improve the methods of cultivating those organisms in the 

 production of tuberculin on a large scale. 



The amount of mallein distributed has shown a great increase, due 

 for the most part to the requests of the War Department. There 

 were furnished to that department 1,275,680 doses of opthalmic mal- 

 lein and 1,655,130 doses of intradermic mallein, a total of 2,930,810 

 doses, while 113,750 doses of opthalmic mallein were sent to State and 

 Federal officials, making a grand total of 3,044,560 doses, an increase 

 of 75 per cent over the amount distributed during the preceding fiscal 

 year. 



OTHER WORK. 



Cooperative work with the Insecticide and Fungicide Board in 

 the examination of insecticides and fungicides intended for use in the 

 treatment of diseases of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, and goats has 

 been continued. Sixty-three samples were examined, of which 39 

 were found to be misbranded or misbranded and adulterated. 

 Thirty-five hearings were held by inspectors in charge in the Bureau 

 of Animal Industry in various parts of the country, and a large num- 

 ber of cases were examined to determine the correctness of efficacy 

 claims made on labels. 



