10 



THE DIAGNOSIS OF GLANDERS. 



This is obviously of great importance to those interested in the 

 prevention of its dissemination among horses and men. The acute 

 cases present but little difficulty, as the symptoms are sufficiently 

 pronounced to enable one to arrive at a diagnosis. The subacute 

 and chronic cases must be differentiated from a variety of chronic 

 nasal and lymphatic disorders in the horse, such as chronic coryza, 

 blastomycetic pseudo-farcy, 1 etc. 



In man glanders should be thought of in chronic ulcerations 

 of the extremities, chronic coryza, muscular abscesses, and various 

 joint involvements, especially if the occupation of the patient 

 throws him into contact with horses. 



In acute glanders the diagnosis may be confirmed by microscop- 

 ical examination of the secretions of the nose or the farcy buds 

 in the horse and of similar secretions in human cases. Whether 

 glanders-like bacteria are found or not, guinea pigs should be 

 inoculated according to the method of Strauss as described below. 



In subacute or chronic cases two reliable methods are in vogue," 

 (1) animal inoculation and (2) the injection of Mallein. 



(1) Animal inoculation. In 1886 Strauss showed that when 

 material containing the Bacterium mallei is injected into the male 

 guinea pig the animal develops after a time an orchitis, with the 

 formation of nodules in the scrota! peritoneum, which varies in 

 severity according to the quantity or virulence of the bacteria 

 injected and the manner of inoculation. The nasal secretion from 

 a suspected animal or scrapings from the nasal ulcers, the farcy 

 buds, the chronic ulcers, etc., should be examined microscopically. 

 Glander-like bacteria may or may not be seen. If comparatively 

 few bacteria are present a small amount of the secretion is emul- 

 sified with bouillon or salt solution and injected into the abdominal 

 cavity of a male guinea pig. If Bacterium mallei is present one 

 or both testicles of the animal become inflamed and immovable and 

 may reach the size of a walnut in three or four days. When a 

 distinct orchitis has developed the animal is chloroformed and 

 further examinations made microscopically and culturally. 



1 See Bulletin No. 1, Biological Laboratory, Bureau of Government Labo- 

 ratories, by R. P. Strong: Preliminary Report of the Appearance in the 

 Philippine Islands of a Disease Clinically Resembling Glanders. 



