13 



When the local reaction is carefully watched along with the 

 temperature there is little danger of mistaking a rise of temperature 

 due to other causes as a part of the specific reaction. The test 

 should never be made on animals already exhibiting an abnormal 

 temperature. 



THE PREVENTION OF GLANDERS. 



There is probably less excuse for the existence of glanders among 

 our domestic animals than of any other disease with the possible 

 exception of surra. The specific cause of the malady has such low 

 powers of resistance outside the animal body that the eradication 

 of existing foci should be a comparatively easy task. 



The killing and cremation of the bodies of all acute cases occur- 

 ring in horses or mules is naturally the wisest course, since they 

 invariably result fatally. With regard to the proper disposal of 

 subacute and chronic cases diagnosed by means of mallein, there 

 seems to be a considerable difference of opinion. Nocard, the great 

 French authority, said: 



We ought, therefore, to confine ourselves to the destruction of those 

 which, in addition to the reaction, present some clinical indication of the 

 disease, such as ulceration of the nose, indurated glands, suppurative 

 lymphangitis, varicocele, or other pronounced manifestations of the disease. 

 The animals not showing physical signs of affection must simply be 

 removed from among the healthy horses and subjected from time to time 

 say, every two months to the mallein test. If any of these eventually 

 show clinical signs of glanders they ought to be slaughtered at once. On 

 the other hand, those animals which have stood two successive doses of 

 mallein without reacting ought to be considered definitely cured, restored 

 to their places, and placed at the free disposal of their owners. 



It is generally agreed that if a single horse in a stable reacts to 

 mallein all should be subjected to the test, the infected animals 

 isolated, and the yards, stables, harness, and whatever else may have 

 come in contact with the horses disinfected. 



The most efficient, the cheapest, and, if proper precautions are 

 taken, a perfectly safe method of disinfecting stables and yards 

 is by fire. Stiles (1902) reported very favorably upon the disin- 

 fection of kennels, pens, and yards by fire generated in the so-called 

 "cyclone burner/ 7 as described by Forbush and Fernald (1896). 

 Briefly the apparatus consists of a portable tank and pump from 

 which paraffin-gas oil is driven through a hose (such as is used 

 for the delivery of oil), to which is attached a pole, consisting of 



