1913.] PUBLIC DOCUjVIENT — No. 31. 205 



owner by letter, to diagnose the disease of his animal and to 

 advise a line of treatment that will lead to a cure of it. At 

 other times, additional information may be requested or a speci- 

 men asked for, which, received and examined, enables us to 

 arrive at a correct diagnosis upon which a successful course of 

 treatment for the individual animal or for an entire herd is 

 based. 



The diagnosis work that is carried on each year is gradually 

 increasing. It is closely correlated with the correspondence 

 mentioned above. Frequently specimens are sent by farmers 

 direct to the department, with a request that an examination 

 be made, and a report as to the nature of the disease, its cause, 

 prevention or cure returned. At times material from sick or 

 dead animals is sent upon request of the department when a 

 positive diagnosis cannot be made from information obtained by 

 letter from the owner of the animal. Since Jan. 1, 1912, ap- 

 proximately 100 specimens have been received, examined and 

 information returned to the senders of them with advice as to 

 course of treatment to be followed in dealing with the several 

 diseases. This diagnosis work is not only beneficial to the 

 farmers, enabling them in many instances to avail themselves 

 of the services of the station veterinarian, but it is of value to 

 the department, as it provides a means by which we are kept in 

 touch with the various ailments of farm animals throughout the 

 State. In addition, the material received from different sec- 

 tions of the State furnishes, at times, valuable material for 

 demonstrations with the students taking the courses in veteri- 

 nary science and pathology. 



It frequently happens that valuable material for study is re- 

 ceived from stock owners. Through specimens that have been 

 received we have on several occasions been able to diagnose the 

 existence of animal diseases in Massachusetts that were not sup- 

 posed to exist here, and also we have found disease not previ- 

 ously described. As good examples of these may be mentioned 

 verminous bronchitis of sheep and a peculiar paralytic disease 

 of fowls. 



Among some of the more interesting specimens that have 

 come to the department during the year may be mentioned ver- 

 minous bronchitis of sheep; necrotic stomatitis of calf; trau- 



