40 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GEORGIA. 



developed cases the worms must be removed by introducing a loop 

 of horsehair into the trachea, or windpipe, and turning it round dur- 

 ing withdrawal, the operation to be repeated several times till all 

 the worms appear to be extracted. A feather, stripped almost up 

 to the top, may be used instead of the horsehair." 



CHOLERA 



has been the especial scourge of the poultry yards of the South, and 

 until recently has baffled the skill of all investigators. Dr. D. E. 

 Salmon, of the Veterinary Division of the United States. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, has for several years been pursuing a system- 

 atic, scientific investigation of this disease with very instructive re- 

 sults. Be has succeeded in cultivating the virus containing the 

 gesms of the bacteria, which cause the disease, and by diluting it in 

 different degrees has been able by inoculation to produce the disease 

 at will in virulent or mild form, according to the strength of the 

 virus used. 



The theory on which he proceeds is, that by successive cultiva- 

 tions he will so far weaken the virus as to be able to produce by in- 

 oculation effects similar to those resulting from vaccination of hu- 

 man beings. 



All medical treatment failed even in his skillful hands. He found 

 that the germs of the bacteria, voided in the increment of diseased 

 fowls, retained vitality and was capable of producing the disease in 

 fowls fed upon the flesh of dead birds that had been frozen. He 

 found also that the virus, after six successive cultivations in a flask 

 prepared for the purpose, had lost but little, if any, of its viru- 

 lence. 



His experiments showed that burial of the fowls, that had died 

 with cholera, for six months, destroyed the germs of the bacteria. 

 He expresses the opinion that putrefaction destroys the germs, but 

 when protected from this, as in the case of frozen flesh, vitality is 

 retained. Under the head of 



THE EFFICIENCY OF DILUTED SULPHURIC ACID AS A DISINFECTANT, 



Dr. Salmon says : 



"The solution of commercial sulphuric acid of the strength of one 

 part to two hundred of water, which I have heretofore recom- 

 mended as a cheap and most efficient disinfectant in this disease, has 

 jbeen in continual use during these experiments. I have sho-wn. in 



