324 BACTERIA AND DISEASE 



also the general symptoms of pyaemia, and an eruption on the 

 surface of the body. Such cases usually terminate fatally. The 

 chronic form results in local ulceration and involvement of the 

 lymphatics. It may at any time become acute. 



The glanders bacillus is not quickly destroyed by drying, but it 

 possesses comparatively feeble resistance to heat (55 C. for ten 

 minutes), and antiseptics (5 per cent, carbolic in three minutes). It 

 differs widely from the tubercle bacillus in staining properties. 

 Gram's method and that of Ziehl-Neelsen are inapplicable. Carbol- 

 thionin blue is the best stain to use. (Plate 13, p. 140.) 



Mallein is a substance analogous to tuberculin, and is made by 

 growing a pure culture of B. mallei in glycerine-veal broth in flat 

 flasks, with free access of calcined air. After a month's growth the 

 culture is sterilised, filtered, concentrated, and mixed with an equal 

 volume of a '5 per cent, solution of carbolic acid. The dose is 1 c.c., 

 and it is used, like tuberculin, for diagnostic purposes. If the 

 suspected animal reacts to the injection, it is suffering from glanders. 

 Keaction is judged by three signs, (a) a rise of temperature 2-3 C., 

 (b) a large " soup-plate " swelling at the site of inoculation, and (c) 

 an enlargement of the lymphatic glands. 



In 1903 there were in Great Britain as many as 1463 outbreaks 

 of glanders in which 2490 horses were attacked. This is the highest 

 number of outbreaks since 1892, when they numbered 1657. The 

 prevalence of the disease is localised often to certain counties and 

 districts. In 1903, 855 of the 1463 outbreaks occurred in the county 

 of London. 



