MALLETN. 615 



of a glandered horse whose temperatm*e is normal, almost always 

 produces reactions which, in the vast majority of cases, may be 

 accepted as a proof that the animal is suffering from glanders. 

 Also, the absence of these reactions may, under certain narrowly 

 limited restrictions, be regarded as unquestionable evidence that 

 the animal is free from glanders. The typical reactions of mallein 

 may be classed as local and general, the former consisting of a swel- 

 ling at the seat of inoculation; the latter, of general disturbance, 

 which is best marked by a rise of temperature, and which is also 

 accompanied by depression of spirits, debility, and loss of appetite. 



TESTING A HORSE FOR GLANDERS BY MEANS OF 

 MALLEIN. — The animal should be in a normal condition of rest, 

 and should be free from exciting or depressing influences. We 

 may here note tho remarks made on pp. 681 and 682, respecting in- 

 crease of temperature caused by exposure to heat. The usual 

 amount of mallein employed for injection is 18 minims (one cubic 

 centimetre). The syringe should be carefully disinfected (p. 

 70) before use, especially when several horses are being tested, 

 in which case, neglect of this precaution might allow the disease 

 to be transmitted to healthy animals. " The best form of syringe 

 is one with an asbestos piston, as the whole instrument may then 

 be sterilised by boiling it in water for five minutes before use" 

 (McFadyean). The side of the neck is a good site for the in- 

 jection, because it offers a flat surface for the observation of the 

 expected swelling. The injection should be made into the loose 

 tissue immediately under the skin, and not into the muscles of 

 the part, as we shall see further on. Care should be taken that 

 no air passes along with the fluid from the syringe, and that 

 the whole of the mallein is injected. The time for the injection 

 (whether morning or evening) may be chosen, to meet the con- 

 venience of the operator. The temperature of the animal's rectum 

 (p. 681) should be taken at the time of injection, six hours after 

 it, and every subsequent three hours, up to the fifteenth or 

 eighteenth hour. 



The chief typical points about the local reaction to mallein are 

 that the swelling is lai'ge, hot, painful, and well defined, and 

 that it continues longer than an ordinary swelling produced by 

 a similar puncture would do. Its size is probably its least 

 characteristic feature. " In interpreting the local reaction to 

 mallein, attention must be paid to two points, namely, the extent 

 of the swelling, and the period at which it reaches its maximum 

 size. The rule as regards the first of these is that in the non- 

 glandered horse, the swelling which forms at the seat of infection 

 is seldom or never more than three inches in diameter, while in 



