348 A MANUAL OF BACTERIOLOGY 



disease in man it is doubtful if the method of serum diagnosis 

 can be applied, for Foulerton found that typhoid and diph- 

 theria sera also produce agglutination of the glanders bacillus. 



Toxins.' Mallein, a preparation analogous to tuberculin, 

 is prepared by growing a virulent glanders bacillus for a 

 month or six weeks in glycerin veal- broth in flat flasks 

 such as are employed for tuberculin (Fig. 38), so that there 

 is free access of oxygen. The culture is then autoclaved 

 for fifteen minutes at 115 C., filtered through a Berkefeld 

 filter, concentrated to one fourth of its volume, and mixed 

 with an equal volume of a J per cent, solution of carbolic 

 acid. This yields an active mallein, 1 c.c. of which is a 

 dose, and gives a good reaction. Like tuberculin, it 

 possesses feeble curative properties, though a few cases 

 of cure by prolonged use have been reported by Babes 

 and others, but is used for diagnostic purposes ; the 

 veterinary authorities are unanimously agreed that it is 

 one of the most certain means we possess for diagnosing 

 glanders in the horse. Injected into an unglandered 

 horse little or no effect is produced, but in a glandered 

 animal, about twelve hours after injection, the tempera- 

 ture rises 1-5 to 3 C. above the normal, a large and 

 painful swelling forms at the seat of inoculation (it may be 

 as large or even larger than half a cocoanut), while any 

 affected lymphatic vessels or farcy buds become swollen. 

 Reaction may, however, be produced in the absence of 

 glanders if the horse is being treated with bacterial products, 

 toxins, etc. 1 



Epizootic lymphangitis has a superficial resemblance to 

 farcy in the horse, and must not be mistaken for the latter 

 (see " Sporotrichosis," Chapter XVI). 



The greatest care should be exercised when working with 

 glanders material or cultures, several fatal laboratory 

 accidents having unfortunately happened. 

 1 See Sudmersen and Glenny, Journ. of Hygiene, vol. viii, 1908, p. 14. 



