METHODS OF EXAMINATION. 279 



glanders, the temperature often rises i, the local swelling reaches the 

 diameter of three inches at most, and has much diminished at the 

 end of twenty-four hours. In the case of dry mallein, local reaction 

 is less marked. Veterinary authorities are practically unanimous as 

 to the great value of the mallein test as a means of diagnosis. We 

 cannot as yet speak as to its applicability to diagnosis of the disease in 

 the human subject. 



Methods of Examination. Microscopic examination in 

 a case of suspected glanders will at most reveal the presence 

 of bacilli corresponding in their characters to the glanders 

 bacillus. An absolute diagnosis cannot be made by this 

 method. Cultures may be obtained by making successive 

 strokes on blood serum or on glycerine agar (preferably the 

 former), and incubating at 37 C. The colonies of the 

 glanders bacillus do not appear till two days after. This 

 method often fails unless a considerable proportion of the 

 glanders bacilli are present. Another method is to dilute 

 the secretion or pus with sterile water, to varying degrees, 

 and then to smear the surface of potato with the mixture, 

 the potatoes being incubated at the above temperature. 

 The colonies on potatoes may not appear till the third day. 

 The most certain method, however, is by inoculation of 

 a guinea-pig, either by subcutaneous or intraperitoneal in- 

 jection. By the latter method, as above described, lesions 

 are much more rapidly produced, and are more character- 

 istic. If, however, there have been other organisms present, 

 the animal may die of a septic peritonitis, though even in 

 such a case the glanders bacilli will be found to be more 

 numerous in the tunica vaginalis, and may be cultivated 

 from this situation. In the case of horses, etc., a diagnosis 

 will, of course, be much more easily and rapidly effected by 

 means of mallein. 



RHINOSCLEROMA. 



This disease is considered here as, from the anatomical 

 changes, it also belongs to the group of infective granulo- 

 mata. It is characterised by the occurrence of chronic 

 nodular thickenings in the skin or mucous membrane 



