BULLETIN OF THE 



No. 166 



Contribution from the Bureau of Animal Industry, A. D. Melvin, Chief 

 January 22, 1915. 



(PROFESSIONAL PAPER.) 



OPHTHALMIC MALLEIN FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF 



GLANDERS. 



By John R. Mohler, Assistant Chief of Bureau, and Adolph Eichhorn, Senior 

 Bacteriologist, Pathological Division. 



INTRODUCTION. 



It is no longer doubted that in the work of controlling glanders 

 the destruction of the infected animals should be given prompt con- 

 sideration, and, if possible, the infection should be traced to its origin. 

 Unfortunately, the nature of the disease is such that only a compara- 

 tively small proportion of the cases can be recognized by the ordinary 

 clinical examination, and as long as we limit our efforts to the destruc- 

 tion of these cases the disease will continue to spread. An effective 

 control can be accomplished only by the elimination of all centers of 

 infection of glanders. Therefore it is essential primarily to have a 

 means of diagnosing accurately all forms of the disease. 



Numerous publications have been issued on the various methods 

 of diagnosis, and it seems that while some favor a certain method or 

 methods, others appear to produce sufficient evidence to point out 

 the inadequacy of these methods. There is no question that in the 

 last decade important progress has been made in the diagnosis of this 

 disease. Since the discovery of mallein, competent investigators have 

 fruitfully studied this phase of the question of the control of glanders, 

 and at the present time we possess several methods by which we are 

 reasonably sure of diagnosing practically all cases of glanders. A 

 minimum percentage of failures will probably always have to be con- 

 tended with, as a good many factors enter into the execution of any 

 test. 



In judging a method which would be the most satisfactory for the 

 diagnosis of glanders various things have to be taken into considera- 



Note. — This bulletin points out the advantageous and satisfactory use of the ophthalmic mallein test in 

 the diagnosis of glanders and the necessity for prompt action on reactors to this test in eradicating this 

 disease. Of interest to veterinarians and State live-stock sanitary authorities. 

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