INKECTiVli GRAiNULUil.\T.\. 369 



depends. The agglutinin appears to cause the bacterial cell 

 membrane to become sticky and thus the bacteria acted upon 

 adhere to each other when they are brt)ught into contact and 

 clumps or clumping of the bacteria results; this constitutes 

 the agglutination reaction. Blood serum is obtained from the 

 suspected animal and placed in a normal salt solution in which 

 are suspended dead Bacteria mallei. A series of four tubes is 

 usually used in order that different dilutions may be made. In 

 the 1st tube the dilution is made 1 to "iOO, i. e. one part of serum 

 is taken to ■>{){) jiarts of salt solution in which the liacterium 

 mallei is suspended. In the 'hid tulje, the dilution is made 1 to 

 50(1, the :'>rd tube 1 to S(i(i and in the 4th tube, 1 to lv'(Mi. These 

 tubes are placed in an incubator. The reaction consists in a 

 deposit of clumped <>r agglutinated ISacteria mallei in the bot- 

 tom of the tube. Normal horse serum usually contains suffi- 

 cient agglutinin to produce a reaction in tube number one, that 

 is in a dilution of 1 to 200. A tleposition in tube number two is 

 considered suspicious and deposits in tubes three and four is 

 positi\e ex'idence of glanders. The reaction time is from 24 

 to 60 hours. 



The agglutination test is an accurate means of diagnosis it 

 the test duid is properly prepared and has been proi-ierb- pre- 

 seryed and if the operator uses care in making the test. The 

 time required is much less than the time necessarj' in making 

 the mallein test. Another advantage is that the blood serum of 

 an animal dead of suspected glanders can be as readily tested as 

 the serum from a living animal — hence it is useful in medico- 

 legal cases. 



EPITHELIOMA CONTAGIOSUM. 



Epithelioma Contagiosum is a specific infective disease of 

 fowls and it may be transmissible to pigeons. The disease is 

 widespread in the United States. It is, according to Gary the 

 most serious drawback to the poultry industry of the south. It 

 is quite prevalent in Hawaii, and has been described in many 

 different localities in Europe. 



Etiology. — The cause of contagious epithelioma is unknown. 

 The evidence obtainable at the present time indicates that the 

 eiologic factor is either a protozoon, (coccidinm), or an ultra 

 microscopic or filterable virus. 



Lesions. — Macroscopic. — The disease is initiated by a catarrhal 

 inflammation of the mucous membrane of the head and neck. 

 The disturbance may be localized in the eye, nose or month, or 



