MALLEIN. 277 



fewer as we approach the periphery. They usually lie 

 between the cells, but at times may be seen almost fill- 

 ing some of the epithelial cells, of which the nodule 

 contains more or less. They .are always present in 

 these nodules in the tissues ; they are rarely present in 

 the blood, and, if so, in only small numbers. 



Diagnosis of the Disease by the Method op 

 Strauss. — From what has been said the diagnosis of 

 glanders by routine bacteriological methods is certain and 

 relatively easy, but requires time. In clinical work it is 

 of great importance for the diagnosis to be established 

 as quickly as possible. With this in view Strauss has 

 devised a method that has given entirely satisfactory 

 results. It consists in introducing into the peritoneal 

 cavity of a male guinea-pig a bit of the suspected tissue 

 or culture. If it is from a genuine case of glanders 

 the testicles begin to swell in about thirty hours, and as 

 this proceeds the skin over them becomes red and shin- 

 ing, desquamation occurs, evidences of pus-formation 

 are seen, and, indeed, the abscess (purulent. orchitis) 

 often breaks through the skin. The diagnostic sign is 

 the tumefaction of the testicles. 



Mallbin. — The filtered products of growth of the 

 glanders bacillus in fluid media represent what is known 

 as mallein — a group of compounds that bear to glanders 

 pretty much the same relation that tuberculin bears to 

 tuberculosis. It is used with considerable success as 

 a diagnostic aid in detecting the existence or absence of 

 deep-seated manifestations of the disease, the glanderous 

 animal reacting in from four to ten hours to subcuta- 

 neous injections of mallein, while the _animal not so 

 aifected gives no such reactions. 



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