716 Glanders. 



this material be applied to the inner angle of the conjunctival sac by means of 

 a pipette or camel 's-hair brush. Before making the application the operator 

 should satisfy himself that the eye contains no foreign bodies, and that no symp- 

 toms of conjunctivitis or periodical ophthalmia exist. 



The reaction begins from the 4th to the 6th hour after the Etpplication, and 

 may continue for 24 to 26 hours, or even longer, the accumulation of pus Iselow 

 the inner canthus of the eye as well as inflammatory hyperemia and swelling of the 

 conjunctiva are readily recognized (the purulent exudate may drop off from time 

 to time, Or it may be removed intentionally by an attendant, so that the positive 

 character of the reaction may not be observed at the time ! ) . If, in case of some 

 other disease or on account of suspected infection, the result of the reaction is 

 negative or doubtful, the test may be repeated on the following day, in which case 

 the reaction is in some horses decidedly more pronounced. In exceptional cases the 

 reaction appears also in the untreated eye, and in very rare instances there is noted 

 also a simultaneous slight elevation of temperature. Previous subcutaneous injec- 

 tion of mallein may partly or wholly prevent the local reaction, for which reason 

 this test should be applied after, but not before, the ophthalmic test. 



3. Cutaneous Mallein Tests (Dermoreaction, intradermal 

 reaction). These reactions manifest themselves by local symp- 

 toms very similar to those observed in tuberculosis (see p. 583, 

 and Fig. 124) . However, the small number of observations with 

 regard to these tests which have thus far been reported con- 

 stitute a very unsatisfactory basis upon which to form an 

 opinion in regard 'to the value of these tests. 



According to Valine, the cutaneous test is unreliable because the thin and 

 sensitive skin of healthy horses may react with equal facility and because the 

 difference between reactions in healthy and infected horses is merely a matter of 

 degree; Martel and Putzey & Stiennon also expressed themselves unfavorably, but 

 Schniirer considers the test as of diagnostic value. But even the last named author 

 admits that it is probably less accurate than the ophthalmic test. According to 

 his observations the intradermal test is more satisfactory, the latter possibly being 

 of value also in standardizing the mallein, since the edematous swellings develop- 

 ing at the point of inoculation are usually in direct proportion to the amount of 

 mallein injected. 



Technic of the Cutaneous Mallein Test. The skin is carefully washed and 

 then scarified until slight bleeding occurs, whereupon concentrated mallein is 

 applied to the field of operation. Schniirer recommends washing an area 10 cm. by 

 5 cm. at the side of the neck and then slightly scarifying three areas, thus # # # . 

 The first and third areas are treated with mallein, the middle one serving as 

 a control for the traumatic reaction. 



The reaction begins at about the 6th hour and increases in extent during the 

 following 24 hours, whereupon it gradually disappears with the subsidence of the 

 inflamed area. The degree of the reaction is determined by the extent of the 

 swelling (15-50 X 20-55 mm.) and the degree of its thickness (1-2 cm.). Applica- 

 tion of the mallein to the scarified skin by rubbing with a rough cloth does not 

 give so satisfactory results. 



Serum Diagnosis. Under the influence of the toxin of the 

 bacillus of glanders, as antigen, other antigen bodies besides 

 immune substances are formed as products of reaction in the 

 infected animal body. These may be demonstrated by suitable 

 methods as agglutinins, precipitins and complement-fixing sub- 

 stances. Since these reaction bodies possess an affinity for their 

 own antigen only (glanders toxin) and consequently are strictly 

 specific in their nature, their presence in the blood of an animal 

 justifies the conclusion that the animal in question is infected 

 with glanders. 



This constitutes the basis of a number of diagnostic methods 

 all of which are conducted with the blood serum of the animal 

 to be tested and the use of cultures of the bacilli of glanders 



