420 GLANDERS, ANTHRAX, PYOCYANEUS 
growth from a three-day agar culture of the organism is thoroughly 
emulsified in each dilution of serum and in the controls; the emid- 
sions are incubated at 37° C. for two hours, then placed in the ice-box 
for twenty-four hours before the readings are made. A control with 
a non-specific serum (^\) and the organism should be made at the 
same time and incubated in the same manner, for experience has 
shown that the serum of normal individuals may agglutinate B. 
melitensis in moderately high dilution. Wright has immunized 
horses with repeated injections of B. melitensis. The blood serum 
agglutinated the organism in high dilution; it was claimed by him that 
this serum possessed curative value, the chief phenomena following its 
administration being a fall in temperature and a shortening of the 
course of the disease. This is still debatable. 
Fig. 59. — Bacillus melitensis and staphylococcus. X 1000. (Kolle and Hetsch.) 
Bacteriological Diagnosis.— A. Blood, ^ urine, milk or material from 
splenic puncture is plated out as outlined above. The organisms are 
agglutinated with a serum of high potency. 
B. The blood of the patient should be examined in high dilution 
(yiu) for specific agglutinins. A control, using B. abortus, is advisable. 
If this control test is positive, the serum should be saturated with 
B. abortus, centrifuged and the clear serum used for testing with 
B. melitensis. 
Dissemination and Prophylaxis.— The organisms leave the body 
through the milk or urine. Pasteurization of the milk and milk 
products and disinfection of the urine of infected animals is the best 
prophylaxis. It should be remembered that the organisms can enter 
the body through cutaneous wounds. 
' The organisms are not always present in the blood of patients in demonstrable 
numbers; a negative culture is not conclusive, 
