56 
EDITORIAL. 
cover of the culture jar, in order to prevent the introduction of 
surrounding atmospheric germs, the glanderous (?) products well 
diluted with distilled or sterilized water, are spread over the pota¬ 
toes, and the jar carefully closed up. After several days, a great 
number of colonies of new growth can be observed and recog-, 
nized by the peculiar brown-yellowish color which they assume, 
which are characteristic of the glanderous bacilli.” 
This method of detecting the true nature of the suspected dis¬ 
ease, though seeming to be so simple a process, is by no means 
free from its difficulties, and requires for its successful accom¬ 
plishment a thorough knowledge and careful manipulation, such 
as can only be acquired by experience in obtaining cultures of 
microbes. But it ought, even in the hands of amateur investiga¬ 
tors, and certainly in those of observing practitioners, to become 
a ready means of correct diagnosis, and greatly tend to prevent 
the ignorant and uncertain attempts of almost daily occurrence 
in practicing; and would certainly supersede the possibility of 
the errors so often illustrated in the cases of such - “ experts ” as 
we occasionally encounter in practice. It was by resorting to 
this method that Director Nocard on one occasion established the 
integrity of a diagnosis in a case of suspected human farcy, in 
which, though the case had been clinically demonstrated, it was 
not certainly established until the culture test was brought into 
successful requisition. 
Fifth International Veterinary Congress.— We made 
mention of this contemplated event in our last number, but feel 
that the* importance of the occasion amply justifies a further 
reference to the subject. Too much cannot be said in urging it 
upon the attention of our readers, nor can they be too often 
reminded of the interest and magnitude of the expected assem¬ 
blage. It is with these views, and a desire to furnish our col¬ 
leagues with all necessary information in the premises that we 
print on another page a translation of the appeal of the Commit¬ 
tee on Organization to the veterinarians of other countries, which 
has been forwarded to us by that committee, and which, we 
trust, will meet with a general and hearty response from the pro¬ 
fession in the United States. 
