RECENT METHODS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF GLANDERS. 
153 
tie, leaving the plasma above. Both quickly clot. After a few 
hours the serum gradually separates from the plasma clot, due to 
the formation of fibrin, and is ready for removal to another 
sterile bottle. 
i. The Precipitation Test .—The so-called precipitation test 
of Konew is one of the newest methods. We presented a brief 
summary of this reaction at the last annual meeting of this so¬ 
ciety. According to the discoverer, (i) this test is based upon 
the fact that certain antibodies are formed in the bodies of ani¬ 
mals infected with glanders bacilli from the time the organism 
first gains entrance to the tissues. He is of the opinion that 
among these antibodies the precipitins are the first to be formed. 
Accordingly, an attempt was made to use them in diagnosis. 
A solution of glanders bacilli dissolved in an 8 per cent, anti- 
formin solution is required for the reaction. The test fluid has 
been given the name “ mallease.” The method has been advised 
by Mohler ( 2 ) as a fairly accurate means of diagnosis. 
It is known that malleination influences the serum in the 
same manner as does infection with glanders bacilli, but the re¬ 
action to such a test as the one in question is not so marked and 
lasts a shorter time. This test is, therefore, interfered with for a 
time, if the animal has recently been injected with mallein. 
Our study of this agent was accordingly first directed toward 
the determination of the time necessary to elapse after the injec¬ 
tion of a horse with mallein before the reaction was reliable. For 
this purpose a number of horses apparently free from glanders 
were given the usual mallein test. Pre- and post-injection tem¬ 
peratures were recorded. None of the animals showed a rise of 
temperature after the injection and, therefore, all were assumed 
to be free from the disease. Blood was drawn from the horses at 
frequent intervals thereafter, and the sera thus obtained were 
given the precipitation test. On account of the unsatisfactory re¬ 
sults which were later experienced with the mallease, our experi¬ 
ments along this line were of little value. 
The results of the test when applied to suspected cases of 
glanders may be seen in the accompanying table. Positive reac- 
