ported from China. These hides were tanned in yards located along these waterways. "During this work several cases of sickness occurred among tannery employees, six of which terminated fatally. The death rates in the herds which grazed along the stream below the tanneries were also relatively heavy." As these hides were arsenic cured, it was at first stated that the death of both men and live stock was due to that poison, but "later it was determined beyond all question that the bodies of the victims contained the bacilli of anthrax," and that to these bacilli the deaths could be directly charged. The governor of Pennsylvania addressed a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury requesting the enforcement of section 25 of the act of Congress of July 24, 1897, which section reads as follows: That the importation of neat cattle and the hides of neat cattle from any foreign country into the United States is prohibited: Provided, That the operation of this section shall be suspended as to any foreign country or countries, or any parts of such country or countries, whenever the Secretary of the Treasury shall officially determine, and give public notice thereof, that such importation will not tend to the introduction or spread of contagious or infectious diseases among the cattle of the United States; and the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized and empowered, and it shall be his duty to make all necessary orders and regulations, to carry this section into effect, or to suspend the same as herein provided, and to send copies thereof to the proper officers in the United States, and to such officers or agents of the United States in foreign countries as he shall judge necessary. The correspondence resulting from this request is given herewith in detail: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, D. C., September 14, 1897. SIR: Referring to your letters of the 26th and 31st ultimo concerning the alleged outbreak of anthrax at Falls Creek, Pa., supposed to he due to infection from hides imported from China, I have the honor to state that this Department has made as careful investigation of the whole subject as is possible in a limited time. Your suggestions concerning the potency of the disinfection recommended for foreign hides, and secondly, as to whether the gravity of the situation may not demand a strict enforcement of section 25 of the act of July 24, 1897, so as to wholly exclude the importation of hides of neat cattle from countries having inefficient sanitary laws, have been duly considered. It appears that anthrax is a disease which exists in most countries, and it is particularly common in Asiatic countries, in Africa, and in South America, but it also exists even in those European countries which have the best sanitary laws and regulations. It is plain that the introduction of the disease could not be prevented with hides unless we excluded this article of commerce coming from the principal countries from which importations are made. The extent to which our leather manufacturers depend upon such imported hides makes the prohibition of such importations an exceedingly serious question. Unfortunately the authority granted in section 25 of the act of July 24, 1897, is not sufficient to protect the country from the importation of anthrax contagion, as it only applies to the hides of neat cattle, while the hides of sheep, goats, and other animals, as well as hair and wool, are equally liable to bring the contagion. It may be admitted that disinfection with sulphur dioxide is inefficient for the purpose of destroying the germs of anthrax, and if we consider that these germs are found throughout the hide, and that in order to destroy them any disinfectant must be made to penetrate to the interior of the hide, we must conclude that even the most powerful disinfectants are unreliable for this purpose. It does not appear that the rules for disinfection which were recommended by this Department can be improved upon, with our present knowledge, without seriously damaging the hides disinfected. The question for decision, therefore, resolves itself into the proposition as to whether, under the circumstances, it is advisable to prohibit the importation of foreign hides on account of the outbreak of disease which occurred at Falls Creek, Pa. There appears to be a difference of opinion as to whether the disease there was anthrax or whether it was arsenic poisoning from the arsenic with which the hides were cured, and which adhered to them in considerable quantities. It is possibly too late now to obtain information from which a positive diagnosis can be made, but if we admit that the disease was anthrax, I should be of the opinion that the Government would not be warranted in excluding hides to the extent which would be necessary to accomplish any good, and by such exclusion to seriously damage one of our greatest industries. Anthrax is a disease which has been frequently imported into this and other countries with wool and hair, as well as hides, and, so far as I am aware, none of the leading countries of the world have prohibited the importation of such articles on this account. I would recommend, however, that a letter be sent to our consuls abroad, instructing them to refuse to allow the shipment of hides from districts in which anthrax is known to occur. This might have a beneficial effect, although there is some doubt as to whether the consuls have sufficient information to enable them to discriminate in such matters, since some of these officers have frankly stated that the regulations for the disinfection of hides were not and could not be enforced by them. Very respectfully, The honorable the SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. JAMES WILSON, Secretary. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, D. C., September 27, 1897. To the consular officers of the United States: GENTLEMEN: The following letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, of the 18th instant, is communicated to you for your information and guidance: "Referring to section 25 of the act of July 24, 1897, which prohibits the importation of the hides of neat cattle from any foreign country into the United States, and to Department's circular of November 22, 1895 (S. 16557), permitting the importation of such hides if properly disinfected under authority conferred on the Secretary of the Treasury by said provision of law, I have the honor to request that our consular officers may be instructed to refuse authentication of invoices of hides of neat cattle from districts in which the cattle disease anthrax is known to exist. This request is made on the advice of the Secretary of Agriculture and in view of the fact that an outbreak of anthrax has lately occurred at Falls Creek, Pa., resulting in the death of animals and human beings in consequence of the manipulation in tanneries at that place of the hides of cattle imported from China." You are directed to comply strictly with this instruction. Respectfully, yours, 7204 -13 THOS. W. CRIDLER, Third Assistant Secretary. [Circular.] DISINFECTION OF THE HIDES OF NEAT CATTLE SHIPPED TO THE UNITED STATES. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, To collectors of customs and others: Washington, D. C., November 22, 1895. Representations having been made to this Department that the process promulgated in its letter of November 14, 1895 (Synopsis 16385), for the disinfection of hides of neat cattle intended for shipment to the United States is attended with injury to hides, the following method, which is intended solely for the protection of cattle in this country, and which is suggested by the Department of Agriculture, is adopted hereby, and will be required in all cases of shipment of such hides, when not dry-salted or arsenic-cured, from the countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America, viz: Dry hides which have been salted or arsenic-cured may be accepted as having been disinfected by the process of curing, and need not be submitted to any further treatment. Dry hides which have not been salted or arsenic-cured should be disinfected. Disinfection with sulphur dioxide may be accepted in case a room is provided which can be tightly closed, and also in case the bundles of hides are undone and each hide suspended separately from the ceiling in such manner that there may be free circulation of the sulphur fumes and that all parts of the surface may be acted upon. There should be at least 4 pounds of sulphur burned to each 1,000 cubic feet of air space, and the room should be kept closed and the hides subjected to the sulphur dioxide for six hours; or the dry hides may be immersed in a 4 per cent solution of carbolic acid or a 1 to 1,000 solution of bichloride of mercury until they are thoroughly wet with the disinfectant. Fresh or moist hides, whether salted or not, should be disinfected by immersion in a 5 per cent solution of carbolic acid or a 1 to 1,000 solution of bichloride of mercury. It is further directed that hides of neat cattle, other than dry-salted or arseniccured, the product of the countries above named, will require disinfection as above whenever they shall be shipped via the ports of any other country; and that hides, other than dry-salted or arsenic-cured, the product of any country not named above, if transshipped and actually landed at ports in any of the countries named, will require disinfection. It should be understood that the regulations herein provided do not in any way modify or affect any regulations concerning disinfection issued under the quarantine laws of the United States. S. WIKE, Acting Secretary. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, SIR Referring to Department's letter of the 3d instant in regard to the outbreak of anthrax in Pennsylvania, I have to advise you that the Department is in receipt of information, through the Secretary of State, that the consul-general at Singapore has refused to certify invoices of hides which come from a district where anthrax is known to prevail. Respectfully, yours, Mr. ARTHUR T. NEALE, Delaware College, Newark, Del. W. B. HOWELL, Assistant Secretary. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, D. C., January 31, 1895. SIR: As a reply to your letter of the 26th instant, in regard to the prohibition of the importation of hides of neat cattle coming from districts where anthrax exists, I transmit herewith a copy of a letter this day addressed to the Secretary of State in the matter. Respectfully, yours, Mr. ARTHUR T. NEALE, W. H. HOWELL, Delaware College Agricultural Experiment Station, Newark, Del. [Inclosure.] TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, SIR: Referring to your letter of the 20th instant, in regard to the refusal of the United States consul-general at Singapore to certify invoices of hides coming from districts where anthrax is known to exist, I have the honor to request that the consul-general may be instructed to continue to refuse such certification until he shall be satisfied beyond all doubt that the disease has disappeared in such districts, and to refuse certifications of invoices of hides packed and store l in warehouse which were stripped during the period when the disease mentioned was prevalent, this Department being advised by experts that the germs of this disease remain in affected hides for an indefinite period. It is respectfully suggested that the contents of this letter be made known generally in connection with the circular of your Department of September 27, 1897, to consular officers in hide-exporting countries. Respectfully, yours, To the honorable the SECRETARY OF STATE. L. J. GAGE, The conclusions reached by the study of the national rules and enactments are summed up as follows by Director Neale, of the Delaware Station: (1) As far as anthrax is concerned, dry hides, salted or arsenic-cured, can no longer be regarded as free from disease germs, and any process of disinfection which is searching enough to combat anthrax will accomplish the destruction of the hides. Hence, the disinfection rule of the Treasury Department, dated November 22, 1895, is not efficient. (2) Section 25 of the act of Congress of July 24, 1897, is not broad enough to protect the country from anthrax importations, for the spores of this disease occur at times in sheep and goat skins, in hair and in wool, all of which products are largely imported, and no one of them is recognized in the above section. (3) Orders to consuls to refuse certificates on invoices of hides, etc., for exportation into this country from lands where anthrax prevails may accomplish much good. It is not to be expected, however, that consuls shall in all cases have the technical information necessary to decide whether anthrax is or is not prevalent in the country to which they are accredited. The barriers erected by the National Government against anthrax importations are not impregnable, nor can they be improved materially. The absolute exclusion of all products which are liable to be carriers of anthrax would not now avail, for foci of contagion have been established in several sections of this country for twenty years at least. The work of controlling this disease can be advanced materially by the national laws, but the major portion of that work must fall upon State and local authorities. In this bulletin Professor Neale emphasizes the importance of vaccination and of cremating every carcass and all straw, litter, etc., with which the carcass may come in contact. The soil should be thoroughly roasted, as the blood from a carcass will frequently stain it to a depth of 6 inches. SERUM THERAPY IN HOG CHOLERA. [A. T. Peters, D. V. M., Bulletin No. 47, Nebraska Experiment Station.] Serum therapy is a treatment upon the theory "that the blood serum of animals, rendered artificially immune against certain infectious diseases, injected into another animal will protect it against such disease or even cure it after infection." (Dr. Behring.) This treatment is being used in various diseases, such as tuberculosis, rabies, pneumonia, enteric fever, typhus, cholera, syphilis, streptococcus infection, cancer, tetanus, diphtheria, swine erysipelas, and in snake bites. At the station the liquid cultivating medium for hog cholera bacilli is prepared as follows: One kilogram of lean beef is boiled in 4 liters of distilled water for five hours. It is then strained, and neutralized with a caustic soda solution. Then 40 grams of common salt are added (10 grams per liter). This infusion is sterilized by discontinuous steaming in stock flasks of convenient size, and incubated thoroughly before it is used as a cultivating medium. These flasks are then charged with blood from the heart of an animal which had a mild attack of hog cholera. The inoculating rod is made of a piece of platinum wire fastened to the end of a glass rod. This rod is passed through a flame until the wire at its end becomes red hot. It is then allowed to cool a moment. After dipping the end of the wire into the blood of the heart the cap is removed from the flask containing the culture medium and the charged rod is quickly introduced and withdrawn. This is repeated three times, removing and replacing the cap each time. The flask is then placed in the incubator for from two to four days. Soon the germs begin to multiply and the previously clean culture medium becomes cloudy and milky. At the end of three or four days the culture is ready for use. The hog cholera cultures used at the laboratory to make horses immune were of the first generation. The horses selected at the station for this purpose are healthy, strong, and large animals of good disposition. The circulation, respiration, and temperature must be normal, and they must be free from any disease, and must have undergone the mallein test for glanders. The use of this culture is begun by a small injection of 5 cubic centimeters at the thorax or flanks and the injection gradually increased to 200 cubic centimeters in several months. "The effect of the hog cholera culture upon the system of the horse is mainly a rise in temperature of 14° to 3°, a quickened circulation and accelerated respiration, but not in a very pronounced type." In order to obtain this serum, the horse is bled. For one week prior to the bleeding, the horse must be free from all toxic symptoms, during which time it receives no more injections. The horses so bled appear |