Ifcntztcky r1_yrz`cu/tural E.rpcr[na<·ul Station. 53
pregnancy. investigation, however, revealed the fact that
rams and non-pregnant ewes were likewise affected. A num-
ber of herds were investigated during the course of the dis-
ease and complete histories obtained. An important fact was
brought to light that in every herd the sheep affected had been
taken elf pasture and placed on dry feed preparatory to lamb-
ing. lt was also disclosed that these sheep had either been
fed salt or some form of grain feed off the ground. Organs
and blood of the dead animals were cultured for miero-organ-
isms and experimental animals were inoculated with the blood.
all with negative results. Since the disease closely resembled j
botulism, both clinically and pathologically, sick sheep in
various stages of the disease were injected experimentally
with botulinus antitoxin which in most cases proved beneficial.
Following this, a number of herds were treated in which not
_ only a large percentage of the sick recovered, but others in-
jected with botulinus antitoxin failed to contract the disease. `
After making a careful study of the conditions, it seemed that
the toxin must have been formed outside the body in the feed
. or soil and was taken in with the feed, tho this was not de-
finitely determined. Nearly ten thousand cubic centimeters
of botulinus antitoxin have been distributed during the year.
_ Seed Inspection. The demand for tests of ordinary seeds
is growing steadily, showing an increase each year. There is
’ also at great demand during December, January and February
L for the cleaning and testing of tobacco seeds as the figures
· given below will show:
; A
» Number of miscellaneous seed samples received .................. . ...... 3455
, ` Number of samples tested for germination __.................................... 3172
Number of special duplicate germination tests .................... . .......... GTO
· Total number of germination tests ..................................i................... 3342
Numiber of miscellaneous samples tested for purity ........i....,........ 199*1
Total number of tests of all sorts .............i................................ 5833
Q I The iigures given above include 569 tobacco samples, 310
{ oi' which were cleaned only; 244 cleaned and tested and 15
I tested for germination only.