452

U. S. Department of Agriculture,
Bureau of Animal Industry.

Washington, D. C., March 22nd 1886.

Prof. Charles E. Bessey,
University of Nebraska,
Lincoln, Nebraska,

Dear Sir:

I have recieved a slip from a Nebraska paper (name and
date wanting) containing an article on inoculation for hog cholera,
and I see a similar article in the Breeders' Gazette for March 18,
p. 382. Both are evidently either written or inspired by Dr. J.
Gerth, Jr., State Veterinarian of Nebraska. In both it is stated
that the microscopical investigations were made by you, and it is
asserted unqualifiedly that in the examination of hogs which had
died of American swine plague near Lincoln, you had discovered the
presence in large quantities of the same germs that were contained
in the virus obtained from Pasteur.

This statement is so important and at the same time differs
so widely from the results of my investigations that I trust you
will pardon this rather long letter and the inquiries made in it.
Having been engaged in a constant investigation of swine plague
for the past eight years, and being in an official position where
it is necessary to keep the public informed as to the progress of
this class of investigations, I would thank you for at least brief