The investigation and control of salmonellosis.

The information available about salmonellosis, a controllable disease with a wide distribution, is unsatisfactory for many reasons. Both because of the wide variations in the clinical picture of what is bacteriologically a homogeneous group, and because the methods of control vary considerably with the biochemical and serological type of organism, no country in the world can be said to possess now either a reasonable picture of the occurrence of this disease within its borders or an organization which has brought it under control.In this paper an attempt is made to assess the various methods so far used to measure the significance of this disease and to discuss the reasons for their failure; to mention some of the epidemiological findings which may explain the failure of control, where it has been attempted; and to suggest some reasonable steps which could, with existing resources, make not only the investigation, but also the control, of this disease both simpler and more effective.