134 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Ddc. 



examination. Briefly, the necropsy showed slightly increased color of the outsi* 

 surface of the colon and of the posterior portion of the small intestine. The 

 mucous membrane of the large intestine and especially of tlie caecum and of 

 the anterior portion of the colon was thickened slightly, was rather firm, less 

 elastic than normal, and was thrown into unusually well defined folds and 

 ridges. Upon the ridges there were scattered red spots, usually quite small 

 and sometimes made up of distinct fine lines. These small areas of red color 

 were few in number and widely scattered. The small intestine was similarly 

 affected, but to less extent. Only the posterior two-thirds of the small intes- 

 tine appeared to be involved. The mesenteric lymphatic glands were slightly 

 enlarged, and the cut surfaces were moist. The liver was more than normally 

 red in color and was abnorn'ally firm. Specim.ens were taken to the laboratory 

 for examination. Scrapings were stained from the mucous membrane of the 

 large intestine, from the mesenteric glands and from the liver. In all of these 

 locations were found acid-fast bacteria, a little shorter and, relatively, a little 

 thicker than the bovine tubercle bacilli. These organisms were especially num- 

 erous in the mucous membrane of the large intestine. Additional bacteriological 

 and pathological studies are to be made. 



There appears to be no doubt that the disease here described is the same as 

 the disease found by .Johne and Frothingham in a cow at Dresden in 1895. It 

 was their opinion that the cow m.ight have been infected with avian or with at- 

 tenuated inammalian tubercle bacilli. Acid-fast organisms resemlDling tubercle 

 bacilli were found diffusely infiltrated in the mucous membrane of the large in- 

 testine. Only a few of the scattered cases were reported until Bang made his 

 researches which were published in 1906. On account of the resemblance of the 

 causative organism to the bacillus of tuberculosis, he called the disease a pseudo- 

 tuberculosis. 



In the American Veterinary Review, Professor Liautard gives a summary of 

 some of the recent observations in regard to this disease under the title of 

 "Chronic Hj^pertrophic Enteritis." McFadyean suggests the name of "Johne's 

 Disease." None of these names appears to be free from serious objection, and 

 I suggest, tentatively, that the name chronic bacterial dysentery of cattle be 

 applied. 



There can be no doubt that the disease is infectious, and some experimenters 

 have succeeded in transmitting it by feeding faeces and hacked fragments of 

 diseased intestines. 



Upon looking back, I can recall a number of herds that I now believe to have 

 been affected with this disease. Some of the herds were large and the losses 

 were great. After tuberculosis, as the cause of the bad condition of the cattle, 

 had been excluded by the tuberculin test, the difficulty was thought to have 

 been due to faulty dietetics or bad sanitation. But the disease occurs persistent- 

 ly in some herds, under such conditions that these hypotheses cannot be main- 

 tained. After discussing this matter with Di'. Ridge, Dr. Marshall, Dr. Conard 

 and others, there appears to be little room for doubt that this disease is a 

 rather widespread infection and that cases of it has not heretofore been recog- 

 nized because the lesions are so slight. It is transmitted so slowly that its con- 

 tagious nature has. been difficult to determ.ine. The latter fact, however, is not 

 so remarkable when we consider that tuberculosis prevailed for centuries before 

 it was known to be a contagious disease. Some of the so-called cases of chronic 

 hemorrhagis septicaemia of cattle may be found to be cases of bacterial dysen- 

 tery. 



The lesions that occur in chronic bacterial dysentery of cattle are not in pro- 

 portion to the severity of the symptoms. Since the loss of conditions commences 

 in an early stage, and while the animal is still eating well, it seems to be prob- 

 able that in addition to the disturbance of assimilation, there is an intoxica- 

 tion that produces emaciation. I have seen calves emaciate similarly when 

 inoculated intravenously with cultures of avian tubercle bacilli that were in- 

 capable of producing tubercles. 



EPIZOOTIC LYMPHANGITIS. A contagious disease of horses, not hereto- 

 fore discovered in America, known as "Epizootic lymphangitis," has recently 

 occurred in a limited district in Western Pennsylvania. 



The chief seats of the disease are Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Jefferson, Mer- 

 cer and Venango counties. The disease has also occurred in a few other coun- 

 ties in the northwestern part of the State. Three affected horses have been 

 found in Bradford county and one in Lancaster county. Indefinite reports of thh 

 occurr'ence of epizootic Ij'mphangitis in Allegheny find Beaver counties have been 

 received, but although a search has been instituted, it has not yet been possible 

 to find horses affected with this disease in either of the two counties named. 

 More than 100 affected horses have been found. 



This disease has long been knovi'n in Southern Europe, Finland, Africa. India. 

 China, Japnn and the Philippine Islands. In 1904, it was carried into England 

 from 'South Africa. How or when it reached Pennsylvania is not now known. 

 As this is the first recorded outbreak of epizootic lymphangitis in America, it 

 is a matter of much importance. The following brief account of the disease 

 and of its treatment and prevention is furnished for the purpose of assisting 

 in the control of the outbreak and in the eradication of the infection: 



