BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTKY. 235 



soften the scabs and scales from the outer layer of the skin. After 

 one or two days this is followed by the application of antiparasitic 

 remedies, of which the ordinary blue ointment and tincture of iodin 

 are among the best. Much better results will naturally be obtained 

 after the sheep have been shorn. The infected animals should be 

 separated from the healthy sheep and not returned to the band until 

 the lesions have all disappeared. 



NECROBACILLOSIS IN DOMESTIC ANBIALS. 



Wliile comparatively few cases of lip-and-leg ulceration of sheep 

 came to the attention of this laboratory, a few very interesting cases 

 of necrobacillosis of other domestic animals were received for diag- 

 nosis. Several calves at a local Government institution died of an 

 unusual malad}'. The aid of the bureau was invoked, and upon 

 autopsy marked indications of necrophorus invasion were evident. 

 The mucous membrane of the rumen showed a marked denudation of 

 epithelium and areas of irregular 3^ello\vish-gray necrotic patches. 

 The reticulum was slightly inflamed. The omasum presented many 

 elevated caseo-necrotic ulcers and patches on the mucosa. The abo- 

 masum and almost the entire intestinal tract were severely inflamed. 

 The heart was studded \vdth petechial hemorrhages. Smears made 

 from the lesions in the rumen and omasum proved upon microscopic 

 examination to be teeming vnih the characteristic long, beaded filaments 

 of necrophorus bacilli. Lesions in the heart failed to show any micro- 

 organisms, thus eliminating bovisepticus as a possible causative agent. 

 The veterinarian in charge of the live stock at that institution reported 

 that the lesions in the other affected calves were similar to those found 

 at the laboratory. 



The lungs of a horse suspected by a veterinarian of being infected 

 with glanders were found to be affected with necrotic pneumonia, 

 caused by necrophorus bacilli. Upon further inquiry into the history 

 of this case it was learned that the horse had also suffered from a 

 severe attack of necrotic stomatitis. 



Bovine lungs studded with nodules of various sizes, greenish yellow 

 in color, were received for diagnosis. The contents of the nodules 

 varied in consistency from gluey pus to a cheesy necrotic mass. Smears 

 from these nodules revealed the presence of necrophorus bacilli. In 

 all instances the microscopic findings were substantiated by animal 

 inoculations. Bacillus necrophorus has likewise been isolated from 

 a case of necrosis of the bovine ndder in which the teats were primarily 

 involved. 



CHRONIC BACTERIAL DYSENTERY. 



Owing to the increasing recognition of the importance of chronic 

 bacterial dysentery as an infectious disease of widespread occurrence 

 and its questionable relationship to tuberculosis, considerable work 

 has been done in an attempt to grow the causative microorganism in 

 pure culture on artificial media, so that its biological characteristics 

 might be studied and animal-inoculation experiments carried on. 

 During the past year several specimens of cattle intestines and feces 

 received in the laboratory from the States of Oregon and Virginia and 

 the District of Cohmibia were found to contain the acid-fast bacillus 

 of tliis disease. From this material numerous inoculations were made 



