115 



one time, but a few, mostly weanliug pigs, almost every day. Post-mortem 

 examination showed typical lesions of swine plague or hemorrhagic septi- 

 cemia. He immediately vaccinated all the animals in the infected pens 

 with mixed infection bacterins, segregated the sick ones and disinfected. 

 After a temporary lull fresh cases appeared and vaccination was repeated, 

 and while quite a number of affected ones recovered, the mortality remained 

 high. A third vaccination was finally resorted to, but at the time of my 

 arrival about 150 head were dead, and among them a dozen valuable brood 

 sows. 



An examination of the premises showed that diligent measures had been 

 taken in regard to cleanliness, disinfection, liming, segregation and dis- 

 posal of the dead. 



In the segregation pens one sow, two or three gilts and some weanling 

 and suckling pigs were sick, while others were recovering. The principal 

 symptoms were those observed in all the swine diseases — staggering gait, 

 cough and diarrhoea. The cough was more prevalent among the pigs, the 

 diarrhoea among the older ones. 



Post-mortem examination of four recently dead cases, one sow, one shoat 

 and two pigs, showed that while there was typical hemorrhagic septicemia 

 lesions in the thoracic cavity of all, one only could possibly have died from 

 the pneumonia. The others showed decided retrogressive lung symptoms. 

 On the other hand, the large intestines were the seat of an extremely severe 

 recrotic enteritis. Confluent diphtheritic and croupous membranes occupied 

 practically the entire mucous surface, while irregular, well-defined areas, 

 greatly thickened and consisting of greenish and yellow layers of necrotic 

 tissue, indicated the penetration of the infection through the muscular coats 

 to the serous or outer covering of the intestines. While no actual perfora- 

 tions were observed, diffuse peritonitis was not rare, and the dead yellow 

 spots surrounded by hypercmic zones as seen on the outside of the intes- 

 tines had every appearance of being on the verge of rupture. 



The same conditions Avere found in practically all cases examined at sub- 

 sequent visits, a preponderance of the necrotic enteritis symptoms, and as 

 no effective vaccine has as yet been produced for this infection, it was 

 decided to try medicinal treatment in the form of intestinal antiseptics. 



For this purpose permanganate of potash has been recommended, and 

 while at the present very expensive ($3.90 per pound, as compared with 

 50c, pre-war price), a quantity was secured and all sick and exposed as 

 well as recovering animals were submitted to continuous treatment by mixing 

 one-half per cent of the permanganate -with all feed mashes and with the 

 molasses water Avhich is constantly before them. No other drinking water 

 vras allowed. 



After about one week of this treatment. Dr. Fitzgerald reported a decided 

 improvement in a number of the sick ones, while the mortality had become 

 greatly reduced. 



The hog ranch in question is practically isolated, there being but one 

 neighbor, who lost all of his hogs, nineteen, at the beginning of the out- 

 lireak. One dog, which had been overlooked, was disposed of and the 

 quarantine established by Dr. Fitzgerald was suggested continued until 

 further notice. There is consequently little to fear of the further spread 

 of the disease. Both the bacillus suisepticus and the bacillus necrophorus 

 are normally present in the respiratory and intestinal tracts of hogs as 

 well as in their surroundings. As a rule they are harmless. What causes 

 them, under apparently favorable sanitary and hygienic conditions, to ])eco!iie 

 pathogenic (virulent) is not known. 



ANTHRAX ON KAUAI. 



Under date of March 27th, Dr. Golding re]>orts the death from anthrax 

 of a saddle horse in No. 2 paddock on the Princeville Plantation. 



This is the first death from anthrax in ten months, and needs cause no 

 alarm. Under date of March 17th, three thousand doses of anthrax serum 



