Ifti 



208 SARCOSPORIDIA. 



with Sarcosporidia. Jardin says that in s])itc of the statistics 

 of Sarcos])oridia in sheep, it shotild be difficult to admit the 

 absolute harmlessness of Sarcosi)oi"idia, if we call to mind what 

 we know to-day of their evolution in the tissues, and of the 

 elaboration by them of a toxic principle. Their ])resence can, 

 without doubt, remain for a long time unperceived. although the 

 muscles oug^ht to lose in time their elasticity and normal ])liability ; 

 but it a]:)pears illog^ical that their appearance in s^reat numbers in 

 the important organs, such as the heart in particular, is incapable 

 of causing death. On the other hand, if the toxin elaborated 

 by the Sarcosporidia, the sarcocystin, does not kill the animal, 

 has it not, as all tonic substances, an unfavourable action on the 

 nutrition? And, asks McGowan, in the oedemas. the emacia- 

 tion, the cacexia — in all these so often concomitant ])henomena, 

 ought the toxin not to be taken into consideration? Moule has 

 found the parasite in q8 per cent, of cachetic sheej), and they 

 were very numerous in proportion as the cachexia was more 

 accentuated. Sometimes there were regularly five, six, or 

 more in a field of a microscope in each ])rei)aration. Roloit 

 found very large numbers of the sarcocysts present in the nutscles 

 of sheep which had died in an emaciated condition in Germany. 

 Watson in 190Q stated that sarcos])oridiosis may be closely asso- 

 ciated with, and is probably a frequent secjuel to, the disease of 

 horses and cattle known as loco-disease. It may com])licate the 

 diagnosis of this disease, and also the dourine, and probal>ly of 

 some others, and retard or prevent recovery from tht---_- and 

 similar cachetic conditions. 



In Kpj^ Alinchin stated that Sarcosporidia in the pi< pro- 

 duced paralysis of the hinder extremities, a skin eruption, 

 general sym])toms of sickness, such as thirst, increased body tem- 

 perature, and dim, streaming eyes. According to Professor 

 Hedinger, Sarcosporidia may be responsible for lam.zicktc in its 

 different phases, and produce — 



T. Alterations in the cross-striated muscles. 



2. Alterations in the peripheral nerves. 



3. A toxic substance, wliich is specific for the central nervnu> system. 



According to some authors, symptoms of illness are often 

 exhibited in horses. In the sheep and goat difficult respiration 

 was noticed (Dammann and Niederhausern). In an ox stiff' 

 gait was noticed (Brouweir), in a pig paralysis of the hind 

 quarters (\'irchow), in a horse hardening of the tongue 

 (Hoflich). Moussu and Coquet saw a hard, diffuse swelling 

 of the head of the horse, similar to that seen in ])urpure ; further, 

 urticaria -like swellings on the side of the body, neck, and under 

 the chest ; also a diffuse swelling under the belly and sheath, 

 as well as wooden tongue. All these swellings were firm — of 

 a consistence of cartilage— and situated under the skin. Micro- 

 scopical examination of an excised node showed the existence 

 of sarcosporidiosis. The taking of food and water was made 

 difficult by the changes caused, and movements were executed 

 l^ain fully and slowly. In another case Lienaux saw similar 

 swellings present, and lameness fir-^t in the one leg, then in the 



