Swine Plague. 493 



natural. Dark red blood exudes from the cut vessels. There may be 

 little hci'Miorrhages studded over its surface beneath its capsule, and 

 occasionally iiecrotic patches are observed in its substance. The gall 

 bladder may be distended and be full of viscid, dark, gTeenish-yellow 

 gall. 



Spleen,. — The spleen is usually a little enlarged and its pulp 

 slightly disintegrated. Occasionally stainings of a port wine colour 

 are observed on its surface. 



Kidneijs. — The kidneys are hypersemic and the capsule peels 

 easily. Small petechia; are sometimes seen under the capsule and 

 throughout the cortical portion of the organs. 



Brain. — The brain is congested, and in late stages softened. 



In those rare cases in which the disease runs its course with great 

 rapidity, there may be noticed little haemorrhages, particularly of 

 tlie subcutaneous, submucous, and subserous tissues and congestive 

 conditions of the brain, gastric, and intestinal mucous membranes. 



Course, Termination, Complications and Sequel.i-;. 



In swine plague, in a large number of cases, the course is towards 

 death. If the pneumonia be double, the tendency is for a fatal 

 termination. In young pigs the fatality may be as high as (50 per 

 cent. Hemorrhage from the bowel may be a complication, and, if 

 severe, is likely to prove fatal. Abscesses of the lungs and skin, and 

 peritoneal adhesions are the usual sequel*. 



Diagnosis. 



The hgemorrhagic lesions are fairly diagnostic of the disease. 

 Such lesions of the lymphatic glands ai"e fairly constant. The cortical 

 portions, and even the entire gland, may appear htemorrhagic on 

 section. Haemorrhages are pretty often seen in other situations, 

 notably beneath the epidermis and in the subcutaneous fat, beneath 

 the epicardium, in the cortex of the kidneys, beneath the capsule of 

 the liver, under the visceral pleura, under the serosa of the intestines, 

 and in the mucosa of large intestine and stomach. The ulcers of the 

 intestines are characteristic lesions. The redness of the skin, along 

 with the other • signs, would lead one to definite expression of 

 opinion. 



Susceptible Animals. 



The pig is the only animal that contracts the disease spontaneously, 

 but guinea-pigs, rabbits, and pigeons can be experimentally inoculated. 

 Fowls are refractory to the disease. The guinea-pig is immune to 

 swine erysipelas. 



Characters of the Bacillus. 

 It is a short, stout, ovoid, motile germ, 1'2 to 1"5 micro-millimetres 

 long (about ^o.uoo inch) ; and it grows in gelatine and agar under 

 anierobic as well as terobic conditions. It does not liquefy gelatine. 

 It is destroyed at a temperature of 140 deg. Fahr. 



