[Proc. Roy. Soc. Victoria, 23 (N.S.), Pt. I., 1910]. 



Art. XVllI. — Spl rocJutctde in Lt'sion.^t (rtf'wtiny the Pl</. 



By J. A. GJLRUTH, D.V.Sc, M.Il.C.V.S., F.K.8.E. 



(Professor of Veterinary Pathology in the University of Melbourne) 



[Read 14th July, 1910. 



The presence of these protozoan parasites has been already 

 described in certain pathological conditions of the pig, notably 

 by Dodd, as occurring in an ulcerative skin disease in the 

 Transvaal, transmissible both by contagion and by inoculation,! 

 and by Cleland in "' Castration tumours " of the pig in West 

 Australia. 2 Recently the occurrence of spirochaetes has been 

 observed by me in several lesions of somewhat diverse character 

 in Victorian pigs, of which the following is a short description. 



Skin and Slbcutaneous Lesions. 



In January, 1910, a pig's head was received from the Veter- 

 inary Department of the Victorian Government. It was af- 

 fected with a large ulcerating tumour the size of a fist on the 

 side of the cheek. The tumour was dense, and had the charac- 

 teristics of a fibroma. Unfortunately, no preservative having 

 been used, putrefaction was somewhat advanced. Microscopical 

 examination showed throughout the structure of the tumour 

 numerous spirochaetes, the majority similar in size to those 

 found in the fowl, but a number were much shorter than those 

 usually found in avian blood. 



As the owner stated that he had previously had three pigs 

 similarly affected and still had one showing a similar condition, 

 Dr. Cameron requested him to forward it alive. It was duly 

 sent, but unfortunately arrived during my absence on a holiday. 

 On arrival it was observed to be suffering from a hard swelling 

 on the side of the left jaw, and a healthy young pig was placed 

 in the same pen to test the possibility of contagion. 



On my return to Melbourne it was found that the swelling on 

 the left jaw had disappeared, but that the left knee was swollen, 



1 Jour. Coinp. P.ath., 1900. 



2 I'arai-itolojjy, vol. i., No. 3). 



