Sinrochiietae affecting Pigs. 107 



Mkroscopieal examination of smears of the central de- 

 generated material from the terminal tumours showed many 

 spirochaetes similar to those already described, along with 

 masses of various kinds of micro-organisms, such as cocci, long 

 and short bacilli. Scrapings from the oedematous fibrous tissue 

 showed also many spirochaetes with numbers of bacteria though 

 few in comparison with those present in the caseous centre. 

 The caseous nodules in the thickened cord, while containing 

 many mixed bacteria, appeared to be free of spirochaetes. 



As to whether the sinrochaetes were the cause of the new 

 fibrous growths under consideration is a question that requires 

 further investigation, but the indications at least are that their 

 presence conduces to the formation of the new fibrous issue 

 observed, while the central degeneration is probably the result 

 of the bacterial invasion. 



Sub-mucous Cysts of Large I>,testi>"e. 



Spirochaetes have been found by me recently associated with 

 intestinal lesions of the pig, but apparently they were not the 

 cause of any serious general disturbance. 



The lesions were first observed in two young pigs received 

 alive from the country for examination. The animals on arrival 

 were very lean, and though the temperatures were above normal 

 the appetite was good. The blood of each was normal so far as 

 erythrocytes were concerned (7,500,000 to 8,000,000), but 

 there was a definite increase in leucocytes (50,000) chiefiy 

 eosinophiles. 



During the succeeding three days, ^is the condition was rapidly 

 improving and no definite symptoms could be detected beyond 

 a slight fluctuation in the temperature, one was slaughtered for 

 examination, and the other a week later, when it was obvious 

 a very decided improvement in a^jpearance had taken place, 

 these facts alone pointing to some neglect or dietetic error 

 having been the cause of the poor condition. 



The first pig killed showed a definite pathological condition 

 of the large intestine. Tlie mucosa of the caecum was affected 

 for an area of about eight inches with patches of infiammation 

 covered by diphtheritic false membrane. The large intestine 



