j272 Report of tlic Health of Animals of the Farm. 



•and throat. A microscopic examination of the blood showed 

 the existence of enormous quantities of white cells — leucocytes — 

 but no bacteria were detected. 



A third rabbit was inoculated at 3*45 r.M., with the blood of 

 ralibit (No. 1). One needle puncture. 



October oOth. — Rabbit apparently unaffected. 



olst. — Rabbit somewhat dispirited. Takes food very sparingly. 



November Xst. — No change. 



'1ml. — Constitutional disturbance subsiding. An examination 

 of the inoculated puncture showed considerable local effects, 

 tending to the death of the surrounding parts. A few days 

 subsequently a small slough separated from the inoculated spot, 

 alter which the animal soon regained its usual health. 



Case 2. — Blood-Poisonixg. 



This case was reported — Nov. 12th — by Mr. Dwyer, veterinary 

 surgeon, who was temporarily in charge of the practice of Mr. 

 Hussey, of Devizes. 



The animal attacked was one of a number of cows which 

 were being fattened by Mr. Farmer, a butcher. They were all 

 fed and managed alike ; their food consisting of meal, oil-cake, 

 bran, chaff, and mangel-wurzel. Their drinking-water was 

 from the same source, and believed to be pure. The cow in 

 question was found dead on the morning of November 4th, no 

 previous illness having been observed. In this instance, as in 

 the preceding one, the flesh and entrails were given to some pigs, 

 and also to some dogs and cats, all of which are reported to have 

 ■died within two or three days afterwards. Seven sows died in 

 all, and in each of them it was observed that death was preceded 

 by extensive swelling of the neck and throat. On jMst-mortem 

 •examination this swelling was found to be due to serous effusion 

 into the areolar tissue of the part ; the blood was black and 

 very imperfectly clotted. No organic lesions existed. 



Mr. Dwyer forwarded to the College for examination a small 

 piece of the rumen and of the flesh of the cow, weighing together 

 only a few ounces. These parts were all he could find by 

 searching the dung-heap on which the entrails and portions of 

 •the carcase had been thrown, and where they had lain for a 

 week exposed to the weather, he not being called upon, until 

 this time, to investigate the case. The parts did not present 

 any abnormal appearances. 



Means were taken, by the free use of antiseptic and other 

 medicinal agents, to prevent the occurrence of other cases in the 

 herd, which proved completely effective. 



