with ■■ l!OG' 



sriKOC'H.ETOHIS OF SUDANESE FOWLS 99 



point of view) niouej- prizes for the best kept and finest fowls. I was, myself, asked to 

 be the judge, and found, amongst the avian candidates, one hen dying apparently from 

 acute spirochietosis, one cock without a leg, several other deformed birds, not a few 

 infested with vermin, and none that in any civilised country would have been considered 

 for a moment. The only wonder is, that cases of acute enteritis and fowl diphtheria 

 were not likewise present ! 



I fear, therefore, it will be a long time before the ordinary native takes any real 

 interest in veterinary medicine, and there is, at present, a lack of machinery for educating 

 him in its principles and for pointing out how he might benefit by taking an intelligent 

 and enlightened view of western advance in such matters. 



So far then one has been unable to carry out any scheme whereby the serum of 

 infected birds freed from spirochaetes, or that of recovered birds, might be tried (possibly in 

 vain) for preventive inoculation or where atoxyl might be employed as a curative remedy. 

 The work with orsudan, mentioned in our Third Report, was brought to an untimely end 

 by the fire in the laboratories and has not been resumed. As I was thinking of testing 

 the effects of atoxyl, which, both as atoxyl itself and as atoxylate of mercury, has been 

 found to be specific for the Brazilian septicaiuiia of fowls, "606" appeared upon the Experiments 

 scientific horizon, and, on reading about its great efficiency in avian spirochaetosis, 

 I determined to test it on the Sudan disease and also to see if it woidd help in clearing 

 up the question of the true nature of the intra-corpuscular bodies. 



Professor Ehrlich, to whom I wrote, most kindly and generously sent me a good supply 

 of the drug, and though there has not been time for any extensive series of observations, 

 the following results may be recorded : — 



1. Effects on SpiRocHiiTES 



JitiiiKirii H, mil. Young fciwl weighing 4'20 grammes sent from the market and found to l)e suffering 

 from spirochietosis. It was evidently at the Ijegiiiuing of an attack and was not very ill, but showed 

 about one sjjirochBetc in everj' half-dozen microscopic fields examined (Of. 1.. oil imm. i/l'2th Leitz). 

 The bird's skin was hot and it was evidently fevered. 



Janunrij 25. Infection found to have considerably increased over-night. Spirochaetes numerous and 

 forming small tangles. Given ■001 gramme ''600" rubbed up with sterile olive oil and injected into the 

 muscles of the thigh. 



JiiiiUJirii 26. Blood found to be quite free from spirochastes. Bird apparently well and fairly lively. 

 Spirochsetes never reappeared, but on JintKari/ 30, bodies were found for the first time. The infection 

 was slight. Some were merely tiny granules, others snggested diplococci and others again, though small, 

 were of the usual ring form. 



Ffbruriri/ 1. Increase in number of bodies. Ring forms increasing both in numbers and in size. 



Fehriuiry 4. Increase still continuing. Multiple infection of red cells observed. 



FebniJirii o. Infection now very heavy. Multiple infection common. All stages from the tiny 

 granule to the large "spore" form seen. Small and large forms together in the same corpuscle. 



The course of this case suggested that, in addition to freeing the peripheral blood of spirochsetes, 

 the drug had broken up these latter in the internal organs into infective granules. These had then, 

 invaded the red cells and proceeded to develop in them, finallj' undergoing a true schizogony with the 

 formation of merozoites. 



It would perhaps have been lietter not to interfere further with the ]jrocess but merely follow up the 

 case. For better or worse, however, one decided to administer more "&)(}" and on this date about 

 "002 gramme was given. 



Februiinj 6. The red cells stain badly but the bodies are very distinct. Though not less numerous 

 they appear shrunken. A few " spore " forms visible. 



Fibruiirii 7. Distinct diminution in number of bodies. Some of the red cells have spherical holes 

 in them as if the bodies had fallen out of them. Slultiple infection still present. 



FibriKiri/ a. No change, so another 002 gramme "606" given. Weight = 372 grammes. 



Fibrttary 9. A very marked decrease in the number of bodies. No multiple infection seen. The 

 few bodies persisting are small. No gaps or holes seen in red cells. 



Ffbrwinj 10. Blood very watery and anaemic but bird well. Still further diminution in the number 

 of l;odies but a fair number persist. 



February 11. No change. 



February 12. Possiblj' a slight increase in the bodies. Weight — 403 grammes. 



