262 Anrmal Repoli for \%\-i of Royal Veterhiar;i College. 



that the ai)petite improved and the faeces gradually became 

 firmer. 



In the month of October it was obvious that the animal 

 was less emaciated, and during the next three months it 

 steadily impi*oved in condition. The extent of the improve- 

 ment can be estimated by comparing Figs. 1 and 2, the latter of 

 which shows the appearance of the animal on January 27, 1914. 

 Unfortunately, owing to the absence of a weighing bridge, 

 the cow was not weighed until November 27, 1912, at which 

 date a good deal of Aveight had already been recovered. The 

 weight on that date was 54 st. 5 lb., and the increase subse- 

 quently was as follows : — 



December 22, 1913 



January 17, 1914 . 



February 14, 1914 



February 28, 1914 



March 14, 1914 . 



April 14, 1914 . 



May 23, 1914 



In view of the steady increase in weight shown above, and 

 the absence of diarrhoea or any other symptom suggesting 

 Johne's disease, it appeared to be possible that the animal had 

 been completely cured ; and, inasmuch as the cow was now 

 prime fat, there was some temptation to have her killed for 

 the butcher. Fortunately, however, it was thought better to 

 prolong the experiment by keeping the cow alive, and subse- 

 quent events showed that in spite of the really remarkable 

 improvement, amounting to an apparent cure, the cow still 

 remained infected with Johne's disease. During the last week 

 of May the diarrhcea returned, and when the cow was weighed 

 on June 6 it was found that there had been a loss of 3 st. 3 lb. 

 in weight in a fortnight. During the next fortnight the loss 

 was no less than 10 st. 13 lb. In the following month there 

 was actually a slight increase in weight, but nevertheless it 

 appeared obvious that the -animal might soon die and it Avas 

 killed on August 2 last. The post-mortem proved that the 

 animal's rapid emaciation had undoubtedly been caused by 

 Johne's disease of the intestine, throughout which the bacilli 

 were found to be very numerous. The cow had also been the 

 subject of tuberculosis, the lungs being extensively affected, 

 while lesions were also present in the liver. The fact is 

 interesting, as showing that infection with Johne's disease does 

 not protect against subsequent infection with tul^erculosis or 

 vice versa. It is possible that the tuberculous disease from 

 which the animal suffered contributed to its loss of condition 

 during the last three months of its life, but it is quite certain 

 that the diarrhoea and rapid emaciation were mainly due to 

 Johne's disease. 



