313 



Excepting in rabbits A and B, cultures were mare from the heart blood 

 of all the rest belonging to this series, the tetracoccus being recovered 

 each time, either alone (in C, D, E, J, and L) or associated with some 

 bacillus, not always the same (in F, G, H, I, and K). Remarkable 

 differences were observed in the colour of the colonies of the recovered 

 tetracoccus, differing at times in those that appeared in one same agar 

 tube. 



All the rabbits inoculated with the mosquito tetracoccus died in 

 consequence of that inoculation. In most of them there was a rise of 

 temperature between 40° and 41° C. in the first six to twelve hours, this 

 immediate reaction marking in. some cases the commencement of the 

 infectious fever, whilst in others several days of incubation were interposed. 

 The characteristic febrile movement consisted of two paroxysms separated 

 by a remission of one or two days, during which the temperature fell lower 

 than in the preceding or following days. Death took place, as a rule, 

 between the fifth and ninth day of the attack. 



Two of the rabbits (J and K) of the present series, as also three of the 

 next (M, Q, R), whose symptoms I was able to watch during the last hours 

 before their death, have presented a very remarkable set of symptoms, 

 which I find myself justified in describing at length ; all the more so, as I 

 suspect that several of the other animals died in a similar manner. 



Beyond a certain amount of depression when the fever was high, and 

 the great loss of flesh, the animals did not appear to be in danger of death 

 until the symptoms which I refer to began to show themselves. They had 

 no diarrhoea, no paralysis nor dyspnoea ; notwithstanding their comparative 

 weakness they moved about, skipping and taking their food; but a few 

 hours before death the rabbit forsakes its companions and food, draws itself 

 up close to a wall or corner, doubled up, with its head drooping, and serins 

 drowsy, but is easily roused by any sound or contact; sometimes it shows 

 signs of hallucinations by certain brusque movements, by a sudden jump 

 or run across the stable without apparent motive ; at times there is some 

 emission of urine or faeces. Now and then contraction of the frontal muscles 

 or of the elevators of the lids, some oscillations of the eyeball, and convulsive 

 twitches of the body and extremities, may be seen. These disturbances may 

 be unilateral, or more marked on one side than on the other. The ears are 

 likewise moved one way or the other by spasmodic twitches. Certain muscles 

 may momentarily give way, but there is no permanent paralysis nor 

 contraction. Then suddenly, the limbs of one side or of both relax, and the 

 animal drops either on its side or on its stomach, the legs remaining for a 

 while inert, and a real eclamptic seizure follows. The head is drawn back; 

 the legs rigidly extended; the upper lid drawn up, at first; then clonic 

 convulsions, with forward and backward movements of the legs; 

 thoracic convulsions, some momentary winking or nystagmus, and, at 

 times, such violent contractions that the body rolls over once or twice. 



