278 HA MORRHAGIC SEPTICEMIA. 
DIAGNOSIS. 
It is very important to distinguish between black leg and 
hzmorrhagica septiceemia, because so far as our present 
knowledge extends, we are practically helpless in the presence 
of hamorrhagica septicemia. We know almost nothing 
concerning the method of its spread, method of infection, 
and we have no vaccine either preventive or curative, and no 
medicinal treatment; whereas black leg can be easily and 
cheaply prevented by vaccination. The diagnosis must de- 
pend upon the history and what can be learned of the ante- 
mortem symptoms and the results of examinations post- 
mortem. 
Ditterential Diagnosis.—So far as the facts occur to the 
writer at present, the differential diagnosis comes between 
hemorrhagica septiceemia, black leg, true anthrax and pos- 
sibly corn stalk disease, if there is a disease which is any 
longer entitled to this name. There can be no question but 
that hzmorrhagica septiceemia has been frequently con- 
founded in the past with other diseases, particularly black 
leg and true anthrax. Anthrax has been so very rare in 
Minnesota during the past ten years that I will leave it out 
it of the discussion in order to simplify. There is developing 
a grave question as to whether there issuch a disease ascorn 
stalk disease. This narrows the differential diagnosis down 
to black leg and cerebro spinal meningitis, either of which 
might be easily confused with the disease under discussion. 
In my discussion of the distinction between black leg and 
hzmorrhagica septiczemia I willhave nothing to say concern- 
ing laboratory work, because very few stockmen in the event 
of an outbreak of heemorrhagica septicaemia or black leg have 
access to bacteriological laboratories. I do not wish to give 
the inference that I underestimate the importance of labora- 
tory work; on the eontrary, a diagnosis in the bacteriologic- 
al laboratory may be positive, accurate, and in some cases 
the only means of making an accurate diagnosis. 
The ante-mortem differential diagnosis, exclusive of la- _ 
boratory findings between hamorrhagica septicemia and 
black leg must evidently be based upon the history of the 
cases, ages of the animals affected, temperature records as 
shown by fever thermometers and local superficial swellings, © 
