646 



REPORT OP THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



blood flows freely on cutting into it; very soft. Lungs contain regions of congestion 

 and hepatizations, possibly due to the presence of a few lung worms. Lym[)hatic 

 glands near stomach, the bronchial and superficial inguinal glands deeph^ congested. 

 Other glands only slightly congested. Mucous membrane of stomach extensively 

 congested; a large patch of extravasation in fundus; large intestine severely in- 

 flamed, with occasional extravasations; no ulcerations. 



In these animals the lesions of a severe type of hog-cholera were 

 manifested both by severe inflammations and hemorrhages of the 

 viscera and the extensive ulcerations. It seems very probable that 

 the bacteria begin their ravages after the food has reached the large 

 intestine, where it remains for a time. The absence of anything but 

 a small quantity of semi-liquid matter in the small intestine indicates 

 the rapid passage of food from the stomach into the large intestine. 

 The bacteria are protected from the gastric juice by the muscular 

 and cellular tissue in which they are imbedded, and are thus able to 

 pass through the stomach without being destroyed. The diagnosis 

 of hog-cholera was confirmed in every case by finding the specific 

 bacterium in cover-glass preparations of splenic tissue and obtaining 

 therefrom pure cultures in liquid media and in gelatine. 



In conjunction -with the first series of inoculations, two pigs (Nos. 

 149 and IGl) were inoculated at the same time, as follows: January 

 23, with I''*' of the seventh culture in beef -infusion peptone derived 

 from the spleen of No. 114. No reaction at the place of inoculation 

 in No. 149; a tumor as large as a marble in' No. 161. On February 

 8 both received a second injection of l*'" of the second culture in 

 beef -infusion peptone derived from pig No. IGo. Two swellings as 

 large as a chestnut at the place of the second inoculation in No. 149; 

 in No. IGl also a considerable thickening was present. No. 149 was 

 fed March 5 with four of the preceding series; No. 101 on March 13 

 with the remainder of the preceding series, and some to be subse- 

 quently spoken of. Both died of hog-cholera. The accompanying 

 table and brief autopsy notes explain themselves: 



No. 149. — Slight reddening of the skin and subcutaneous connective tissue; the 

 nodes produced by inoculation firm, pale yellowish, only one showing softening 

 within; spleen considerably enlarged and full of blood; ascarides in gall bladder, 

 wliich is ulcerated ; mucous membrane along fundus of stomach intensely congested ; 

 the mucous membrane of CEecum and upper portion of colon one mass of ulcers; in 

 the remainder of colon they are isolated; kidneys congested. 



No. 161. — Great emaciation; spleen enlarged and gorged ^vith blood, very soft; 

 all excepting the posterior region of each lung hepatized and the bronchi filled with 

 a thick creamy mass, which consists almost entirely of pus coi-puscles; lymphatics 

 but shghtly congested; adhesions between adjacent coil of large intestine and blad- 

 der; caicum and colon studded with large deep ulcers; valve greatly enlarged; in- 

 tense congestion of mucous membrane of fundus; cover-glass preparations from the 

 spleen of both contain the characteristic oval bacterium. Gelatine and liquid cult- 

 ures from the same organ were pure. 



The comparatively large dose of strong virus used for vaccination 

 was not capable of protecting these animals from the disease commu- 

 nicated by feeding. There was no suspicion of disease caused by the 



