BUKEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTOY. 497 



The reaction in tlio birds was quite severe and suggests the local mul- 

 tiplicatinn of the injected bacteria to a considerable extent. 



Two pigeons (Kos. 3, 4), were iuoculated December 10, with a culture 

 about forty-eight hours old, in beef infusion pe|)tone, from the spleen of 

 pig Is"o. Hi. Ko. 3 received ^^" subcutaueously near the keel of the 

 sternum, ifo. 4 received ^'''^ in the same place and an equal quantity 

 near the right shoulder. No. 3 showed no signs of illuess for three 

 weeks after. No. 4 became ill within a day after inoculation. Its 

 feathers became ruffled and it remained very quiet. It seemed to have 

 recovered December 23, when it was killed for examination. At the 

 site of both inoculations large sequestra, about 2'='^ long and 1*=™ thick, 

 were found imbedded in the pectoral muscle, consisting of necrosed 

 muscular tissue. They were grayish and separated from the living tis- 

 sue by a tough, whitish membrane. Both were readily removed. 



In this experiment both birds resisted successfully, the one receiviug 

 the larger dose being made sick for a time. 



Two additional pigeons (Nos. 5, C) were iuoculated December 21 with 

 a liquid culture about nine days old from the spleen of pig No. 112. No. 

 5 received l*^*', one-half being injected subcutaueously on each side of 

 the keel of the sternum. No. G received one-half of this dose in the same 

 manner. No. 5 was found dead next morning. Cover-glass i)repara- 

 tions of the spleen and liver contained no bacteria, the time being too 

 brief for their abundant multiplication in the various viscera. No. G be- 

 came slightly sick the next d'dy. On December 27 its feathers were very 

 much ruffled, and its head drawn in. The bird was killed with chloro- 

 form December 28. When the feathers were removed the crop was found 

 entirely empty, the animal quite emaciated. There was a large tumor 

 on each side of the sternum at the place of inoculation, and coulluent 

 over its anterior portion. Beneath the skin each appeared as a triangu- 

 lar yellowish-white elevated, area about 2<^'" square; on section it ex- 

 tended from l'^'^ to 2*^™ into the pectoral muscle. This mass of muscular 

 tissue appeared as if boiled, resembling that of pigeon No. 1 exactly. 

 Of the viscera, the liver and kidneys were gorged with blood, especially 

 the latter. The lower portion of the intestinal canal, examined with a 

 lens, was found injected and dotted with numerous dark red points. It 

 is very probable that if the animal had been allowed to live tlio intes- 

 tine would have presented the same appearance as that ot pigeon No. 1 . 

 Cover-glass preparations of the internal organs were in general nega- 

 tive, as far as regards the active multiplication of the organism. Liquid 

 cultures of the liver, kidney, and blood from the heart, when tested on 

 plates of gelatine, contained the motile bacterium of swine plague. 

 Cultures Irom the changed pectoral muscle were equally successful. 

 The culture from the liver contained in addition a microbe having o;i 

 gelatine a very active surface growth, contrasting markedly v/ith the 

 growth from the throe remaining cultures which were pure. In this 

 animal, the local reaction, which was very severe, evidently acted as a 

 barrier to the invasion of the microbes. There were too few in the in- 

 ternal organs to be detected in cover-glass preparations, while the cult- 

 ure test proved adequate to demonstrate their presence. 



On December 5 two pigs (Nos. 121, 140) were inoculated with a ])ure 

 liquid culture, about seven days old, from a superlicial iuguinal gland 

 of pig No. 97, each receiving about ok"" of the culture liquid. On De- 

 cember 10 the temperature of No. 121 rose to 107^° p_ j^ ^^^as found 

 dead quite unexpectedly on the morning of December 12, having eaten 

 heartily the evening previous. To summarize huQ^y tha post vioriem 

 32 AG— '85 



