" BRAXY " SHEEP DISEASE IN AUSTRALIA. 579 



Adult fowls are refractory to small doses — 0'25 cc. 



II. VICTORIAN BACILLUS. 



(For Details see Appendix B.) 



Sheep. — Sheep of various ages have been used, but always in 

 good condition. Inoculations have invariably been made in the 

 subcutaneous tissue of the inner surface of the thigh. Small doses 

 of animal effusions containing bacteria and of young pure cultures 

 always cause death. The duration of the disease when virulent 

 cultures are employed varies, death occurring within 24 hours with 

 0.5 cc, and 40 hours with 0.25 cc. The course of the experimental 

 disease is characterised by lameness and intense swelling of the 

 inoculated limb, prostration, py:-exia and coma, death resulting 

 without struggling if undisturbed. 



The pathological changes observed on post mortem examination 

 if made immediately are subcutaneous oedema of the inoculated 

 limb, extending from the coronet to the pubis and often some distance 

 along the wall of the abdomen. The skin may or may not be dis- 

 coloured, but is generally puffy. This oedema is more or less 

 blood-tinged near the seat of inoculation, but elsewhere, especially 

 from the hock downwards, is clear and gelatinous. The muscles 

 around the site of inoculation are more or less hemorrhagic, dark 

 in colour and infiltrated with gaseous bloody serosity ; but much 

 depends apparently on the depth to which the needle has pene- 

 trated. There is usually some odour noticeable on incising the 

 muscle, but it soon disappears. The odour is more like that of 

 blackleg muscle than that of ordinary putrefaction. 



The peritoneal cavity contains more or less fluid, though occa- 

 sionally none may be present. 



In only one instance (an animal inoculated with blood and 

 pleural effusion of a natural case) have T observed any evidence 

 of peritonitis. The liver frequently shows areas of necrosis, and 

 the whole organ may be more or less degenerated. Necrotic areas 

 are not constant, however, either in these experimental cases 

 or in the natural cases. The spleen is usually pulpy and dark, 

 and the kidneys are more or less congested. 



The abomasum almost invariably shows pathological changes. 

 Frequently the whole of the mucosa is deeply congested, the 

 submucosa being more or less cedematous, the mucous folds 

 markedly so. At other times the acute congestion is confined to 

 patches, varying in size situated towards the pylorus. Occasio ally 

 haemorrhagic areas may be seen under the serous coat of the 

 viscus. Very rarely, if ever, is gastritis entirely absent. 



The small intestines are generally congested, especially the 

 anterior portion ; the submucosa is more or less cedematous, and 

 there is generally more or less serous exudate into the otherwise 

 empty bowel. The large intestines generally show ecchymoses, 

 often patches of congestion, and at times small haemorrhages 



