594 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G2. 



An experiment demonstrated the specific nature of the disease. 

 Doses of i and 1| cc. of heart blood from cases recently dead were 

 injected subcutaneously into two crossbred hoggets which had 

 never been on turnips or in contact with affected sheep. One died 

 in 24, the other in 52 hours. The chief changes observed post 

 mortem were intense hsemorrhagic oedema in the subcutaneous 

 tissues near the side of inoculation ; in one, pericardial effusion 

 with petechia of the endocardium ; in the other, a quantity of 

 pleural effusion. 



From specimens Mr. Wilkie forwarded to me, then chief 

 Veterinarian in WeHington, a short bacillus often in pairs, gram- 

 positive, anaerobic, non-motile, was isolated and cultivated on 

 agar broth, etc. Both with original materia morbes and with 

 cultures experiments were conducted on guineapigs and on sheep. 



Guineapigs inoculated with small doses succumbed as a rule 

 in 24 hours or less. Post-mortem examination showed extensive 

 subcutaneous sero-sanguineous extravasation, and at times a small 

 quantity of peritoneal serous effusion. 



Sheep inoculated with agar cultures died in from 50 hours to 

 four days, one recovering from the inoculation of a small dose. Post- 

 mortem examination showed extensive subcutaneous and inter- 

 muscular sero-sanguineous extravasation, a varying quantity of 

 sero-sanguineous effusion in abdomen, in the pleural and peri- 

 cardial cavities in one case a quantity of similar exudate, in others 

 none ; ecchymoses in varying situations as heart, pulmonary 

 pleura, peritoneum, etc.; spleen at times pulpy but not enlarged, 

 etc. No evidence of putrefactive odour immediately after death 

 was detected. 



At the time owing to pressure of other work the investi- 

 gation was not continued, it being considered certain it could be 

 readily resumed the following winter. Unfortunately for this, 

 however, by the following year the farmers were found to be 

 following the recommendation made by the Veterinary Depart- 

 ment, with so much success that Mr. Wilkie failed entirely to 

 secure specimens satisfactory for the continuation of the work, 

 so that up to the date of my departure from the Dominion it was 

 found impossible to complete this work from the scientific stand- 

 point. Leaving aside, however, the rarity or slightness of stomach 

 lesions, the close similarity of the disease with the others under 

 review particularly in regard to seasonal occurrences, age inci- 

 dence, condition-predisposition, suddenness of death without pre- 

 monitary symptoms, and the general post-mortem picture, together 

 with what has been recorded of the bacteriology, impels one to 

 the conclusion this is but another phase at most of " braxy." 



Diseases Allied but Distinct. 

 Malignant (Edema and Blackleg. — Malignant oedema and black- 

 leg in many respects are diseases which simulate the one under 

 review. Malignant oedema frequently, however, attacks sheep 

 after shearing, castration, docking, &c., the bacilli gaining entrance 



