610 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G2. 



fluid. Lungs voluminous and oedematous ; mediastinal glands enlarged and 

 haemorrhagic. Pericardium : several ounces of clear, semi-gelatinous 

 effusion. Heart normal. No evidence of putrefaction throughout the 

 carcase. 



Case III.- — Two-year-old wether, fat. — Carcase cold, but for faint 

 warmth in armpit. Abdomen much distended with gas, causing abduction 

 of limbs from body. (This animal had not been observed ill twelve hours 

 previously when the flock had been placed in paddock. The night had been 

 cold, hoar frost covering the ground in tlie morning.) Much sero-sanguineous 

 effusion in subcutaneous tissues, especially along inferior aspect of thorax and 

 abdomen, particularly about the pubis and anterior part of the sternum. 

 Lymphatic glands of limbs not enlarged or haemorrhagic. Abdomen : 

 quantity of sero-sanguintous effusion. Liver : commencing putrefaction, 

 with gas bubbles, but no necrosis ; no distoma observed. Abomasum 

 empty but for small quantity of sandy soil ; muccsa slightly congested. 

 Spleen slightly enlarged, dark and soft. Kidneys : slight congestion. Thorax: 

 about a pint of sero-sanguineous effusion. Lungs normal ; mediastinal 

 glands congested. Pericardium : small quantity of serous effusion. Heart 

 normal. It should be observed that the owner had noticed the most promi- 

 nent of these lesions in the majority of the animals which he had examined 

 post-mortem, so that the above may be taken as presenting a fair indication 

 of the usual picture. 



Examination of Specimens Secured. — Smears were secured and pipettes 

 filled from various fluids and tissues of the first two cases, time not permitting 

 this in regard to the third. The smears from the first case showed in the 

 subcutaneous fluid the pre-scapular glands, the pleural fluid and blood, few 

 organisms, chiefly large bacilli, generally in pairs, varying somewhat in 

 length, and some sporulating terminally. The spleen showed similar bacilli, 

 some in chains of four ; the liver the same bacilli and longer and broader 

 bacilli, probably putrefactive, the peritoneal fluid similar bacilli, also much 

 narrower bacteria, some cocci, etc. The smears from the second case showed 

 no organisms except those from the liver, which contained a few bacilli in. 

 pairs similar to those described. 



n. — Isolation of Pathogenic Organism by Passage through 

 Sheep and Guineapigs. 



Sheep 6 (two years old) was inoculated with 0-25 cc. mixture of blood 

 and pleural fluid from Case I., and Sheep 7 (same age) with the same dose 

 of similar materia (apparently sterile) from Case II. Sheep 7 developed no 

 symptoms of illness as result of inoculation. Sheep 6 the following morning 

 was ill, lying down, and with no appetite. The subcutaneous tissue of the 

 inoculated region was distended with oedema, but skin not discoloured, 

 Temperature, 102°. At noon, 24 hours after inoculation, swelling increased, 

 and extending to coronet, with slightly livid tint of skin. Continued increase 

 of swelling throughout day. Following morning, 44 hours alter inoculation, 

 animal found dead. Post-mortem examination : carcase cold, except at 

 axillae and groins. Skin over region ot inoculation livid, but not gangrenous. 

 Subcutaneous tissues ot inoculated (hind) limb and along floor of abdomen 

 for 6-8 inches distended with semi-gelatinous oedema, which at site of inocula- 

 tion was blood-tinged, showed some gas and had a slightly putrefactive odour. 

 Abdominal cavity contained about 10-12 oz. of sero-sanguineous effusion. 

 Some fibrinous adhesions between anterior portion of bowels and liver and 

 between caecum and peritoneal wall with injected peritoneum underneath. 

 Rumen tympanitic. Abomasum deeply congested from cardiac orifice to 

 near pylorus, where congestion becomes patchy ; submucous tissue of folds 

 oedematous ; contents fluid, small in quantity and containing sandy material. 

 Small intestines practically empty of ingesta, but catarrhal mucoid fluid 

 present ; caecum and anterior portion ot large colon show mucous haemorr- 

 hages ; kidneys congested ; spleen softened, but otherwise normal ; liver : 



