INFECTION. 127 



was filled with a blackish, coagulum. Many other portions of the 

 intestine were the seat of diffuse red infiltration and ecchymoses. 

 The epithelium was loose and easily detached ; the contents of the 

 intestines in general of a yellowish-red color, creamy, and full of gas- 

 globules. Nothing particular to be remarked in the large intestines. 

 Rectum stained dark red in many places ; faeces watery and green 

 in color. 



" The spleen was enlarged from two to two and a half times its 

 normal size ; of a dark-brown color outwardly ; inwardly almost 

 black, soft, and disorganized. Liver dark red in color, swollen, and 

 full of blood. The blood was coagulated in the large hepatic ves- 

 sels ; kidneys, bladder, and testicles offered nothing very abnormal. 



" The thoracic cavity contained a small amount of a sero-haemor- 

 rhagic exudation. The left costal pleura presented ingested vessels, 

 circumscribed red infiltrations and ecchymoses. Both lungs filled 

 with blood, but contained air in all parts ; here and there dark-red 

 spots. The pericardial sac contained a small amount of clear serum 

 (the normal quantity is somewhat less than a tablespoonful, about 

 ten grammes) ; the muscles of the heart of a dark-red color, with 

 here and there dark striations. The ventricles contained a con- 

 siderable quantity of a dark, black-red fluid and some coagulum ; 

 yellow sero-hsemorrhagic infiltrations into retro-pharyngeal and laryn- 

 geal spaces. 



" Microscopic examination : 



" a. The blood from the heart contained, aside from the blood- 

 cells, numerous micrococci and long, straight, and delicate movable 

 bacteria, from 0*005 to 0*01 millimetre in length. 



li b. The spleen contained the same parasitic objects in addition 

 to its usual elements ; also the ingesta. 



" c. These bacteria were also numerously represented in the 

 sero-haemorrhagic infiltrations and the dark stained parts of the 

 muscles." 



Feser gives the following resume with reference to his observa- 

 tions and experiments : 



The disease known as Rauschbrand presents similar phenomena 

 wherever it appears. The animals look as if the cutis had been 

 blown up, and crepitation may be heard and felt on passing the 

 hand over any such parts. The gas from these emphysematous 

 tumefactions burns with a pale-greenish color. 



The disease is confined to localities, and appears with varying 

 constancy each year, causing with anthrax the chief losses of herds- 

 men. The disease appears especially in the summer and fall months. 



