Microbic Diseases Indimdually Considered. 267 



entry the germ appears to pass at once into the blood 

 as is indicated by the high fever at the beginning of 

 the disease; it then becomes localized in the lym- 

 phatic system. The microbic theory of strangles ac- 

 counts for its contagiousness, the secondary abscesses 

 met with in the course of the disease, and the sep- 

 tico-pysemic complications which, in certain cases, 

 terminate it. 



Contagious acne of the horse. 



This disease is characterized by a pustulous der- 

 matitis which is very readily transmitted to other 

 animals. It is generally benign but may be more 

 severe and lead to the production of ulcerations and 

 inflammations of the lymphatic vessels and gUinds. 

 It is, however, always easily distinguished from farcy 

 by the great tendency to cicatrization of the ulcers 

 which it occasions ; in farcy, moreover, true pustules 

 do not occur. Acne is distinguished from horse-pox 

 or variola of the horse by the fact that the eruption 

 in this last disease is always localized in the lips, 

 nostrils, and pasterns. 



Dieckerhofi' and Grawitz discovered in the pus of 

 acne a short bacillus (2/i) which they cultivated and 

 the culture of which, rubbed into the skin of the 

 horse, reproduced the disease. The guinea pig suc- 

 cumbs in twenty-four hours when subjected to the 

 same treatment. These cultures are also pathogenic 

 for the ox, sheep, dog, and rabbit. Inoculated under 

 the skin of the mouse it gives rise to the formation of 

 an abscess. 



The natural disease is transmitted by means of the 

 grooming utensils, harness, blankets, etc.; thus, it is 



