FORAGE POISONING ERGOTISM 29 



addition to giving the antidote, the treatment is entirely symptomatic. (Stuhr). 



Fig. 5. A. Aspergillus fumigatus showing coniliophore on right with sterigmata and 

 spores attached on left. B. A. niger showing conidiophore, sterigmata, and spores attached 

 in chains. After Siebenmann. 



Pneumonomycosis is a not uncommon disease of domestic 

 Aspergillosis animals caused chiefly by the mould, Aspergillus fumigatus, 

 although the Aspergillus niger is also pathogenic for birds. This 

 disease is most frequent in birds, both domestic and wild, occasionally observed 

 in horses and cattle, and rarely in man. Respiratory diseases and lowered vital- 

 ity predispose. In all species the disease is characterized by purulent local 

 inflammations in the lungs or other tissues, and a purulent and necrotic pseudo- 

 membrane upon the bronchial, tracheal, and other mucous membranes upon 

 which it grows. The appearance of the pulmonary lesions sometimes resembles 

 tubercle, sometimes actinomycosis. 



Pneumonomycosis has been experimentally produced in birds (pigeons and 

 geese) by compelling them to inhale aspergillus spores for a few minutes, after 

 which they usually die of pneumonia in a few days. Rabbits have also been 

 successfully inoculated by intravenous injection of spores. 



Etiology. In mammals the Aspergillus fumigatus and in birds the Asper- 

 gillus fumigatus, niger and jlavescens seem to be pathogenic species. 



Infection takes place most commonly by inhalation of the spores which 

 often are suspended in the air, or by taking them in with the food. Intestinal 

 infection has not been observed. The spores are widely distributed in nature 

 and exist in vegetable matter and grain abundantly. They possess remarkable 

 vitality and exhibit considerable resistance to destructive agencies. The patho- 

 genic power of the mould does not depend upon any product which it elaborates 

 but upon the reactions which result from its penetration into the tissues. Peck 

 observed the disease in seven subjects, in a stable where horses were fed on 

 mouldy hacked hay. 



Symptoms. The disease is of slow development in the larger animals and 

 may not be observed until well advanced. In general the symptoms are of a 

 pneumonic nature and in addition there is progressive emaciation. A case in a 



