172 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



Immunity. Vaccination with killed or attenuated cultures develops an im- 

 munity, while vaccination against this particular organism is successful, it is 

 not of practical importance, because of the fact that this particular organism 

 is not the primary cause of the disease. Agglutination is well marked, and has 

 been used in diagnosis. 



Bacillus piscidus agilis, Sieber 



Disease produced. No specific name given. 



Animals infected. Fish. 



Animals susceptible. Frogs, mice, rabbits, dogs, and guinea-pigs upon inoc- 

 ulation. 



Pathogenesis. Disease is marked by shortness of breath, unrest, apathy, 

 and finally paralysis. 



Poisonous properties. The filtrate of cultures is poisonous, also the dis- 

 tillate. Cadaverin, and other known ptomains have been obtained from cultures. 



Immunity. 



Bacillus coli, (Bacterium coli commune, Escherich) 



Disease produced. This organism is a normal inhabitant of the intestinal 

 tract of man and animals but under certain conditions produces inflammation 

 of the internal organs, such as choleocystitis, peritonitis, meningitis, cystitis, 

 suppurative nephritis, and even generalized septicemia. 



Pathogenesis. This organism is not highly pathogenic under ordinary con- 

 ditions, and when found in inflammatory processes, it is generally associated 

 with other organisms. Undoubtedly, one of the reasons why this organism is 

 found in various organs in post mortems, is the fact that it gains entrance into 

 the blood just before death, producing the so-called agonal invasion. 



Poisonous properties. No specific coli-toxin has been produced. 



Immunity. Animals may be immunized by the injection of killed cultures. 

 The immunization resulting from the formation of bactericidal amboceptors and 

 agglutinins. 



Bacillus enicritidis, Gaertner 



Disease produced. Meat poisoning. 



Animals infected. Man. 



Animals susceptible. Mouse, guinea pig, rabbit, pigeon, lamb, and goat. 



Animals immune. Dog, cat, rat, pigeon, and sparrow. 



Pathogenesis. It is believed at the present time, that many of the so-called 

 cases of ptomaine poisoning which have occurred in the past, and been recorded 

 as such in medical literature, are due to the presence of this organism, and its 

 soluble toxin. The organism has been isolated repeatedly from spleen of fatal 

 cases. The disease is contracted by eating infected meat, and is characterized 

 by vomiting, and violent diarrhoea, followed by collapse, head-ache, and not 

 infrequently urticarial or herpetic eruptions. Anatomical findings are not speci- 

 fic. Meat undoubtedly is infected only when coining from animals sick with 

 an intestinal or general infection before they were slaughtered. 



Poisonous properties. The organism produces in the meat, a soluble heat- 

 resistant toxin in considerable quantities. This toxin in its heat-resisting 

 properties, differs from most toxins and also in the fact that no anti-toxins 

 are produced. Sufficient toxin is usually present to give the first effects of the 



