ACUTE INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 95 



11. Tuberculosis. 



Pearly disease; consumption; grapes; "white 

 plague." 



While sheep are not very susceptible to this 

 disease, government reports for last year show 

 over half-a-million dollars' worth of mutton con- 

 demned for this disease alone. 



Cause: The Bacterium tuberculosis, a very 

 small organism found chiefly in the lymph system. 

 Because of the very extensive literature on this 

 subject only a brief summary is herewith given. 



Symptoms: A tuberculous sheep exhibits very 

 few symptoms; a lack of thrift being the most 

 noticeable. The visible mucous membranes are 

 pale, while the wool is harsh and dry. The clin- 

 ical picture greatly resembles infection by stomach 

 worms, and only an autopsy will determine the 

 exact trouble. In suspected cases the intra-dermal 

 tuberculin test may be resorted to. 



Treatment: At present, hopeless. An entire 

 change of quarters and breeding stock is advised. 



12. Ovine Caseous Lymphadenitis. 

 Pseudo-tuberculosis. 



Cause: The Bacillus pseudotuberculosis ovis, a 

 very delicate, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped 

 germ. It stains with anilin dyes and by Gram's 

 method. 



Symptoms: There are no marked symptoms, 

 and the disease is not discovered until after death. 

 Many cases are reported by government inspectors 



