262 VETERINARY HYGIENE 



lesions in equines, e.g., pustular dermatitis, wounds of the pastern, 

 &c. The distinction from farcy was first pointed out by Nocard* 

 in 1892, and a detailed description of the organism given by him 

 in 1896. The same organism had previously been isolated by Preisz 

 in 1891 from lesions in a sheep. The disease shows little tendency 

 to spread by contagion, and of 19 cases described by Nocard only 

 2 came from the same stable. The course is variable; as a rule 

 the disease progresses for a time and recovery then takes place, 

 but sometimes death ensues as the result of the occurrence of meta- 

 static lesions. A considerable number of cases of lymphangitis due 

 at least in part to this organism have been met with in army horses 

 during the war, and a certain measure of success has attended the 

 use of serum from hyperimmunised animals and of vaccination 

 procedures with dead bacilli. A few cases among army horses 

 have been proved to occur in Great Britain during the war. 



2. SPOROTRICHOSIS. Due to a hyphomycete, Sporotrichum 

 equi, probably identical with Sporotrichum beurmanni, which has 

 been noted to cause multiple abscesses in man. The organism prob- 

 ably exists as a saprophyte, causing sporadic cases to occur on 

 gaining entrance to wounds or abrasions. 



The disease is slowly progressive, though not as a rule serious, 

 and is rarely fatal. A few cases have been proved to occur during 

 the war amongst army horses in Great Britain. Cases are more 

 frequently encountered in the United States of America. The 

 organism which is contained in the discharges from the abscesses 

 can remain alive for considerable periods outside the body. It can 

 live for at least three months in dry pus at 7 C. 



On encountering cases of lymphangitis in^ horses the proper 

 thing is to isolate and apply the mallein test. If either of the last 

 two-named diseases, or a simple infection due to pyogenic micro- 

 cocci, be diagnosed, it is wise to continue isolation until recovery 

 has taken place, when the stalls or boxes may be disinfected. 

 Heroic measures such as slaughter are not necessarily indicated as 

 soon as a Preisz-Nocard or a sporothrix infection is diagnosed. 



ACTINOMYCOSIS. 



Actinomycosis (wooden tongue, lumpy jaw) is a disease 

 characterised by the formation of inflammatory growths following 

 inoculation with a vegetable parasite of the streptothrix species, 

 the actinomycis bovis or ray fungus. At one time it was not 

 looked upon as a disease per se, cases being referred to tumour 



* Nocard and Leclainche, Maladies microbiennes des animau.v, Vol. II., p. 171. 





