TRANSMISSION OF TUBERCULOSIS FROM MAN TO THE CAT. 475 



softened and at places caseous. The liver and spleen showed granula- 

 tions ; the pleura was dotted with vegetations, and both lungs con- 

 tained recent tubercles. Bacilli were found in the pus from the swell- 

 ing formed b}' the lymphatic glands. 



TRANSMISSION OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS FROM MAN TO 



THE CAT. 



176. In June, 1887, Dr. Leon Petit described two cases of trans- 

 mission of tuberculosis to dogs from their owners attacked with pul- 

 monary phthisis. The first was that of a dog which ate the sputum, 

 etc., of a phthisical person ; the second referred to a dog which had 

 lived for several months in a close room in which its mistress slowly 

 died of phthisis. On autopsy both showed tuberculous pleurisy and 

 invasion of the pulmonar}- tissue, and one in addition exhibited pneu- 

 mothorax. Microscopic examination confirmed the diagnosis. 



Somewhat later Dr. Petit had in his laboratory a female cat which 

 greedily devoured the sputum of phthisical patients. All refuse of this 

 kind was for experimental reasons given to it. 



The animal soon grew thin, its coat stared, its eyes were bleared, it 

 had a muco-purulent discharge from the nose, violent sneezing, and 

 sometimes cough followed by vomiting. It crawled with difficulty, 

 and appeared in the last stages of some chronic grave disease. Koch's 

 bacillus was frequentl}- detected in the discharges. 



The animal was kept under close observation, and Dr. Petit was 

 therefore greatly surprised when, two and a half months later, about 

 the time of its becoming pregnant, the symptoms rapidly abated, and 

 the animal seemed in a fair way to recovery. It still ate the sputum 

 greedily. Somewhat later it bore seven well-developed kittens, one of 

 which it suckled for five months. A slight dry, hacking cough per- 

 sisted. Six months after deliver}- it was killed. 



Autopsy. — The lower parts of both lungs were somewhat congested ; 

 a very frothy muco-sanguinolent liquid escaped from the bronchioles 

 on section. In the lower part of the right lobe was a collection of 

 small, hard cretaceous masses, which on manipulation produced a 

 feehng like that of rubbing sand-paper. These little points were 

 greyish and surrounded b}' a zone of paler colour than neighbouring 

 parts. The apices of the lungs and the pleura were free of lesions, as 

 were the visceral organs. Microscopic examination revealed the pre- 

 sence of Koch's bacilli. 



Note. — Coincident with the onset of pregnancy the cat had begun to 

 recover, and some time before being killed was practically cured. 



Drs. Filbau and Petit's case, Joitrn. Comp. Path, and Therap., 1888, p. 60 ; cf. Joiirn. de 

 Med. de Paris, January, 18SS. 



TRANSMISSION OF TUBERCULOSIS FROM MAN TO THE PAROQUET. 



177. A green paroquet, belonging to M. A — , living at No. 9, Rue 

 des Deux Fonts, Paris. Had been bought eight years before by M. A — , 

 and kept in the suite of rooms occupied by him and his family. It had 



