Apoplectiform Septicemia in Chickens. 393 



It proved harmless to rabbits when injected subcutem, but fatal 

 in 24 hours when thrown into the peritoneum. The lesions were 

 severe duodenitis and omental inflammation, and the bacterium 

 was found in the liver and duodenal wall. 



Pigeons, rats and mice proved refractory to the artificial cul- 

 tures, also chickens. The latter were injected subcutem, intra- 

 abdominal!}' and intravenously. Yet in view of the constancy of 

 the lesion in hens with the microbe in pure cultures and the 

 absence of all other morbid conditions, Dawson felt justified in 

 attributing the disease to this microorganism. It is possible that 

 his experimental hens had become immune from a previous 

 attack, or failed in some condition of food or environment which 

 is essential to pathogenesis, or finally there may possibly be some 

 other infinitesimal microbe present which escaped observation, 

 but which furnished the occasion for the coincident development 

 of the colon bacterium. 



Treatment. The indications are : the expulsion of the offend- 

 ing bacterium to be followed by nutritious, easily digested food, 

 pure water and tonics. Dawson advises castor oil in dose of two 

 teaspoonfuls, or calomel ^ grain repeated till purgation occurs ; 

 and to be followed by powdered fennel, anise, coriander, cinchona 

 of each 30 grains ; powdered gentian and ginger of each ^ 

 dram ; powdered copperas 15 grains. The addition of bismuth, 

 pepsin, or orexin may be suggested. 



APOPLECTIFORM SEPTICEMIA IN CHICKENS. 



Streptcoccic infection in hens. Most violent in pullets and hens ; less so 

 in capons and cockerels. Found dead, or sick 24 hours, ruffled, prostrate, 

 neck limp, head drooped, indisposed or unable to rise, liquid icteric f aeces, 

 blood-stained skin of neck and breast, death without agony. Lesions : 

 Soiled anal feathers, plump carcass, skin pallor save neck and breast, ex- 

 travasation of blood subcutem and intramuscular, mucosae anaemic, peri- 

 toneal engorgement and effusion, enlarged, engorged liver, cell prolifera- 

 tion, degeneration, coagulation necrosis, gall bladder full. Enlarged con- 

 gested spleen, degeneration. Congested swollen kidneys, epithelial degen- 

 eration, casts, streptococcus. Congested, consolidated bronchioles, alveoli, 

 lungs, with microbe. Meningeal congestion, exudate. Bacteriology : 

 Streptococcus, pure cultures in lesions, size, chains, tetrads, staining quali- 

 fies, culture media, colonies, action on sugars, acid, no gas, on milk no 



