MILK SICKNESS. 339 



of the cedematous fluid, dilated with distilled water, 

 and injected into a third guinea-pig, was followed by 

 the same result." 1 



MILK SICKNESS. This is an infectious disease 

 which prevails in certain rural districts in the 

 United States, and which is said gradually to 

 recede before the advance of improved agricul- 

 ture : 



" In its source, in unimproved marshy localities, it 

 closely resembles the malignant anthrax ; also, in its 

 communicability to all animals ; but it differs essen- 

 tially in that it fails to show local anthrax lesions, in 

 place of which it expends its energy on the nerve 

 centres, producing great hebetude and loss of muscular 

 power. According to Dr. Phillips it is characterized 

 by the presence in the blood of a microzyme (spirillum) 

 like that seen in relapsing fever. The germ is probably 

 derived from drinking-water, or the surfaces of veg- 

 etables, as certain wells are found to infect with cer- 

 tainty, and the disease has been repeatedly produced 

 by feeding upon particular plants (Rhus toxicodendron, 

 etc.). That these plants, in themselves, are not the 

 pathogenic elements, is shown by their innocuous prop- 

 erties when grown in places out of the region of the 

 milk-sickness infection. It seems altogether probable 

 that here, as in malignant anthrax, we are dealing with 

 a microzyme which has developed pathogenic properties, 

 and which can be reproduced indefinitely in the bodies 

 of living animals. The great danger of this affection 

 consists in the conveyance of the germ with unimpaired 

 potency through the flesh and milk, and through man- 

 ufactured products of the latter, butter and cheese. 



1 Quoted from The British Medical Journal, July 15, 1882, p. 99. 



