INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 557 



iiulemnitv for tlie animal. \\'ln.'n this is doiu'. in all cases the animal 

 is (lestioved and the articles with which it has been in contact are 

 thoroujrhly disinfected. AVhen the attendants have attempted to 

 hide the presence of the disea.se in a conmHinity. |)iniislinient is meted 

 out to the owner, attendin«r veterinarian, or other responsible paities. 

 Several States have passed excellent laws in repird to glanders, but 

 the.se laws are not always carried out with the rigidity with which 

 they should be. 



SPOROTRICHOSIS (MYCOTIC LYMPHANGITIS). 

 By John 11. Moul£k, V. M. D., Assistant Chief, Bureau of Auimtil Indiistrj/. 



This disease has previously l)een known in tliis country as ei)izootic 

 lymphangitis, or pseudo-farcy. It is a chronic, contagious disease, 

 particularly of eipiines, caused by a specific organism, the Spoiotri- 

 (hiim nrJirn/'l'ti,, and characterized by a su])pui-ative inflammation of 

 the subcutaneous lymph ves.sels and the neighboring lymph glands. 

 Owing to the fact that this affection does not spread as an epizootic 

 and that its causal factor is a fungus, the name sporotrichosis has 

 l)een sugge.stcd. 



The disease in man was first described by Schenck and by IVur- 

 mann and (Touger^)t. Carougeau observed its occui-rence among 

 horses and mules in Madagascar, while in the United States it was 

 first observed by Pearson in Pennsylvania in 1007, although it is 

 probable that it had existed for many years in various parts of this 

 country. Page and Froth ingham were first to recognize its mycotic 

 nature in the United States. More recently Meyer has also made 

 valuable contributions with regard to the existence of this affection. 

 Its presence has been definitely established in Ohio, Iowa, California, 

 and North Dakota, and there is a probability of its existence in 

 Indiana and several Western States. 



Barfcrioloffy. — The sporotrichum is 2 microns thick, cylindrical 

 and segmented, having more "Dr less bi-anching threads, which bear 

 spores at the end. In the ]ius they occur as slightly ovoid bodies 3 to 

 5 microns long, which are somewhat pointed towaid the j)()les. have a 

 sharp double contour, and only on artificial cultivation at a tempera- 

 ture of over 1^° do they develop into the characteristic spore-caiiying 

 threads. 



The period of incubation varies greatly, extending from three 

 days to four months, or even longer. In artificial inoculations with 

 pus through womuls in tbe skin, inflammation and swelling of the 

 lymph vessels may be noticed in ten to sixty days: these ves.<vls .show 

 in their course a development of hard nodides. from which absces.ses 

 foini. 



Tlie natural infection without doubt is caused through superficial 

 Mvounds, such as galls, barbed-wire cuts, or through various stable 



