PSITTACOSIS 189 



Leproline (McLeod), good results, but too early to say as to ulti- 

 mate utility. 



Rhizophora Mangle used much in Cuba. (Nicholson and Padilla.) 



Lepromata disappear definitely fifth to seventh month of treatment, 

 they suppurate and scar or are absorbed, encysted and calcified. 



Ulcers heal by eighth month and anesthetic patches disappear. 



In the ninth month the eyelashes and eyebrows grow again. 



Patient is cured in a year. 



Subcutaneous injection of iodoform. 30 per cent, emulsion in 

 olive oil. Inject 2-8 c.c. daily, first near the lesions. 



Paint with the tincture externally. 



The iodine may disinfect the body, or some bacilli liaving been 

 killed, these set free anti-bodies which destroy the rest. 



Intravenous injection of iodoform. Place ^ grain tablet of iodo- 

 form powdered, in hypodermic syringe. 



Draw therein iii iii of liquid paraffin and 111 vii of ether. • 



Seal needle with lanolin to prevent evaporation of ether. 



Shake till iodoform dissolves. Inject it aseptically into the medio- 

 basilic or other superficial vein, given twice weekly at first, gradually 

 increased to gr. i five times weekly. 



The nodules four to six at a time can also be injected )ii x to 111 xxx, 



PSITTACOSIS. 

 DEFINITION. 



A fatal specific epizootic among parrots, capable of spreading a 

 severe febrile condition to man. 



AETIOLOGY. 



In 1892, 500 parrots were shipped from South America for Paris. 

 300 parrots died en route from enteritis. 

 200 parrots were sold in two lots after arrival in Paris. 



In 26 days an epidemic of psittacosis broke out, affecting 49 persons 

 of which 16 died. Several persons in the same house were attacked. 

 There have been other small outbreaks since. 



The organism is a bacillus of the paracoli group, closely related to, 

 but distinct from, the B. typhosis of Ebert and is pathogenic for 

 parrots and other birds. 



The feathers become infected w ith faecal matter. These are cleaned 

 by the bird's tongue and thus infection is spread among them. 



Humans caressing the birds are infected by the bill or through 

 some slight wound or contamination of food. It rarely spreads from 

 man to man. 



