]^04 Hemorrhagic Septicemia of Cattle. 



There is sometimes observed a septic pleuropneumonia in calves which occurs 

 simultaneously with hemorrhagic septicemia in adult cattle. This disease is either 

 closely related to or identical with hemorrhagic septicemia of cattle (See page 

 111). 



Etiology. The cause of the disease is the bacillus (bipolaris) 

 bovisepticiis which is a variety of the bacillus of hemorrhagic 

 septicemia. In its principal characteristics it conforms to the 

 organisms of this group (see page 79). 



Hueppe succeeded in growing it in spring water containing a large amount of 

 organic sul)stances, and also in garden soil. It grows best at body temperature, 

 while at a temperature from 12-13°C. it no longer propagates. A 1:5000 sublimate 

 solution kills it in 1 minute, 3% carbolic acid in 6 hours, moist heat of 80 °C. in 10 

 minutes (Hueppe). The gastric juice appears also to have a bactericidal action 

 (Taufer). Dried virulent blood loses its infectiveness in 14 days (Kitt). 



The virulence of the contagion varies in the different enzo- 

 otics within wide limits. Deer and wild hogs are very suscep- 

 tible, cattle and domestic hogs are somewhat less predisposed. 

 Under natural conditions the disease affects only animals of 

 these species, but sometimes solipeds and also goats may be- 

 come affected. Subcutaneous inoculations of virulent bouillon 

 cultures produce a severe inflammatory edema which is fol- 

 lowed by suppuration and finally by recovery. Calves, how- 

 ever, have died within several days after such an injection. 

 Intravenous injection acts more energetically. By this method 

 calves may be killed with 10 cc, and cattle with 100 cc. of 

 the culture in 1 to 3 days, with manifestations of acute septi- 

 cemia. After a less severe infection the animals gradually 

 emaciate in spite of a good appetite; at the same time an in- 

 flammation develops in the knee and hip joints, as well as a 

 broncho-pneumonia, whereupon the animals die from extreme 

 exhaustion. Autopsy reveals in such cases as a rule only 

 foreign bacteria in the inflammatory products (Lignieres). 

 Among other animals rabbits are susceptible to artificial infec- 

 tion; horse, guinea pig, dog and pigeon are less susceptible, 

 while domestic fowls are not susceptible to this disease 

 (Bollinger, Kitt, Taufer). 



The natural infection results in most cases through the 

 digestive tract; exceptionally the virus may enter the circula- 

 fion through injuries in the buccal mucous membrane and the 

 pkin. The latter method of infection is possibly transmitted 

 through flies and mosquitoes (Franck, Dammann & Oppermann 

 recently connected an outbreak of the disease in the Province 

 of Hannover [1905] with swarms of insects [Simulia ornans] 

 as they succeeded in finding in their bodies bipolar bac- 

 teria, although these were only slightly virulent for rabbits). 

 Bollinger also believes a pulmonary infection possible, but this 

 mode of infection has been proven so far only in rabbits. The 

 virus may also l^e disseminated into remote localities through 

 the meat and hides of affected animals. 



The sporadic cases as well as the first attacks of an enzo- 



