222 HeiiioiThafiic Septicemia of Sheep. 



a grayish-red hepatization, the pleural covering of these parts 

 of the lungs manifesting indications of a former pleuritic con- 

 dition (thickening and adhesions). The hepatized lung tissue 

 contains numerous necrotic foci which may sometimes be en- 

 closed in a connective tissue capsule. Some of these smaller 

 lesions appear in the form of onion-like layers, from the center 

 of which a tenacious, pus-like mass may be squeezed out, while 

 the larger ones consist of a smeary, grayish-yellow mass which 

 is intermixed with granules. In some of the chronic cases there 

 may only be present manifestations of severe anemia and 

 cachexia mthout any affection of the internal organs. 



Bacteriological examination may readily reveal the presence of the bipolar 

 bacilli, particularly in the lungs, the exudates of the serous membranes, the lymph 

 glands, and in the nasal discharge. On the other hand in chronic cases the 

 bacteriological examination is quite frequently negative, or the presence of other 

 bacteria only can be demonstrated (streptococci, coli bacilli, bacilli of pseudo- 

 tuberculosis, etc.), although Miessner & Schern do not mention secondary organisms 

 in either subacute or chronic cases. In some of the cases the presence of the 

 bipolar bacteria can be proved only by test inoculations (especially with material 

 from lymph glands) or not at all; thus Lignieres succeeded in demonstrating 

 the organism in only 77 out of 258 acute and chronic cases. 



Symptoms. In the acute form, which usually runs its 

 course in from two to five days, sometimes even more rapidly, 

 symptoms of severe febrile infections are present. Marked 

 dullness, rising temperature to 41° C. and higher, inappetence, 

 increased thirst, colicky pains, difficult respiration, allnmiinuria, 

 muscular trembling, etc., are the indications of this form of 

 infection. 



In the subacute cases, which extend from one to three 

 weeks, the symptoms consist of febrile changes in the tem- 

 perature, disturbed appetite and weakness ; at first serous later 

 purulent discharge from the eyes and nose. In addition there 

 may be present either an acute pneumonia or pleural pneu- 

 monia, or an enteritis. In the presence of enteritis the excre- 

 ments are of a greenish-yellow, later of a dark color, and fetid. 

 Sometimes there may be present granulations and also ulcera- 

 tions on the mucous membrane of the lips and in the surround- 

 ing parts and possibly caries of the teeth (Miessner & Schern). 

 In such cases the lips, the cheeks and the tongue swell, they 

 show a dark red discoloration (exceptionally an ulcerative 

 keratitis has been observed) (Friedberger, Tiede). The ani- 

 mals are very weak and die with symptoms of cachexia. Only 

 in rare cases do the symptoms subside after a while. However, 

 the recovery is not complete, the animals often developing later 

 symptoms of a chronic affection of the lungs with cachexia. 



The chronic form, which usually develops in older sheep, 

 sometimes from an acute form, is characterized by the appear- 

 ance of a severe chronic affection of the lungs. The animals 

 cough frequently, they have panting respiration, there is muco- 

 purulent discharge from the nose and eyes and gradual emacia- 



