Contagious Pleuro-pneumonia. 339 



of the lips, with which an inflammation of the subcutaneous connective 

 tissue, lymph vessels and the lymph glands becomes associated. Treat- 

 ment consists in opening the suppurative formations, while in high fever 

 and in the later course the administration of quinine and camphor is 

 indicated (Monh., 1894, V, 301). 



2. Contagious Pleuro-pneumonia. Pleuropneumonia 

 contagiosa bovum. 



{Lung plague; Lungenseuche der Rinder [German]; Peripneu- 



monie contagieuse [French]; Polmonera, Pleuro- 



polmonite essudativa [Italian].) 



Contagious pleuro-pneumonia is as a rule an acute or sub- 

 acute, but sometimes chronic contagious disease of cattle, which 

 is characterized by an exudative inflammation of the inter- 

 lobular Ijmiph vessels, and of the alveolar tissue of the lungs, 

 with a simultaneous, sero-fibrinous pleurisy. It is caused by 

 a filterable virus. 



History. Since the disease was described in detail by Bourgelat 

 (1765), and Haller (1773), it was according to the changes in medical 

 views considered at one time as a severe typhus affection, and again 

 as a paralysis of the lungs, and the possibility of its spontaneous devel- 

 opment was generally accepted. Chaberts (1794) insisted upon its con- 

 tagiousness, which was since recognized by the majority of authors. This 

 view has been substantiated by the investigations of commissions ap- 

 pointed in the middle of the last century in France, Germany, and 

 in other parts, for the study of the disease. In the meantime Willems 

 (1850-1852) succeeded in proving that cattle may be effectively im- 

 munized with fluid from the lungs of affected animals. The causative 

 factor was discovered by Nocard & Roux in 1898, and by the use of 

 pure cultures a new method of immunization has been worked out. 



Occurrence. Contagious pleuro-pneumonia was extensively 

 prevalent in Europe prior to the last but one decade of the 

 last century, and caused great losses among the cattle herds 

 by its severity. Through the energetic measures which were 

 inaugurated at that time the disease was successfully eradicated 

 in a great part of the continent and also in Great Britain, so 

 that it exists at present only in Russia and Spain ; it also pre- 

 vails in Africa, Australia and Asia. 



Contagious pleuro-pneumonia was known as early as the end of the 17th cen- 

 tury in Switzerland, as well as in the neighboring mountainous regions of Germany 

 and France. At the beginning of the last century it caused great losses among 

 cattle herds in Belgium and Holland. With the expansion of animal traffic about the 

 middle of last century it rapidly extended over large territories, and was spread 

 especially by breeding stock from Switzerland and Holland, which was at that 

 time preferred for breeding and crossing purposes, to the east and also to distant 

 parts of the world. In this manner it was carried to Austria, in 1841 with Dutch 

 cattle to England (in this country however, it had, according to Barker, been ob- 

 served already in 1736), and in 1854 it was imported to South Africa supposedly with 

 a Friesland bull. Further the disease was in 1843 spread from England, also with 

 breeding stock, to Sweden and North America, and in 1858 to Australia. 



