BILHARZIOSIS IN CATTLE AND SHEEP. 439 



swine, mice, pigeons, and poultry, which are not killed by the bacillus of 

 symptomatic anthrax. 



The bacilli of braxy, malignant oedema, symptomatic anthrax, together 

 with Ivar Nielsen's shortly described bacillus of whale's septicaemia, and 

 Thoma's bacillus of malignant emphysema (found in extensive sub- 

 cutaneous inflammation and emphysema in man), and certain others less 

 well known, form a group of closely allied bacilli resembling one another 

 in form, in being anaerobic, and in producing a sero-haemorrhagic inflam- 

 mation and emphysema, but differing in the manner of producing their 

 effects. 



Experience and analogy both seem to indicate that young animals 

 occasionally suffer from mild attacks of braxy from which they recover. 

 Such animals afterwards exhibit a well-marked immunity against the 

 disease. 



Ivar Nielsen attempted to vaccinate against braxy by a method 

 resembling that used in black-quarter. He dried the diseased kidney 

 tissue, and injected subcutaneously small quantities of the material thus 

 obtained suspended in water. A slight local inflammation followed, which 

 appeared to protect against later " spontaneous " infection. He has used 

 this method in his own district, and states that it is also practised to some 

 extent in Iceland. As far as one can judge — and of course a just opinion 

 is very difficult to form — these inoculations appear of value. 



The result of experiment, considered in conjunction with the good 

 results of inoculation for black-quarter, would seem to indicate that 

 Nielsen's method of vaccination against braxy may yet prove of the 

 greatest possible value, although the method will doubtless require 

 modification in its details. 



These modifications Jensen enumerates at some length. 



(Mr. Dollar has been informed that Professor Hamilton and Br. McCall 

 have been engaged in an investigation regarding the possibility of con- 

 ferring immunity against braxy, and that a Government report will be 

 issued on the subject. Up to the present time however — April, 1905 — he 

 has not been able to obtain this report or any advance proof sheets of it.) 



BILHARZIOSIS IN CATTLE AND SHEEP. 



This disease is caused by the bovine blood fluke {Schistosoma bovis 

 of cattle and sheep. Synonyms : Billiarzia bovis ; Bilharzia crassa ; 

 Gyncecophorus crassus ; Gymecophorus bovis ; Bilharzia hcematobia crassa ; 

 Schistosomum bovis. 



Geographical Distribution. Egypt, Italy, Sicily, India (?). 



This parasite was discovered by Sonsino (1876) in Egypt in the 

 portal veins of the ox, and later he found it in sheep, while Grassi 



