188 CLINICAL BACTERIOLOGY AND 



Foetid diarrhoea may be present, and a chronic arthritis 

 may set in as an additional symptom. 



The animal may eventually sufficiently recover to put on 

 flesh, but seldom thrives well. 



The skin may be the seat of pronounced lesions located 

 under the abdomen and chest, or on the thighs, and in the 

 region of the anus. These may show various degrees of 

 severity, from red spots to vesicles and crusts. 



In somes the animal may be a subject of paralysis. 



Bacteriology. — The consensus of opinion seems to favour 

 the views of Garbert and Uhlenhuth that the bacteria in 

 the secondary infections in cases of swine fever are to a 

 greater or lesser degree normal and non-pathogenic inhabi- 

 tants of the pig. Thus we find the Bacillus suipestifer in 

 the intestines, and the B. suisepticus in the blood and lungs, 

 and it is only due to the debilitating effects of the ultra- 

 visible virus that the bacteria of secondary infection take 

 upon themselves an aggressive role. Be this as it may, we 

 know that most pronounced lesions are set up by the 

 secondary bacteria, which not only adds to the gravity of 

 the disease, but prolongs its course. 



It is presumed the filterable virus produces a catarrh of 

 the intestinal follicles, and while in this condition the 

 B. suipestifer penetrates and multiplies with great rapidity, 

 producing cellular proliferation and necrosis. At first 

 a nodule forms, followed by an ulcer, and showing a 

 necrosed centre. Absorption of the bacteria takes place 

 into the lymph-stream, and in passing through the mesen- 

 teric glands sets up a cellular inflammation, and, later, a 

 dry caseous necrosis. 



In like manner the B. suisepticus locates itself in the 

 circulation, producing a typical hemorrhagic septicemia ; 

 or it may invade the lung tissue, causing pneumonia, and in 

 some cases the pleura becomes involved, constituting a 

 typical pleuro-pneumonia. 



The B. suipestifer belongs to the paratyphus B. 

 group : it is mobile ; in culture it appears as long 



