LECTURE XXXV 



BACILLUS NECROPHORUS INFECTIONS 



Here we have a group of similar diseases, each due princi- 

 pally to B. necrophorus. Included in this group are: foot-rot 

 of sheep, foul foot in cattle, lip and leg ulceration of sheep, 

 canker sore mouth in young pigs, and necrotic enteritis of older 

 hogs. In each case, the characteristic lesion is a local inflam- 

 mation with a marked tendency to local necrosis, for example, 

 an ulcer or a diphtheritic membrane. 



Fig. 57. — Bacillus Necrophorus. (B. A. I.) 

 Coccoid, bacillary and filamentous forms. 



Cause. — The principal cause of necrophorus infections is 

 Bacillus necrophorus. A distinctive peculiarity of this bacillus 

 is its tendency to destroy local tissue through its products. 



This bacillus is associated with filth. It is apparently a nor- 

 mal inhabitant of the intestines of swine, and perhaps of other 

 animals. Infection is therefore liable to come from manure or 

 from contaminated soil, soil recently fertilized with hog ma- 

 nure, for example. 



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