274 INFECTIVE DISEASES. 



Though the naked-eye appearances of the kidney in this case 

 were practically healthy, the results of examining sections of the 

 kidney under the microscope were extremely instructive and interest- 

 ing, as they showed that marked changes had taken place which 

 were indicative of septic complication. 



The sections showed glomerulo- nephritis ; there was infiltration 

 of the capsule of Bowman with round cells ; there was infiltration 

 also of the sheaths of the vessels with round cells, especially in 

 the cortex. The blood-vessels in the boundary zone of the medulla 

 were engorged, the arterioles of the glomeruli were also engorged, 

 and there were slight haemorrhages into the capsule. The epithelium 

 of the convoluted tubules was granular, opaque, and in some parts 

 breaking down. 



Sections of the ulcers of the teats of these cows were also 

 carefully examined, and the appearances corresponded exactly with 

 the description given by Klein. 



On visiting the farms it was found that there were altogether 

 about a hundred and sixty cows. Only a few had proved refractory, 

 and had not taken the disease at all. The rest had contracted the 

 disease in varying degrees of severity. About fifty at a time were 

 dry, and they escaped until they were in milk again. The milk 

 was drunk on the farms and in the village, and a quantity was 

 supplied to a large town. Most careful inquiries were instituted to 

 ascertain the existence of scarlatina among consumers of the milk. 

 So far the research was completely analogous to the Hendon 

 investigation; but, in spite of the contamination of the milk, no 

 cases of scarlatina were found either on the farms or in the village, 

 and there was no epidemic in the town in which the milk was 

 distributed. 



The disease, in fact, was cow-pox, and in no way connected with 

 scarlet fever ; and to assist others who may undertake a similar 

 inquiry the details will now be given of the author's investigation 

 into the nature of the outbreak in Wiltshire. 



THE DISEASE PROVED TO BE COW-POX. 



Locality of the Wiltshire Outbreak. There is considerable interest 

 attached to the fact that the farms were situated a few miles from 

 Cricklade. They are close to the borders of Gloucestershire, and about 

 twenty-five miles from Berkeley. They are, therefore, within that 

 district in which in Jenner's time cow-pox was particularly prevalent. 



Time of Year. The outbreak commenced about the end of September 

 1886, and lasted until about the middle of December. In an outbreak 



