THE BACTERIOPHAGE IN DISEASE 205 



typhoid type. These differing species of bacteria have up to the 

 present been studied only by American workers; Ph. Hadley among 

 others, who describes B. pullorum A, B. pullorum B, B. jeffersonii, 

 B. rettgerei, and B. pfaffi. A discussion of the distinctive char- 

 acters of these different bacilli will not be presented here since 

 it would not be germane to the study with which we are concerned. 5 

 It is sufficient to know that in France in the epizootic of 1919 the 

 most frequent pathogenic agent was of the B. gallinarum type 

 (found in 57 of 73 examinations). Along with B. gallinarum 

 other forms have been found: B. pullorum A (once), B. pullorum 

 B (6 times), B. jeffersonii (4 times), and B. pfaffi (4 times). In 

 a single focus, of which the centre was found in the village of 

 Trainel (Aube), a paratyphosis infection occurred due solely to 

 B. pfaffi without admixture with bacilli of the true typhosis type. 



The clinical picture hardly varies whatever may be the causa- 

 tive bacillus. A typical observation follows. 



On the evening of May 24 the chicken appeared perfectly well. 

 On the morning of May 25 it remained apathetically on the ground 

 of the poultry-yard and took no measures for its defense. The 

 next day, toward noon, it appeared somnolent, the plumage 

 rough, the eyes half-closed, the crest slightly violet colored. It 

 did not eat or drink, and remained humped up "in a ball." The 

 inspirations were deep, twenty-five per minute. There was a 

 greenish yellow diarrhea with portions definitely yellow. The 

 condition became worse in the afternoon. It fell on its side at 

 about 8 o'clock and died a few minutes later. The necropsy 

 showed the crest to be violet in color, with spots of the same 

 nature over the skin. The liver was voluminous, congested, and 

 presented foci of degeneration. There was a pericarditis. 



By direct microscopic examination the blood at first appeared 

 negative, but a very careful search revealed three bacilli in a whole 

 smear. The blood and tissues when cultured gave a pure growth 

 of B. gallinarum, and this organism was also found, very abun- 

 dantly, in the intestinal contents. 



5 Readers who are interested in the subject will find much useful informa- 

 tion in the contribution by Ph. Hadley "The Colon-Typhoid Intermediates 

 as Causative Agents oj Diseases in Birds." Bulletin No. 174, Rhode Island 

 Agric. Exper. Sta., 1918. 



