32 JOHNE'S DISEASE 



a considerable number of worms — Strongylus cervi- 

 cofnis — were found in the abomasum. Husk, or hoose 

 (parasitic bronchitis), is frequently associated with 

 intestinal strongylosis. Treatment is very often un- 

 successful, and animals left untreated rarely recover. 

 On post-mortem examination the mucous membrane 

 of the stomach and intestines may be found to be 

 ulcerated, and may show catarrhal inflammation. It 

 is often slightly thickened, and of a dark livid colour ; 

 while a certain amount of gelatinous exudate is 

 present. Very frequently the large intestine has the 

 same appearance, and there may be some fluid in the 

 peritoneal cavity. 



The chief characteristics that distinguish this con- 

 dition from Johne's disease are a high temperature — 

 105° to 106° F. — and a more rapid course. In some cases 

 animals, if severely affected, die in three to four days, 

 and they rarely live more than a month. The post- 

 mortem lesions are those of a catarrhal enteritis, and 

 in the faeces or stomach contents the worms, embryos, 

 or ova, can be found on microscopic examination. The 

 best way to discover the parasites is to take a small 

 quantity of the contents of the stomach, dilute well 

 with water in a flat glass vessel, stir, and allow to 

 settle. On decanting the water, and examining the 

 sediment with a hand-glass, one can see the worms, 

 or, if their appearance is familiar to the observer, the}^ 

 can be detected with the naked eye. To determine 

 the species, the worms should be picked out with a 

 needle for examination under a low power of the micro- 

 scope. Seen with the naked eye, the parasites have 

 the appearance of shreds of cotton, and are greyish 

 white in colour, though in some instances they are 

 brown or reddish from contained blood. 



The discovery of these parasites in large numbers, 



