HEMORRHAGIC SEPTICEMIA. < 



In the pectoral form the lungs arc darkened in color with their 

 fibrous tissues much thickened from the collection of bloody serum 

 in their meshes. The diaphragm, heart sac and hear! walls show 

 numerous bloody points and larger hemorrhages. 



In the intestinal form hemorrhages into the intestines will be 

 present and sloughing of the lining of the intestinal wall will be 

 observed, as a result of which the intestinal contents will be wrapped 

 in a covering of bloody mucus. 



In acute forms the animals may die suddenly and the changes thai 

 are present in such cases will not be very marked. Microscopic ex- 

 amination of the body fluids in these cases will demonstrate the pres- 

 ence of numerous specific coccobacilli. 



DIAGNOSIS. 



Because of their acute course, high fever, and rapid termination 

 in death, some difficulty may be experienced in distinguishing an- 

 thrax, malignant edema, and blackleg from hemorrhagic septicemia. 

 The differentiation of hog cholera from hemorrhagic septicemia of 

 swine also presents many puzzling points. 



There may be edematous swelling of the throat or neck in either 

 anthrax or hemorrhagic septicemia. An examination of the spleen 

 of the affected animal will give a conclusive diagnosis, for the spleen 

 of an animal dead from anthrax nearly always becomes acutely 

 swollen and its pulp becomes softened. Small hemorrhages are usu- 

 ally present in the kidney fat in cases of hemorrhagic septicemia. 

 Bacteriological examination will demonstrate quickly the presence 

 of the specific organisms of anthrax or of hemorrhagic septicemia. 

 and a test should be applied in all cases in which doubt exists. The 

 value of a definite diagnosis will be recognized when the lasting na- 

 ture of an anthrax infection and the more transitory character of an 

 outbreak of hemorrhagic septicemia are considered. 



Blackleg and malignant edema may be detected usually by the for- 

 mation o^gas within the swellings upon the body, and the bubbles 

 ■ thus developed will produce a crackling sound if the fingers are 

 pressed over the affected area. Further, in blackleg the marked 

 change in the affected musculature and the characteristic " rancid- 

 butter" odor noted in cases of blackleg facilitate a differential diag- 

 nosis. . 



Hemorrhagic septicemia of swine, commonly termed swine plague, 

 usually appears in the form of necrotic pleuropneumonia. The 

 symptoms shown by the affected animal readily point to an attack 

 of pneumonia, but the presence of roundworms in the lung- may 

 cause identical manifestations. The long course of the latter disease 

 should be taken as an indication that the pig is not affected with 

 swine plague. 



