340 TEXT-BOOK OP BACTERIOLOGY. 



All of them differ slightly in their effects produced in experi- 

 ments on animals. The bacilli of rabbit septicEemia, for instance, 

 are as virulent for mice, chickens, pigeons, and rabbits as the bacilli 

 of chicken cholera. 



The bacteria of the game plague kill pigeons, etc., but not 

 chickens or Guinea-pigs. The bacteria of duck cholera aflfect only- 

 ducks, not chickens and pigeons. 



The bacteria of the hog plague, finally, do not affect chickens and 

 pigeons, but are exceedingly pathogenic for Guinea-pigs and swine. 

 The former, which succumb but very rarely to the bacilli of chicken 

 cholera and rabbit septicaemia, die in consequence of a simple inoc- 

 ulation after one to three days and sliow, above all, a very pro- 

 nounced, bloody-serous oedema of the subcutaneous cellular tissue 

 and the superficial muscles. Swine regularly perish in from twenty- 

 four to fortj'^-eight hours after infection. On dissection, there 

 is found an extreme distention and oedematous infiltration of the 

 subcutaneous cellular tissue for a considerable distance around the 

 point of inoculation, a swelling of the lymphatic glands, especially 

 of the spleen, and a moderate inflammation of the intestinal mucous 

 membrane. Bacilli are present in the blood and all the organs. 



Schiitz thinks that these bacteria are the cause of a peculiar 

 disease of swine formerly often confounded Math erysipelas. Ex- 

 tensive additional investigations proved to him that the absorption 

 of the poisonous substance of the bacilli is, under natural condi- 

 tions, mainly effected through the lungs. 



These differences, briefly mentioned, are certainly worthy of 

 notice and practically important. But we must refrain from using 

 differences in virulence or efficiency as grounds for the separation 

 of otherwise harmonizing species. It will be well to regard these 

 micro-organisms as identical, without, however, overlooking the spe- 

 cial conditions and properties. 



Hueppe proposed the name of " bacteria of septicsemia hemor- 

 rhagica " as indicating the pathological character of the affection. 



XXX. BACILLUS OP HOG ERYSIPELAS. 



The genuine erysipelas of hogs (" rouget " or " mal rouge des 

 pores ") is an epidemic disease which carries off in Germany more 

 than half of the animals affected and does great harm, being re- 

 stricted, almost exclusively, to the superior EngUsh breeds. Only 

 younger individuals (up to three years at most) are attacked and 

 usually perish after from twenty-four to forty-eight hours. 



Loffler found in the blood, in all organs, in the muscles and skin 

 of diseased or dead swine, a peculiar micro-organism which he was 



