Cirrhosis in Cattle, Sheep and Horses fed on Senecio. 519 



ation, the acute stage which precedes death, the fatal termina- 

 tion and the cirrhotic liver. 



Another suggestive enzootic affection is the Ictero- Hematuria 

 of sheep in Roumania, Italy and Montana. This has been 

 ranked with Texas fever, by reason of an organism found in 

 the red globules, but neither in Europe nor America has any 

 intermediate bearer (tick) been identified, and the introduction 

 of the disease at a definite date, and its gradual extension in the 

 Silver Bow, and Deer Lodge Valleys in Montana would be en- 

 tirely in keeping with the toxic action of some vegetable product. 

 Moreover it has two yearly periods of extension, in spring and 

 autumn, the first when the sheep are driven to the alkaline bogs 

 to obtain sustenance till the grasses have started on the general 

 range, and the second when the higher ranges are dried up and 

 the sheep must again fall back on the bogs for support. Again, 

 like a dietetic disease it shows itself in all grades, fat sheep ap- 

 pearing in the packing-house with yellow carcase ; others show 

 loss of condition and icterus without acute symptoms ; and still 

 others mope about apart, showing anorexia, arched back, stiff- 

 ness in the hind limbs, icterus, fever and bloody urine. Unless 

 therefore the alleged piroplasma of ictero- hematuria can be 

 traced through an intermediate, invertebrate host as can that of 

 Texas fever or the Plasmodium of malaria or yellow fever, it 

 would seem the part of wisdom to institute an enquiry as to the 

 possible presence and operation of Senecio or other toxic plant 

 spreading in the area in which the disease has developed. It is 

 noteworthy that Professor Adami found, in the liver cells and 

 mesenteric glands of the affected Pictou cattle, diplococcoid bodies 

 in abundance, so that these latter cattle are in no way behind 

 those of Roumania, Italy and Montana in the evidence of a 

 microorganism. But in none of the affected countries (Rou- 

 mania, Italy, Nova Scotia, Montana or New Zealand) have 

 inoculations produced the disease (as it does in Texas fever), 

 and, wherever it has been attempted, (Nova Scotia, New Zea- 

 land) the disease has been clearly traced to the Senecio Jacobcea. 



Gilruth suggests the staggers of horses in Va. (Horsbrough, 

 B. A. I. Third Report), and the hepatic cirrhosis of cattle in 

 S. Africa (Hutcheon) as inviting fields of enquiry in this same 

 connection. 



