NECROTIC STOMATITIS. 463 



reported in 1877 by Dammann, from the shore of the Baltic ; in 1878 

 by Blazekowic, in Slavonia; in 187!) by Vollers, in Holstein; in 

 1880 by Lenglen, in France; in 1881 by Macgillivray, in England; 

 and in 188i by Lofiler, who isolated and described the microorgan- 

 ism which produces the disease. Bang obtained this organism from 

 the diphtheritic lesions of calves in 1890, and Kitt likewise recov- 

 ered the bacillus from similar lesions of the larynx and pharynx of 

 calves and pigs in 1893. 



Etiology. — The cause of necrotic stomatitis, as demonstrated by 

 Loffler and since confirmed by other investigators, is Bacillus necropJi- 

 oriis, often spoken of as the bacillus of necrosis. This organism varies 

 in form from a coccoid rod to long, wavy filaments, which may reach 

 a length of 100 ^ ; the width varies from 0.75 [/. to 1 [a. Hence it is 

 described as polymorphic. It does not stain by Gram, but takes the 

 ordinary anilin dyes, often presenting, especially the longer forms, a 

 beaded appearance. A characteristic of the organism, of great mo- 

 ment when we come to treatment, is that it grows only in the absence 

 of oxygen, from which fact it is described as an obligate anaerobe. 



Yery few organisms exhibit a wider range of pathogenesis. Ac- 

 cording to clinical observation to the present time, Bacillus necroph- 

 orus is pathogenic for cattle, horses, hogs, sheep, reindeer, kanga- 

 roos, antelope, and rabbits. Experimentally it has been proved patho- 

 genic for rabbits and white mice. The dog, cat, guinea pig, pigeon, 

 and chicken appear to be absolutely immune. It is not pathogenic 

 for man. 



The importance of this bacillus is far beyond even its relation to 

 necrotic stomatitis. Besides this disease it has been demonstrated as 

 the causative factor in foot rot, multiple liver abscesses, disseminated 

 liver necrosis, embolic necrosis of the lungs, necrosis of the heart, in 

 cattle; gangrenous pox of the teats, diphtheria of the uterus and 

 vagina, in cows; diphtheritic inflammation of the small intestine of 

 calves. Among horses it is the agent in the production of necrotic 

 malanders, quittor, and diphtheritic inflammation of the large intes- 

 tine. In hogs it has caused necrotic or diphtheritic processes in the 

 mucous membrane of the mouth, necrosis of the anterior wall of the 

 nasal septum, and pulmonary and intestinal necrosis, accompanying 

 hog cholera. Abscesses of the liver, gangrenous processes of the lips 

 and nose, and gangrenous affections of the hoof have all been caused 

 in sheep by this organism. 



Pathology. — The principal lesions in necrotic stomatitis occur in 

 the mucous membrane of the mouth and pharjmx. The alterations 

 may extend to the nasal cavities, the larynx, the trachea, the lung, the 

 esophagus, the intestines, and to the hoof. The oral surfaces affected 

 are, in the order of frequency, tongue, cheelvs, hard palate, gums. 



