6 



From some feeding experiments by Smith and others, quoted by Minohin it 

 seems extremely probable that infection naturally occurs through the digestive tract. 

 Slarcosporidiae have rarely been found in man; a few cases of fatal infection are 

 mentioned by Neumann, and others by Bulloch. 3 



Ostertag 4 does not consider the eating of flesh of infested animals dangerous to 

 man. Neumann again thinks that infested meat should be prohibited for human use 

 < because of its bad appearance and diminished nutritive value.' According to the 

 same author ' muscular Psorospermosis is not betrayed during life by any appreciable 

 signs and the parasites can be detected only at autopsy.' 

 ' The following cases have come under the writer's personal observation :— 



(a) In Cattle Suspected of Loco-poisoning. 



Case. I.— (Animal No. 27) heifer, 3 years old; said to have developed symptoms 

 of loco-poisoning as a yearling.— (Dr. Hilton.) Eeceived at quarantine station 

 October 27, 1907; Stunted, undersized appearance, and in poor flesh; coat sta "°S 

 and rough, on passing hand over the body numerous small scurfy nodules could be 

 felt, knots of hair matted with moist, bran-like scales. There were frequent pro- 

 longed extensions of the head and neck, accompanied by a more or less constant 

 trembling and agitation of the muscles of these parts, especially of the jaws and most 

 marked during attempts at feeding, the power of the prehension of food being 

 practically lost, and mastication very difficult and incomplete. Death occurred 

 November 14, 1907. 



Principal features of Autopsy. — Gelatinous infiltration, light yellow to an orange 

 colour, of the connective tissues, lungs and kidneys. The inner covering of the brain, 

 the pia, very dark, almost black in places, and of a metallic lustre. The heart 

 enlarged, appearing soft and flabby, yet proving tough on? section. The endocardium 

 sprinkled with minute whitish granules, very numerous. 



Microscopical. — Heart and its endocardium very extensively infested with Sarcos- 

 poridiae. , Unfortunately, by the time these preparations had been examined and the 

 parasites recognied, the carcas had been disposed of, and none of the skeletal 

 muscles preserved. There was an immense deposition of greenish brown pigment 

 granules in the covering of the brain and the cells of the cortex. 



Case II. — Heifer (animal No. 88). The symptons and condition being so similar 

 to Case I., they need not be further described, beyond adding that there was a thin 

 watery discharge from the nostrils, dimmed eyes, and occasional lachrymation. After 

 being under observaation for three months, in which the disease made steady progress, 

 until the animal became quite helpless, she was destroyed. 



Principal lesions at autopsy. — Fibrinous inflammation of epicardium. Minute 

 whitish specks showing through endocardium. The heart as a whole too voluminous. 



Lungs. — Chronic, suppurative inflammation. Small sacks or cysts, about the size 

 of a bean or small nut, and rather resembling lymph nodes, could be squeezed from the 

 cut surface of the parenchyma. The appearance of the skeltal musculature slightly 

 granular, cloudy and light brownish-red colour. The brain in this case did not 

 reveal any abnormalities visible to the eye. The molar teeth were very irregular and 

 badly developed, and the bones of jaws and face thin and brittle, though rather 

 enlarged. 



Microscopical. — The following muscles, organs or tissues were examined for Sar- 

 cosporidiae. (1) Psoas, (2) diaphragm, (3) tongue, (4) larynx, (5) upper and lower 

 lips, (6) the gums, (7) the jaws, masseter and buccal, (8) the muscles of the poll, 

 splenius and complexus, (9) of the eye, (10) of the limbs, the adductor magnus', 

 flexor pedis perforatus, flexor metacarpi externus, (11) the heart, (12) the liver' 

 (13) spleen, (14) kidneys, (15) lungs. In every specimen of every muscle examined' 



