774 MICROBIOLOGY OF DISEASES OF MAN AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



leg) but is easily distinguished in that external swellings are slight if 

 present at all and do not show gas, both of these features being charac- 

 teristic of blackleg. The bacillus of symptomatic anthrax may be 

 recognized by microscopic examination as so different from Bacterium , 

 lovi septicum that there could be no mistaking one for the other. , 



Little is known concerning eUmination of this bacterium from the 

 diseased body and concerning methods of dissemination. Hence we 

 are very much in the dark when attempting to deal with the disease 

 produced by it. 



Isolation and disinfection are to be recommended on general prin- 

 ciples. 



Leprosy* 

 Bacterium lepra 



Leprosy is a disease almost as old as history itseK but modern leprosy 

 cannot be definitely identified with the leprosy of the Old Testament, 

 and to day is found chiefly in oriental countries and in Norway, Iceland ■ 

 and Russia. The disease is present in some of the provinces of Canada 

 and in the States of Louisiana, California and Minnesota, and practic- , ' 

 ally limited to Scandinavians in the latter states. The natural incuba- 

 tion period is difficult to ascertain but is probably a matter of months 

 or years. 



CUnically there are two main t)rpes of the disease, the tubercular 

 or nodular and thp anaesthetic typ^s. In the first form, nodules develop 

 in the face or other parts of the body usually preceded by an erythe- 

 matous patch. The mucous membranes become affected more or less 

 extensively and the hair and eyebrows fall out. In the anaesthetic 

 type after various disturbances of sensation which may sometimes be 

 followed by maculse there develop areas of anaesthesia. Bullae, ulcers 

 and necrosis may occur with resulting deformities or again this type 

 may exist for years without leading to such results. 



The bacteria of leprosy were first described by Hansen in 1879 and 

 almost at the same time Neisser published similar descriptions. Culti- 

 vation of Bact. lepra has been successful in the hands of Clegg, Duval 

 and others. 



The microorganisms can be shown in tissue by the use of the Ziehl- 

 Neelsen or Gabbet methods. 



* Prepared by Edward Fidlar. 



