DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS 



103 



cent formaldehyde solution and stained by various methods. 

 In general the lesions found were enormous extravasations of 

 blood, some recent and some showing coagulation of fibrin. 

 In the areas of less recent hemorrhage, the surrounding tissues 

 showed varying degrees of ordinary coagulation necrosis. 

 This was particularly marked in the affected muscles, lymph 

 glands and portions of the lungs. In the borders of such 

 necrosed areas leucocytic infiltration was not infrequent. In 

 the spleen, in which the hemorrhagic areas were neither num- 

 erous nor large, there was in some instances an apparent 

 destruction or shrinkage of the parenchyma. 



A very important feature in this disease has been brought 

 out, namely, that it is necessary, in order to obtain cultures of 

 the bacterium producing it, that the media should be inocu- 

 lated at once. It is evident from the literature, that with this 

 precaution cultures should invariably be obtained. 



§ 83. Differential diagnosis. Septicemia hemorrhagica 

 in cattle must be differentiated from anthrax, symptomatic 

 anthrax, and the affection known as "corn-stalk disease." 

 Death from this disease must also be distinguished from those 

 due to certain accidental causes, poisoning, or the effect of 

 over eating of grain or green fodder (hoven). The sudden- 

 ness with which the animals may die from all of these causes 

 renders the symptoms, should they be observed, of very little 

 value in making a diagnosis. It is necessary, therefore, that 

 in all cases, especially with the first animals to die, careful 

 post-mortem and bacteriological examinations should be made. 



In case of septicemia hemorrhagica, the cultures will 

 usually reveal the presence of -ffai:/. bovisepticum. The lesions 

 will be hemorrhagic in nature. 



In case of the " cornstalk disease " the lesions may consist 

 of small hemorrhages (petechise) especially of the serous mem- 

 branes and heart. The cultures will be negative. 



With anthrax and symptomatic anthrax, their specific 

 bacteria will be found. 



§ 84. Prevention. When this disease occurs it is im- 

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