228 NECROBACILLOSIS 
In that case the lesions took the form of multiple necroses of the skin, 
the parts involved being those spots exposed to irritation. The 
infection was quite malignant showing a tendency in spite of disin- 
fectants to spread and involve subjacent tissues. The necrotic areas 
were characterized by the presence of a greyish, yellow, greasy, foul- 
smelling secretion. A number of varieties of skin necrosis, due to this 
organism, are described. 
Necrotic scratches in the horse have been attributed to B. necro- 
phorus in those cases where there is a gangrenous grease, called by the 
Germans, Brandmaucke. In this form the lesions begin as an ery- 
thema. The abraded surface becomes coated with the exudate which 
by mixing with the dirt forms an air-tight covering under which 
B. necrophorus is able to multiply, invade the tissues and produce a 
caseo-necrotic mass. In this form only the skin and the subcutaneous 
tissues are involved. 
The lesions in the skin due to sheep pox, cow pox and the like, in 
certain cases, become necrotic. This occurs in the severer varieties 
in which the lesions become gangrenous and which are spoken of by 
the Germans as variola diphtheritica, Brandpocke or, on account of the 
odor, putrid pox. From these gangrenous lesions in cattle and swine, 
‘Bang isolated B. necrophorus which he regarded as the cause of the 
necrosis. Jensen isolated the organism from necrotic dermatitis of 
the muzzle, on the outside of the lips, and on the feet of swine. 
Leclainche and Vallée regarded enzodtic necrosis of the lips and nose 
of sheep to be due to the same cause and Bang demonstrated this 
organism in the deep necrosis of the skin of hogs in hog cholera. His 
results were confirmed by Lindqvist and Zschokke. 
Foot rot in cattle. Cattle and sheep occasionally suffer from 
a contagious foot rot. In these cases there is swelling, the hoof is 
hot and painful, the toes are usually separated because of the swelling 
and frequently the tissue of the interdigital space is ulcerated. The 
swelling may extend up the leg and fistulous tracts occur in the deeper 
tissue. In certain of these cases, B. necrophorus has been isolated. 
Bang, Hess and others have reported outbreaks of the disease caused 
by the entrance of this bacillus in some primary lesion. It is to be 
differentiated from infections with pyogenic organisms which cause 
inflammation leading to suppuration. If the disease is not promptly 
treated with disinfectants, the condition may become serious, the 
animals being unable to stand, lose their appetite, lose flesh, have a 
