DIPHTHERITIC DISEASES IN ANIMALS. SST 



simulating diphtheria in cats, pigs, and horses ; and Klein, wha 

 accepts this theory, maintains that cats suffer from genuine 

 diphtheria, and that after death the lungs are found full of grey, 

 consolidated lobular patches, and the kidneys are ehlarged and 

 white. 



Human diphtheritic membrane inoculated subcutaneously in cats 

 produces a painful swelling in the groin, and fever, and a fatal 

 termination in a week. The subcutaneous and muscular tissues at 

 the seat of inoculation are hsemorrhagic and oedematous. The 

 internal organs are congested, and in the kidneys the medulla is 

 congested, while the cortex is fatty. 



A recent culture produces illness in twenty-four hours, a painful 

 tumour forms at the seat of inoculation, and death ensues in from 

 two days to a week. Pneumonia and fatty white kidney are found 

 after death, and the tissues at the seat of inoculation are ha3mor- 

 rhagic, and in parts almost gangrenous. 



Klein found that diphtheritic membrane or a pure-culture in- 

 oculated into the cornea after removal of the superficial epithelium 

 produced ulceration, and in two cases perforation of the cornea, 

 and purulent panophthalmitis. Bacilli were again recovered from 

 the ulcer similar in cultural characters, but conspicuously shorter 

 and thinner. 



An epidemic occurred amongst cats at the Brown Institution. 

 Five out of fourteen died. The symptoms were, running from the 

 eyes, sometimes a muco-purulent discharge, sneezing, coughing, and 

 pulmonary trouble, resulting in emaciation and death in from one 

 to three weeks. After death lobular pneumonia and large white 

 kidney were found ; and in one case a diphtheritic condition of the 

 trachea, preparations of which showed diphtheria bacUU in crowds 

 under the microscope. 



Klein regarded this disease as an epidemic 6i cat-diphtheria, 

 and believed that the disease was possibly induced accidentally by 

 the cats drinking milk, which was infected in the course of some 

 other experiments with diphtheria. He states that on account 

 of the very definite results obtained by inoculating diphtheritic 

 membrane and cultures of the bacillus, subcutaneously and on 

 the cornea, and of the condition of the lung and kidney in cats 

 naturally or experimentally infected, the disease must be con- 

 sidered as equivalent to human diphtheria, and the cat capable 

 of communicating the disease to other cats, and also to human 

 beings. These conclusions have not yet met with the acceptance cf 

 veterinary aiithorities. The results of the experimental inoculations 



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