CHAPTER XV. 



QUARTER-EVIL. — MALIGNANT CEDEMA. — RAG-PICKERS' SEPTICAEMIA. — 

 SEPTICEMIA OF GUINEA-PIGS. — SEPTICEMIA OF MICE. 



QuAKTER-EViL in Cattle, malignant oedema, and rag-pickers' septicsemia 

 in man, septicsemia in .guinea-pigs, and septicaemia in mice, are all 

 varieties of septicsemia produced by bacilli. 



An account of quarter-evil, malignant oedema, and rag-pickers' 

 septicsemia may appropriately follow the chapter on anthrax, as 

 they have certain similarities to that disease. They are, however, 

 not only distinct from anthrax, but must be carefully distinguished 

 from each other. In connection with these forms of bacillary 

 septicsemia in man and cattle we may study bacillary septicsemia 

 in small animals. 



Quarter-evil. 



The disease known in this country as quarter-evil or black-leg 

 is identical with the French Cha/rhon si/mptomatique and the 

 German Rauschbrand. Symptomatic anthrax in a very sHght degree 

 resembles anthrax. The disease occurs usually in young cattle from 

 a few weeks to about twelve months old, and attacks sheep and 

 horses, but not swine or poultry. It is characterised by the develop- 

 ment of an emphysematous swelling of the subcutaneous tissue and 

 muscles, generally over the hind quarter. Infected animals cease 

 feeding, the temperature rises, lameness supervenes, and death 

 occurs in about forty-eight hours. The tumour on incision is found 

 to contain a quantity of dark sanguineous fluid, with characteristic 

 bacilli. 



Bacillus of Quarter-evil [Bacille du chctrbon symptomatique, 

 RausMrm-uL bacillus). — Motile rods with rounded ends, 3 to 5 ;n in 

 length, -5 to "6 /A in breadth. Spore-formation present. The 

 spores are oval, generally situated near the extremity of the rods, 

 and when fully developed considerably exceed the rods in diameter. 



217 



