INFECTIOUS DISEASES 317 



ible slop foods and placed in comfortable quarters. Intestinal anti- 

 septics are indicated. The antiseptic selected should be such as can 

 be administered in the slop. Copper sulphate is probably as efficient 

 as any other and has the advantage of being- relatively cheap. Prom 

 one to two-dram doses may be administered daily in the slop or if 

 the affected animal does not eat, the copper sulphate should be given 

 in capsules. Some practitioners advocate the use of mixed bacterin, 

 repeating the dose in five to seven days. 



Necrobacillosis 



Necrobacillosis is a name for a group of diseased conditions caused 

 by the Bacillus necrophorus and characterized by inflammation and 

 necrosis. This condition is of common occurrence in one form or 

 other in various locations in the United States and in other countries. 

 The state of Colorado has suffered extensive losses from necrobacil- 

 losis ; in fact, according to Glover, the losses from this disease in 

 that state prior to 1912 were greater than the losses from cholera. 

 The disease occurs sporadically, enzootically, and rarely as an epi- 

 zootic. 



Etiology. — Various insanitary conditions may be predisposing fac- 

 tors. Diminished resistance of the tissues, as catarrhal enteritis, 

 injury of the skin and buccal mucosa, favors infection. 



The Bacillus necrophorus is the specific cause of necrobacillosis. 

 This microorganism is universally distributed, though the intestinal 

 tract of swine may be its natural habitat. The Bacilh^s necrophorus 

 is pleomorphic, but usually occurs in long threads in cultures and 

 in the invaded tissues. It contains granules, particularly in old cul- 

 tures. It is nonmotile and does not form spores. It is a strict 

 anaerobe and grows well in serum agar, bouillon, and milk. A pun- 

 gent, disagreeable odor is evolved from the cultures, and may also 

 be recognized in the lesions. It stains readily with practically all of 

 the aniline dyes but not with Gram's stain. 



The Bacillus necrophorus produces disease by products that it 

 elaborates and eliminates into the tissue. This microorganism is 

 pathogenic for practically all animals ; but as a rule it is only a 

 secondary invader, the tissue resistance having been diminished by 

 previous disease process or by injury. Inoculations of cultures of the 

 Bacillus necrophorus produce necrosis, or abscess formation, in cattle, 

 sheep, swine, and horses. 



Source of infection. — The Bacillus necrophorus inhabits the diges- 



