Diagnosis. Treatment. Immunization. 135 



upper and posterior parts of the lungs usually show in addition 

 to catarrhal pneumonia a croupous-catarrhal inflammation. 



The demonstration of bipolar ovoid bacilli even though they are 

 highly virulent has only a very restricted and subordinate diagnostic 

 value. Their presence is of itself by no means sufficient to establish 

 the diagnosis of swine plague, as these bacilli may be present quite 

 accidentally or may have taken only a secondary part in the development 

 of the pathological processes. Only if they are present in great num- 

 bers and exclusively, or almost exclusively, in the inflammatory pro- 

 ducts, may they be accepted as the direct causative agents of the 

 disease and even in such cases the possibility must be considered that 

 the disease was caused primarily by the much more vigorous hog 

 cholera virus. 



Swine erysipelas usually runs a more rapid course and 

 manifestations of pneumonia are absent. On autopsy this 

 disease may be distinguished, aside from the different bacterio- 

 logical findings, by the absence of post mortem lesions. In 

 chronic cases tuberculosis comes into consideration and the 

 positive differentiation is only possible by a bacteriological 

 examination. The pyobacillosis of pigs or its complications are 

 characterized by purulent catarrh as well as yellow or greenish 

 suppurative areas in the lungs and in other organs, by which ■ 

 it may be differentiated from swine plague. 



Treatment and Prevention. Medicinal treatment has up to 

 date proved without effect. 



Becker, Spitzer and SzoUos reported favorable results with the 

 proprietary remedy called suptol and prepared by Burow (according 

 to Andrejew it is a preparation of swine plague bacilli). On the other 

 hand Tatray employed this remedy in 17 herds on several thousand 

 animals with varying results, which agrees with the findings of the 

 Prussian Official Veterinarians. Andrejew and Gellmann deny its 

 protective and curative action. 



Immediate separation of the affected animals, effective 

 disinfection of stable and feeding trough, destruction of the 

 affected organs and secretions and of the manure appears to 

 be advisable; even though the danger of infection is slight, 

 nevertheless it should be considered. From a standpoint of 

 veterinary police it is advisable to separate swine plague from 

 hog cholera, and to treat it in the same manner as hemorrhagic 

 septicemia of cattle. 



Immunization. Since the etiology of hog cholera has been 

 studied more closely the former attempts of elaborating effec- 

 tive methods of immunization against this disease, as well as 

 against swine plague which is frequently associated with it, 

 from the cultures of the' bacillus suisepticus, have proven of 

 very doubtful practical value. Considering that an immuniza- 



