842 Spirillosis of Fowls. 



Treatment. According to the experiments of Uhlenhuth & 

 Gross, which were later confirmed by Levaditi & Mcintosh, three 

 subcutaneous injections of 0.05 gm. each, likewise two adminis- 

 trations of 0.1 gm. atoxyl per os, protected chickens against a 

 simultaneous or an immediately preceding or subsequent sub- 

 cutaneous virulent infection, and chickens treated in this man- 

 ner apparently acquired a lasting immunity.. 



Affected chickens, which have already harbored spirochetes 

 in their blood for 2 to 3 days, but which are not yet severely 

 affected, recover from a single intra-muscular injection of 0.05 

 gm. atoxyl, when the parasites disappear from the blood after 

 34 hours and the animals survive. In the internal application 

 of the remedy double doses (0.1 gm. per os) appear to have 

 the same action. 



Uhlenhuth & Manteufel found atoxylate of mercury more 

 effective than atoxyl; by its intra-muscular application (in sus- 

 pension with olive oil and gum arable), in doses of 0.1 gm., 

 it produced recovery even at the height of the blood infection, 

 and in earlier stages it prevented a fatal termination even in 

 doses of 0.04-0.06 gm. Such recovered chickens remain immune 

 against later infections. 



Dschunkowsky & Luhs obtained good results in geese with 

 2 or 3 subcutaneous injections of 0.1-0.15 gni. each of atoxyl, 

 per kilogram of body weight. 



Finally, according to the favorable results in the treat- 

 ment of the human recurrent fever and syphilis, Ehrlich's 

 amidoarsenobenzol may also prove effective. 



Immunization. Blood drawn from infected chickens is no longer 

 infectious after 48 hours, and if injected subcutaneously into healthy 

 chickens produces an immunity against a virulent affection. Fresh 

 blood heated for five minutes to 55° C. has a similar action, whereas 

 when heated for 10 minutes at that temperature it no longer produces 

 immunity (Marchoux & Salimbeni). An active immunity may further 

 be produced in geese with emulsion from organs of geese dead of the 

 disease, also with atoxyl and a simultaneous injection of virulent blood, 

 as well as with blood from infected geese which have been kept on ice 

 for some time (Dschunkowsky & Luhs). Blood serum from geese and 

 chickens, which after recovery from the disease were treated with blood 

 containing spirillae, protects in quantities of 2 cc. against virulent 

 infection. Finally horses produce serum after repeated injections with 

 blood containing spirillae which in a quantity of 3-5 cc. renders ineffec- 

 tive in geese an inoculation made 24 hours previously (Sakharoff). 



Injections of immune serum in the blood circulation of affected birds results 

 in death, as it produces an agglomeration of the spirochaetes and thereby thrombosis 

 of the blood vessels (Levaditi). 



Literature. See also literature in TJhlenhuth & Gross, Arb. d. G.-A., 1907. 

 XXVII. 231. — Further: Sakharoff, A. P., 1891. V. 564. — Gabritschewsky, Cbl. 

 f. Bakt., 1898. XXIII. 365. — Cantacuz&ne, A. P., 1899. XIII. 529. — Borrel & 

 Marchoux, Soc. bioL, 1905. 362. — Borrel, ibid., 1906. — Levaditi, A. P., 1906. XX. 

 924. — Levaditi & Mcintosh, Soc. biol., 1907, XLII. 1090. — Neufeld & Prowazek, 

 Arb. 11. G.-A., 1907. XXV. 494. — Uhlenhuth & Manteufel, Z. f. Immf., 1908. I. 108. 

 — Dschunkowsky & Luhs, Kongr. Haag 1909. — Brumpt, Soc. path, exot., 1909. II. 



