54 THE DISEASES OP THE DOG. 



contains many " globular bacteria," isolated or in ball- 

 like clusters, or adherent to both, red and white corpuscles. 

 Also, in addition, some delicate and fine staff-shaped 

 bacteria. The liver-cells and tubuli uriniferi full of bac- 

 teria. The urine brownish red and muddy, containing 

 red and white corpuscles and epithelial cells, and many 

 bacteria of both kinds, either free or enclosed in the blood- 

 corpuscles or in the cells. Twenty-four hours after death 

 the bacteria were very numerous, but they disappeared 

 when putrefaction commenced. In the earlier stages the 

 lungs are found in a state of oedema, later they show the 

 signs of broncho-pneumonia ( f Deut. Zeit. f . Thier-med./ 

 Band i, p. 204). In addition to the above, ulceration or 

 infiltration of the nasal membrane and of that of the 

 intestines, especially the ileum, and affecting particularly 

 the solitary glands and Peyer's patches, congestion and 

 dropsy of the pericardium, swelling of the lymphatic 

 glands, especially those of the mesentery, and engorgement 

 of the gall-bladder with thick bile have been noted. Spots 

 due to ecchymosis are very frequent on the different 

 serous membranes. 



Treatment comprises prevention and cure. We must 

 respect the opinion, almost universally entertained, that 

 the disease arises spontaneously, but at the same time we 

 must adopt every measure of disinfection and isolation 

 necessary to prevent contagion. Semmer relates a re- 

 markable case where the disease was conveyed to two 

 puppies from the carcass of an animal which had been 

 -left in the cold for fourteen days prior to examination, a 

 most extraordinary instance of contagion, which some will 

 be inclined to consider rather one of spontaneity. How- 

 ever that may be, there can be no doubt that hitherto 

 disinfection has been too much neglected in this disease. 

 Of course thorough disinfection involves destruction of 

 carcasses, dressings, &c. We must avoid being imposed 

 on by vaccination or inoculation as preventives. We 

 must insist on careful avoidance of contact with the sick 

 especially in spring and autumn, and with young dogs! 

 Some dogs are capable of resisting contagion, but very 



