208 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



gested by domestic animals. These parasites can be classified into 

 four groups : 



1. Moulds of every description. Those of the genera Mucor, 

 Aspergillus, and Pénicillium, are especially interesting. Inoffensive 

 of themselves, they induce the decomposition of alimentary mat- 

 ters (bread, flour, hay, oats, straw), and produce ptomaines. 



2. Rusts (uredo), the most important of which is the Puccinia 

 graminis. Frank has experimented upon the rabbit with rust, and 

 has produced gastric troubles, vertigo, and convulsions. 



3. Black rnsts (ustilago). From a clinical point of view the 

 most important are the Tilletia caries (Albrecht, Adam, Koch, 

 Herele, etc. ) ; we have besides the Ustilago carho and the Ustilago 

 maydis. Of all fungi these produce the most marked alterations 

 upon the intestinal mucous membrane, undoubtedly through the 

 medium of ptomaines formed in the plant as a waste product of 

 these parasites. The researches of Brefeld have demonstrated that 

 black rusts are microphytes which are akin to the yeast plants, 

 these latter being only more advanced states of development of the 

 same fungi. Thus, wheat rust would be transformed into yeast 

 when located upon a damp soil — in the animal organism, for in- 

 stance. 



4. Yeasts. These agents of alcoholic fermentation (malts), as 

 just seen, would only constitute the last stage of development of 

 mould, according to Brefeld and other authors. 



Symptoms. The disease takes the appearance of an infectious 

 morbid condition. It appears suddenly, and generally attacks sev- 

 eral animals at a time. The diseased subjects refuse food and 

 drinks ; they are depressed, restless, and are affected with abdominal 

 pains, which are marked by cries, bellowings, and groans. The 

 peristaltic movements are suppressed. There is a persistent con- 

 stipation at the start, followed by a profuse diarrhea, whi(5h is fetid 

 and sometimes bloody. Some animals are slightly inflated; press- 

 ure upon the abdomen produces pain ; the tongue and pharyngeal 

 muscles are paralyzed, especially in j)oisoning by the Tilletia caries, 

 which is also said to produce ptyalism, a continual empty or false 

 mastication, and cough. 



These symptoms are always accompanied by intense fever, a 

 strong acceleration of the circulation with tumultuous cardiac pul- 

 sations (100 and more per minute in the ox), also chills, chilled 

 condition of the extremities, etc. At the same time we observe a 



