Pathology. This is very obscure. The primary cause of the sores is not evident, though their occurrence on the anus and vulva only, and especially on the latter would suggest an elective affinity of the poison (microbian or chemical) for these structures and their products. If we assume a pathogenic microbe in the fæces, the question arises as to the cause of the habitual immunity of the steer, and of the margin of the anus in the majority of the affected heifers. The susceptibility of heifers rather than cows may imply a previous exposure and acquired immunity on the part of the mature animal.
Again if we suspect the existence of a necrobiotic agent of organic origin (like ergotin, secalin, sphacelin) we must assume a superadded microbian infection, implanted in the primary sore and rapidly extending it. The prompt recovery under antiseptic treatment shows that no mere chemical poison maintains the destructive process, for it is manifestly the microbicide which puts a prompt limit to the disease, and under such treatment no sphacelating agent in the blood or tissues keeps up the advance of the ulceration or prevents healing.
Treatment. The ulcers healed rapidly under cleanliness and antiseptic applications. The tail, anus, and vulva were washed with tepid water, and then dressed with a solution of creolin (5:100), or carbolic acid (3:100), or mercuric chloride (1:500 or 1000). The ulcers were touched with a pencil of silver nitrate. S. T. Miller followed the sublimate lotion by the subjoined ointment: iodoform 20 grains, eucalyptol 40 minims, phenic acid 20 minims, petrolatum enough to make 2 oz. C. Miller in addition to the carbolic acid lotion applied the common white lotion (zinc sulphate 1 oz., lead acetate 1 oz., water 1 qt.) and used silver nitrate on the ulcers. Four dressings on four successive days were given and in the milder cases healing was completed in 10 or 12 days.
NOTE ON GOOSE SEPTICÆMIA.
As these pages are going through the press, Cooper Curtice’s bulletin on Goose Septicæmia comes to hand.
This affection in 1900 caused a loss of 3,200 geese in July and August to Mr. Cornell, a Rhode Island owner. Mr. Snell lost 500.
Bacteriology. The blood and tissues swarmed with a minute bacillus having the general morphological staining and biological characters of that of chicken cholera and rabbit septicæmia. It differed from these in the failure to infect chickens, whether inoculated or fed to them. It proved deadly to geese, ducks, pigeons, rabbits, mice, and more slowly to Guinea pigs. Geese were infected by inoculation or feeding of the germs, ducks from inoculation only.
Symptoms. The geese were often found dead, and even in those noticed ill, death supervened so early that no very diagnostic symptoms were made out. The affected geese moved tardily and unsteadily, and failed to keep with the remainder of the flock. Some burrowed the head in the dirt and twisted it around, indicating, it was supposed, spasms of the throat. Some were seized with the death agony in a few minutes; in others the illness lasted for hours, and from experimental cases it was concluded that the period from infection to death, in the majority of cases, did not exceed thirty-six hours. Some were believed to merge into a chronic condition, but the owner thought that none recovered. No diarrhœa is noted.
Lesions. The head was the seat of marked venous and capillary congestion, suggesting asphyxia. The bill and throat contained a large quantity of tenacious mucus, which was especially viscid in the nose. Extravasated blood in abundance was present in the gastro-intestinal mucosa and contents, much of it more or less digested. At some points there was abundant mucous exudate; at others the folds were only marked by punctiform petechiæ, or by bloody patches formed by their coalescence. The cæca were usually normal.
The liver showed numerous punctiform extravasations and yellow patches of necrosis extending more or less deeply into the hepatic tissue. Other congestions were seen in individual cases, implicating, in one instance, the heart and pericardium, and in another the lungs. Petechiæ were frequent on the pericardium and other mucosæ. The blood was usually black, tarry, and with little disposition to brighten on exposure to the air.