ABSTRACTS ANI) REPORTS. 233

TUBERCULOSIS IN SAXONY IN THE YEAR 1895.1

IN the twenty-nine towns in Saxony in which a regular meat inspection is ca rried out, the number of cattle slaughtered during the year T895 was 82,787, and the number of these in which tuberculous lesions were found was 22,758, or a proportion of 27'48 per cent., as against 21"5 per cent. in the previous year. The proportion vaned in different districts, from Meissen with 49'7 per cent. to \Verdau with 7'H per cent. Of these tuberculous an imals 21,062 were passed as fit for food, which is equivalent to 92 '54 per cent., as compared with 91 '40 per cent. in 1894 ; 1256 of the tuberculous carcases, or 5'51 per cent., were sold in the Freibank j and 440, or 1 '93 per cent., were condemned as totally unfit for food and destroyed.

\-Vith regard to the distnbution of the cases according to sex, the following figures are given. Out of 25,145 oxen, 6116, or 24'31 per cent., were tuber­culous. The highest proportion of tuberculous oxen was furnished by l\feissen, namely, 38'9 per cent. Out of 39,493 cows slaughtered during the year, 12,832, or 32 '49 per cent., were tuberculous. Meissen again furnished the highest percentage, namely, 52'9 per cent. The number of bulls slaughtered during the year was 18,149, and of these 38II, or 20'99 per. cent., were tuberculous. In this case also Meissen furnished the largest proportion of tuberculous animals, namely, 51" 1 per cent. The number of calves slaughtered during the year was 201,643, of which number, 5°3, or '24 per cen t., were found to be tuberculous. Of these tuberculous calves 129 were destroyed, while 148 were sent to the Freibank, and 226 were passed for unrestricted sale.

The number of sheep slaughtered during the year, was 132,578, and among these there were detected J 79 cases of tuberculosis, or '13 per cent. Sixteen of the tuberculous carr.ases were destroyed, fifteen were sent to the Freibank, and 148 were passed for unrestricted sale. In one district the proportion of tuberculosis among the sheep slaughtered was as high as 3 per cent.

The number of goats slaughtered during the year, was 3007, and thirteen of these were found to be tuberculous. Three of the thirteen carcases were destroyed, two were sent to the Freibank, and eight were passed for unre­stricted sale.

The number of pigs slaughtered during the year, was 384.473, and among these tuberculosis was detected JO,450 times, giving a proportion of 2'71 per cent. Of the tuberculous carcases, 149, or J '42 per cent, were destroyed; J962, or 18'77 per cent., were sent to the Freibank; the fat of 573 tuberculous pigs was also sent to the Freibank; and 7766, or 74'31 per cent. were passed for unrestricted sale.

EPIZOOTIC CEREBRO-SPINAL MENINGITIS IN THE HORSE.

I N a recent number of the Ardliz'jltr1£lissellSc/l. It. prakt. Thierltellk. (Bd. 22, H . 4 u. 5, 1896) Siedamgrotzky and Schlegel describe their observations regard­ing a peculiar form of disease which is at the present time prevalent among horses in some parts of Saxony. The disease in question made its first appearance in 1878, in April of that year four horses in Zwickau being

1 Bericht uber das Veterinarwesen im Kiinigreich Sachsen flit· das Jahr 1895.

234 ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS.

attacked with peculiar symptoms indicating subacute meningitis. In 1879 a number of outbreaks occurred at different places, and the affection was known as the" new disease" by laymen in these districts, but by veterinary surgeons it was generally recognised as cerebro-spinal meningitis.

For some years after 1879 only occasional cases were reported, but between 1883 and 1886 the disease again became widely prevalent. No cases were reported in 1887 or 1889, but in 1890 another recrudesence of the disease set in, and since that time it appears to have been steadily on the increase. The worst year of all has been the present one, no fewer than 437 cases having been reported between January and May.

Symptoms and Course.-The disease either sets in suddenly with rigors, or premonitory symptoms are observable for some days. These consist for the most part of signs of moderate gastric catarrh with some degree of dulness; the pulse and respiration are at first normal; in some cases polyuria is a premonitory symptom.

The peculiar disease begins either with mental disturbances such as are seen in subacute meningitis of the horse, or these may be added at a later stage to the peculiar symptoms of cerebro-spinal meningitis.

The sensibility of the skin is diminished, and consciousness is dulled or completely lost. The animals stand in a sleepy position with the head hanging or supported on the manger; there is frequent and repeated yawning; the animals are with difficulty ma,de to move, sometimes stumble and even fall down. Delirious attacks are rare, but occasionally set in at a later stage in such a degree as to make it scarcely possible to approach the patient. A peculiar feature of the disease is the appearance of symptoms of irritation or paralysis in various groups of nerves. At the outset the pupil is contracted, but sometimes that is replaced by marked dilatation. Sometimes the direction of the eye is changed, a downward squint being especially frequent. The power of vision is not disturbed.

In the group of head muscles irregular vibrations of the lips, twitching of the face, eyelids, and ears, are observable; this may be followed by paralysis with hanging of the lips, drooping of the ears, etc. These symptoms, however, are not alwavs present. More constant are disturbances in con­nection with the muscles of mastication, prehension, and deglutition. At first firm closure of the mouth and movements of mastication are observed although no food is present in the mouth; later there is frequent and persistent grinding of the teeth. In consequence of the partial loss of consciousness the patients ordinarily cease to take food or drink. When food is held before them or the head is pushed into it they seize some of it, chew it slowly with extensive movements of the jaws, and swallow it; at a later stage the animal loses the power of seizing the food, especially grains. Eventually the power to carry any sort of food int,) the mouth is entirely lost, although there does not appear to be any paralysis of the muscles of the cheek or of the tongue. When food is pushed into the mouth it collects there between the cheeks and the teeth. These symptoms appear to be due not to a complete paralysis, but to an inability to execute in a co-ordinate manner the movements of mastication. Notwithstanding this, the power of deglutition is often retained for a long time; eventually, however, that also may be lost, and then the saliva flows from the mouth, and when an attempt is made to swallow the liquid returns through the nose or may be aspirated into the trachea, and in that way pneumonia may be set up.

Disturbances in connection with the muscles of the neck are very frequently observed, although not constantly present. The most common amongst these disturbances is a cramp-like contraction of the extensor muscles of the neck; in consequence of this the head is stretched out, or permanently curved in the upward direction, the extensors of the neck

ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS. 235

feeling as firm as in a case of tetanus. When in such a case an attempt is made to bend the neck this is found to be impossible, the patients either falling backwards or to the side. Not infrequently the contraction of the muscles of the neck is unequal on the two sides, so that the neck is permanently bent towards one side. Under the action of a stimulus, as, for example, when food is held in front of the animal, this unilateral contraction becomes increased, and the neck is then so strongly curved that the lips may be brought into contact with the body behind the shoulder, and even in this position the animal attempts to take food or drink. In some cases the neck is bent so as to carry the head low down, this being especially observed when there are sensorial disturbances. The head then frequently becomes <:edematous, as in a case of purpura. In addition to these symptoms, fibrillary trembling of the muscles of the neck occurs, and at a later stage the chronic cramp-like contraction may be accompanied by extensive twitching of some of the neck muscles.

As a rule similar symptoms are not present in connection with the muscles of the body or limbs, but sometimes there is stiffness of the back, and at others peculiar cramp-like movements of one leg, the affected limb being carried far upwards and forwards.

As a rule the animals perform peculiar circus movements in progressively diminishing circles. Loss of the power of equilibrium is also frequent; the animals then stand with the feet wide apart, and sway on the hind limbs. When made to move the patient has a tendency to stumble, and not infrequently falls down altogether. Very frequently when this has happened it is found to be impossible to keep the patients on their legs by artificial aid; they then lie, completely unconscious, on the ground, and periodically make violent swimming movements with their legs. When in such a case the animal does succeed in getting on its legs again it rushes blindly forwards, until stopped by walls or manger, or until it falls down. In occasional cases the animals without any apparent motive repeatedly bite at the muscles of the hind leg.

As regards general symptoms, it was observed that the body temperature varied between 37'5° and 41° C. Most frequently the temperature was about 39°, and the course of the temperature curve was irregular. The pulse was sometimes normal, and sometimes moderately increased (about So as a rule); it is not full, but rather empty and soft. Except during excitement, or during an attack of intercurrent pneumonia from the entrance. of foreign materials into the trachea, the respiration is tranquil. The temperature of the surface of the body is unequal, the legs mostly being cold, whereas the skull and the neck commonly feel hot. Very frequently the visible mucous membranes show nothing abnormal; at other times they show a slight yellow tinge, and in still other cases a bright red colour. In very severe cases the conjunctiva becomes livid.

As a rule the appetite is retained, but, as already mentioned, the horses are unable to lay hold of food, or to masticate it. As a rule, there is slight con­stipation. In general the urine appears to be unchanged, but some observers have reported the presence of albumen, red corpuscles, and cylinders in it.

The course of the disease is generally somewhat slow. All the symptoms increase in intensity in the first four to eight days. The disease then remains at its height, with moderate remissions or exacel bations, until, owing to increasing paralysis, death takes place from the tenth to the eighteenth day. Death may be hastened by inability to take nourishment, by fracture of the skull in consequence of the violence of the animal's movements, by pneu­monia in consequence of the penetration of food materials into the air passages, or lastly, by septiGcmia following on extensive necrosis of skin of the various parts of the body pressed upon when the animal lies persistently.

ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS.

When the disease ends in recovery that proceeds slowly, and requires several weeks. As a rule the cramp of the muscles and the partial paralysis disappear first, while the general mental disturbance remains for some time longer. Very frequently the recovery is incomplete, some degree of mental depression remaining permanently. Sometimes also the power of equilibrium is not completely recovered, so that the animals display a want of power of co-ordination. Loss of sight in one or both eyes is somewhat frequently observed as a result of inflammatory changes in the optic disc.

According to reports collected from veterinary surgeons, out of 780 cases 595 died, or had to be slaughtered as useless.

The post-mortem examination showed the lesions of a serous leptomeningitis affecting the brain, medulla oblongata, and adjoining parts of the spinal cord. In the subdural space, between the meshes of the arachnoid, there was found a large quantity of almost clear fluid, and a similar fluid was present in greater or smaller amount in all the ventricles of the brain. The vessels of the pia mater were markedly injected, especially at the basal part of the brain and the medulla oblongata, from which point it gradually diminished in intensity, until it disappeared about the second or third cervical vertebra. The choroid plexus was also injected, and at some places showed gelatinous swelling. The furrows between the cerebral convolutions, especially on the basal a<;pect of the brain, appeared flat and more or less filled with serous lymph. In the white substance of the brain the vessels were more or less full of blood, but with scarcely any capillary hremorrhages and slight cedema. The grey substance of the brain had a tinge of violet, and was somewhat softer than normal, especially at the base of the brain. These changes were most marked in the pons and the medulla, but were present as far as the second or third cervical vertebra. Some observers had noted similar alterations in the lumbar part of the spinal cord. The crainal nerves, especially the fifth, appeared softer than normal and somewhat yellowish in colour. The hypophysis cerebri was swollen and softened.

No lesions except such as appeared to be of an accidental character were present in any of the other organs.

Etiology.-At first various influences were accused of being responsible for the production of the disease, but gradually the opinion has come to prevail that the disease is of a specific infectious nature. With respect to this ques­tion, it was to be observed that the disease was mainly confined to farm horses; horses in towns and those which were regularly worked every day were seldom attacked, and only a few cases occurred in two cavalry regiments stationed in the district. Both coarse and well-bred horses were attacked, and while most of the animals affected were of middle age, the disease was seen even in old animals. Out of 751 cases six animals were under one year, J 49 between one and five years, 332 between five and ten years, 170 between ten and fifteen years, and 94 fifteen years and over.

The distribution of the cases with regard to the time of the year is shown in the subjoined table:--------

1895 1895 1896

January 4 July 19 January 51 February 13 August. 32 February 75 March 27 September 18 i March 16 7 April 34 October 10 April 141 May 52 November I I

June 33 December 18

ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS. 237

Opinion with regard to the operation of contagion in the spread of the disease was much divided. Twenty-four veterinary surgeons who had had a large experience with the disease believed that it was not contagious; four believed that they had observed instances of contagion, and seven left the question undecided. The proportion of cases in which there was any history of contagion was very small, and in some instances it was observed that where several cases occurred in one stable the new cases occurred in horses remote from those first attacked. Lastly, it was declared that in some instances the disease broke out among horses that for half a year had been placed in circumstances that seemed to preclude contagion. From all the evidence it appeared that the disease was only exceptionally transmitted from one horse to another.

Culture experiments were made in nine different cases, and in 80 per cent. of these pure cultures of a particular micrococcus were obtained from the cerebro-spinal fluid or the brain substance. Cultures of this micrococcus were found to be non-pathogenic for mice and rabbits. Intravenous injection of cultures in three horses did not induce the specific disease, but in one horse which received an intravenous injection brain symptoms somewhat simIlar to those seen in the disease afterwards set in. In another case similarly infected symptoms of slight brain affection developed, and at the post-mortem examination the same micrococci could be recognised in the cerebro-spinal fluid as well as in the substance of the brain and 5pinal cord. In ~till another case subdural inoculation of a horse with a culture of the mlCrococcus was followed by severe meningitis and encephalitis, and here again the micrococci were present in almost pure culture. On the ground of these observations and experiments it is held to be probable thDt the before­mentioned micrococci, under favourable circumstances, can produce the disease.

SIXTH INTERNATIONAL VETERINARY CONGRESS.

DISCUSSION ON THE USE OF THE FLESH OF TUBERCULOUS ANIMALS.

The Sixth International Veterinary Congress, which met at Berne in September 1895, devoted part of two of its sittings to this subject. The following report of the discussion is translated from the recently issued official report of the Congress. The subject was introduced by papers contributed by Messrs Guillebeau, de Jong, and Butel, who were called upon to open the discussion.

HERR GUILLEBEAU -The st,ndpoint from which I have proceeded is that tuhercle bacilli, when they reach the intestine in a living condition, act injuriously on the animal which takes them in. I think that this point will not be disputed. The second point is that when parts whi< h are the actual seat of tuberculous disease are eaten in the raw condition these are naturally also injurious. This point also is not disputed. A third point, which I also take to be undisputed, although, strange to say, in discussions such as this it ha" been left in the background, is the richness of the flesh in tubercle bacilli. The flesh contains them in the capillaries, into which they are carried by the blood stream_ Bollinger has shown that this is a constant condition in advanced (hoc/lgradigt'r) tuberculosis, but it also occurs sometimes in less advanced cases. Proof of this is furnished in the fact that in cases of quite moderate tuberculosis in cattle metastases in the mammary gland, brain, and other parts, are of frequent occurrence. \Ve very frequently observe that inflammation of a joint is the primary disease, especially in commencing