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The Artificial Transmission of East Coast Fever
ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS.
corium may be completely removed if an Esmarch elastic bandage be applied. In his earlier cases the author used the knife to remove the bulk of the proliferations, completing the process with an autocautery, or, in cases that were not so advanced, using the cautery only. In his later cases, however, he used the hot iron only for the total removal of the diseased corium. By so doing the healing process is cut short, and there is the great advantage that there is little or no bleeding. Subsequent treatment consists in the apnlication of iodine iodoform gauze or other wound dressings. Cleanliness and dryness of the surface of the wound are the principal considerations, medicaments playing a quite secondary part in the process of healing. Relapses must be carefully watched for. They occurred in sixteen out of twenty-one of the author's cases. A relapse is recognised by a rapid elevation and by the soft consistence of the whitish-yellow epithelium. Such areas, if smail, may be treated with medicaments only. If more extensive operation is necessary,-in his earlier cases the author resorted to the use of the hot iron, but later he used the knife in such cases. Bandages should be changed every three or four days. Relapses sometimes occur when healing has been apparently complete. The author had two such cases. The utmost care and cleanliness are essential, and the diseased foot should be smeared with tar from time to time. Grease is a very obstinate condition to treat, and if the disease be extensive treatment is hardly warranted. In cases where the disease is limited in extent the best results have been obtained by removing the lesions with the knife and the subsequent application of caustics and bandages. Long-continued treatment is necessary, and relapses may render a repetition of the surgical interference or cauterisation imperative. c (Burgi, Schwet'zer Archiv fur. Tierheilk., Vol. LII., Nos. 3, 4, and 5. 1910, pp., 137-161, 207-228, 293-336.)
THE ARTIFICIAL TRANSMISSION OF EAST COAST FEVER. THE primary object of the following experiments was to find out whether the transplantation of entire organs from sick animals into susceptible ones would convey the disease. A positive result attending the first attempt, further experiments followed as a matter of course. An additional impetus was given to the experiments, and a definite line of working indicated, by the demonstration of the possibility of puncturing the spleen of an animal during life. In all, seven series of experiments were devised, involving the use of various materials for inoculation and a variety of methods of administration. The following is a skeleton of the plan adopted : Experiment 1. Intraperitoneal insertions and injectionsGroup A. Insertion of the whole spleen. Group B. Insertion of pieces of spleen. Group C. Injection of spleen pulp. Group D. Insertion of lymphatic glands. Group E. Injection of the juice of lymphatic glands. Group F. Injection of blood. Experiment II. Intrasplenic injectionsGroup A. Injections of spleen pulp. Group B. Injections of lymphatic gland juice. Group C. Injections of blood. Experiment III. Intralymphal injectionsGroup A. InjectIons of spleen pulp. Group B. Injections of lymphatic gland juice. Group C. Engrafting lymphatic gland. Group D. Injections of blood. L
ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS.
Experiment I V. Subcutaneous injections and insertionsGroup A. Insertion of pieces of spleen. Group B. Insertion of lymphatic glands. Group C. Injection of lymphatic gland,juice. Experiment V. Intrathoracic injections and insertionsGroup A. Spleen pulp. Group B. Pieces of lymphatic glands. Group C. Injections of lymphatic gland juice. Experiment VI. Intrajugular injectionsGroup A. Spleen pulp. Group B. Lymphatic gland juice. Group C. Blood. Experiment VII. Intracutaneous injection of lymphatic gland juice. Experiment I. Intraperitoneal imertions and injections : Group A. Insertion of the whole spleen(a) Bull Calf 569. Fifteen months old. Born at the lahoratory. . Material Used.-Spleen of Calf 688, which had contracted the disease naturally from tick infection and was killed on the eleventh day of the disease. Result.-Irregular temperature between the fourth and seventh days. High reaction started on the thirteenth day and lasted till the twenty-first, when the animal was killed. Piroplasma parvum seen in the blood, and plasma bodies in the lymphatic glands. Post-mortem revealed typical lesions of East Coast fever. (b) Bull Calf 560. Fifteen months old. Born at the laboratory. Material Used.-Spleen of Calf 569. Result.-Death from peritonitis on the fourth day. Group B. Insertion of pieces of spleen(a) Madagascar Bull 875. Aged. Material Used.-Pieces of spleen of Heiftr 684, which had been infected by tick and killed on the ninth day of the disease, piroplasms having been numerous in its blood. Result.-Slight reaction during the period of incubation and the appearance of piroplasma mutans in the blood. Typical reaction set in on the eleventh day, and piroplasms appeared in the blood. Animal died five days later of East Coast fever complicated with peritonitis. Koch's bodies found in the lymphatic glands. (b) Africander Bull 615. Fifteen months old. Two portions of spleen measuring 12 by 15 cm. inserted into the peritoneal cavity and attached to the abdominal wall. Pieces of spleen obtained from Heifer 686, which reacted as a result of tick infection and was killed on the twenty-sixth day.
Result.-Indefinite. Immunity Test.-Reacted to tick infestation, but small number of piro-
plasms (species not definitely ascertained) appeared in the blood. No search made for plasma bodIes until the end of the reaction, when they were not found. Bull 615 infested with infective ticks after an interval of six months did not react (c) Africander Bull 565. Aged fifteen months. Material Used.-Portion of spleen of Cow 830, which reacted to tick infestation and was killed on the eighth day of disease.
Result.-Indefinite. Immunity 7est.- Tick infe,tation was followed by a temperature reaction
up to lof, but not typical of East Coast Fever. Blood examinations negative. Six months later again infested with ticks. No reaction. (d) Ox 828. Aged fifteen months. Material Used.-Portion of spleen of Cow 592, which had contracted East Coast fever as result of insertion of lymphatic glands of Cow 830 into the peritoneum (Experiment II.)
ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS.
Result.-Animal died from peritonitis. Group C. Injection of spleen pulp(a) Heiter 831. Aged two and a half years. Imported from Cape Colony. R.eceived about 50 cc. of spleen pulp from Cow 594, which had reacted to tick infestation. Result.- Negative. Group D. Insertion of lymphatic glands(a) Bull Calf 458. Two years old. Born at the laboratory. Tnatment.-Intraperitoneal insertion of four mesenteric and three bronchial and mediastinal glands from Heifer 686, which had contracted the disease by tick infestation. Result.-Slight reaction, not indicative of East Coa~t fever. Immunity Test.-Six adult brown ticks from Heifer 677 caused infection, plasma bodies and piroplasms being both found. Animal killed on the,tenth day of the disease. (b) Africander Cow 592. Ten years old. Tnatment.-Insertion of supramammary and retropharyngeal glands of Cow 830 infected by nymphs from Ox 675 (Experiment 1.) Result.-Mutans reaction followed by fatal East Coast fever infection. Piroplasms ane! plasma bodies both found. Animal used for the engorgement oflarval ticks which were collected as nymphs. (c) Cow 679. Treatment.-Insertion of one supramammary, one precrural, and three lumbar glands from Cow 592 (see previous animal). Result.-Immediate high reaction (106° F.), descending to normal by the tenth day, followed by a reaction resembling that of East Coast fever lasting to the twenty-sixth day. During this reaction small piroplasms were found in the blood, but no plasma bodies were found in the spleen or glands. Immunity Test.- Three subsequent tick infestations were without result. Cow 682. Eight years old. Treatment.--Identical with that in the previous case. Result.-Exactly as in previous case. Immunity Test.-Six adult ticks from Heifer 677 caused a fatal reaction. Piroplasms and plasma bodies were both found. (d) Heifer 895. About two years old. Treatment.-Insertion of one supramammary, one prescapular, and one subiliac gland from Cow 677, which contracted the disease as the result of tick infestation. Result.- Indefinite. Immunity Test.-Infested with ticks on four occasions without result. (e) Heifer 888. A bout one year old. Treatment.-Insertion of one supramammary, one prescapular, and one pre crural gland from Cow 594, which had reacted to tick infe~tation. Result.-Irregular temperature reaction associated with the presence of small piroplasms of undetermined species. Animal died on the thirty-first day. Post-mortem showed that death was due to East Coast fever. (f) Heifer 871, Heifer 833, Ox 621, and Ox 661. Each of these animals had inserted into the peritoneum glands from Bull Calf 458, which died as a result of tick infestation. None of these animals reacted, and they were used for further experiments. Group E. Injections of lymphatic gland juice(a) Calf 878. Eight months old. Tnatment.-Ioo cc. of lymphatic gland juice of Heifer 884, which contracted the disease from intrasplenic injection of spleen pulp. Result.-After showing piroplasm~ bigeminum and parvum, died of septic~mia.
Group F.
Injeclion of blood-
16 4
(a) Heifer 1014.
ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS.
Treatment.~loo cc. of defibrinated blood from Heifer 923, an English animal which contracted the disease from tick infestation. Result.-Blood examinations remained negative. Immunity Test.-Not yet carried out. Experiment II. Intrasplenic injections :Group A. Injections of spleen pulp(a) Heifer 874. Treatment.-Intrasplenic injection of 50 cc. of spleen pulp of Cow 594, which contracted the disease from tick infestaticm. Result.-Irregular reaction associated with piroplasma mutans, followed by a reaction associated with piroplasma parvum and plasma bodies, and terminating fatally. (b) Ox 337. Trelltment.-30 cc. of spleen pulp of Bull Calf 458 (Experiment 1, D, a). Result.-Fatal East Coast fever with piroplasms and plasma bodies. (c) Ox 620. Tnatment.-30 cc. of spleen pulp of Ox 337 (previous animal). Result.-Irregular temperature at first, followed by a more definite reaction. No piroplasms or plasma bodies could be detected. Immunity Test.- Two subsequent infestations with ticks were without result. Heifer 882. Treatment.-20 cc. of spleen pulp from Ox 337. Result.-Definite reaction terminating fatally. Examination of blood negative, but plasma bodies found. Heifer 885. Tnatment.-Io ce. of spleen pulp from Ox 337. . Result.-Fatal reaction. Blood examination negative, but plasma bodies found in the spleen at the post-mortem. Heifer 884. Treatment.-5 cc. of spleen pulp from Ox 337. Result.-Positive reaction. Animal killed. Plasma bodies present in glands. Group B. Injections of lymphatic gland juiceHeifers 912 and 608. Both animals died from septic~mia. Group C. Injections of blood(a) Heifer 1012. Tnatment.-IOO cc. of blood from Heifer 923, which contracted the infection from ticks. Result.-Negative. Experiment III. Intralymphal injections :(Note.-In the case of old animals it could not be definitely stated that the whole dose entered the gland, as no juice was obtainable when the gland was punctured by the needle.) Group A. Injection of spleen pulp(a) Ox 825. Aged. Treatment.-I5 cc. of spleen pulp from Ox 337 (Experiment II., b) into the right prescapular gland. Result.-No reaction till the forty-fifth day, when a typical reaction occurred. Plasma bodies observed in the glands before the appearance of piroplasms in the blood. Note.-Possiblythis infection was due to stray ticks. (b) Calf 879. Six months old. Born at the laboratory. Treatment.-2o cc. of spleen pulp from Ox 884 (Experiment II., c). Result.-Temperature rose at once, and remained high till death on the eighteenth day. No piroplasms observed in the blood, but rare plasma bodies seen in the spleen post-mortem.
ABSTRACTS AND RRPORTS.
Group B.
Injection of lymphatic gland juiceAged. Treatment.-Io cc. of gland juice from Ox 337 (Experiment II., b) injected into prescapular glands. Result.-Incubation period of fourteen days. Blood examinations negative. Animal died on the eighteenth day. Post-mortem warranted the diagnosis: acute East Coast fever. (b) Calf 880. Seven months old. Born on the station. Treatment.-I cc. of gland juice of Calf 884 (Experiment II., c) injected into the prescapular gland. Result.-No diagnosis possible; irregular temperature associated with piroplasma bigeminum. Immunity Test.-Animal infested with ticks died of the disease after showing anaplasma marginale. Ox 621. Aged Africander. (Previously used in Experiment I.) Treatment.-5 cc. of juice from Ox 884. Result.-Reaction associated with plasma bodies in the glands. Immunity Tests.-Animal twice infested with ticks without result. Ox 661. Eight years old. (Previously used in Experiment 1.) Tnatment.-Io cc. of gland juice from Ox 884 injected into the prescapular gland. Result.-Fatal reaction, plasma bodies being found. (c) Calf 905. Six and a half months old. Born at the laboratory. Treatment.-20 cc. of gland juice from Ox 661 (previous animal) injected into prescapular glands. Result.-Irregular temperature during first few days only. Immunity Test.- Tick infestation produced a fatal attack, plasma bodies and piroplasms being demonstrated. (d) Ox 87 I. One year old. (Previously used in Experiment 1.) Treatment.-I cc. of gland juice from Calf 917, which contracted fatal attack as result of tick infestation. Result.-Irregular temperature for several days, blood negative on the thirteenth day. Irregularity continued. No blood examinations made. Immunity Test.- Two infestations with ticks were without result. Heifer 833. Two and a half years old. (Previously used in Experiment 1.) Treatment -Exactly as Ox 87 I. Result.-No reaction. Heifer 83 I. Two and a half years old. (Previously used in Experiment 1.) Tnatment.-As Ox 871. Result.-No reaction. Heifer 896. History unknown. Treatment.-As Ox 87 I. Result.-Blood and gland smears negative. Heifer 897.-History unknown. Tnatment.-As Ox 871. Result.-Negative. Immunity Test.- Tick infestation led to infection, piroplasms and plasma bodies being demonstrated. Animal killed on twenty-fourth day. (e) Heifer 1016. About one year old. Treatment.-20 cc. of gland juice from Ox 825, which contracted the disease as the result of intralymphal injection of spleen pulp. Treatment.-20 cc. of gland juice injected into the prescapular glands. Result. - N ega ti ve. Immunity Test.-N ot yet carried out. (f) Cow 596, which contracted the disease as the result of tick infestation, supplied gland juice for the injection of the following animals. All the animals were aged and their history unknown. Bull 1049 received 5 cc. of gland juice. Negative. Immunity not yet tested. (a) Ox 826.
166
ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS.
Cows 103l and 1031 and Ox 1028 received I cc. each. Results in the cows negative, and their immunity has not yet been tested. Result in Ox 1028: fatal attack. Cows 1030 and 1029 and Ox 1048 each received 2 cc. None reacted, and their immunity has not been tested. Oxen 1038 and 1043 and Bull 1039 each received 3 cc. None reacted, and their immunity has not been tested. (g) Ox 1018, which reacted to tick infestation, supplied gland juice for the injection of the following animals. With the exception of Heifer 1027 (aged two years) all the animals were aged and in no case was the history known. Heifer 1027 received 10 cc. Negative. Not yet tested for immunity. Ox 1025 received 8 cc. Negative. Not yet tested for immunity. Ox 1050 received 6 cc. Negative. Not yet tested for immunity. Bull 1051 received 4 cc. Negative. Not yet tested for immunity. Ox 1046 received 2 cc. Negative. Not yet tested for immunity. (II) Heifer 928, which was tick infested, supplied juice for the following animalsOx 1036. Aged. Dose, 10 cc. No reaction. Immunity not yet tested. Ox 1037. Aged. Dose, 10 cc. No reaction. Immunity not yet tested. Ox 1041. Aged. Dose, 10 cc. No reaction. Immunity not yet tested. Ox 1011. One year old. Dose, 10 cc. Reaction irregular and not typical. Immunity Test.- Tick infestation lead to a reaction. Piroplasms and plasma bodies found; the latter present in the blood on the twenty-first day, when the animal was killed. Ox 1020. One year old. Dose, 10 ce. Temperature irregular. Blood examination negative. Immunity not yet tested. (i) Heifer 897, which contracted the disease as the result of tick infestation, supplied gland juice for the injection of the following animalsHeifer 833. (See Experiments 1. and III.) Two years old. Received 5 cc. Negative. Immunity not yet tested. Heifer 896. (See Experiments III. and IV.) Two years old. Received 5 cc. Negative. Immunity not yet tested. Heifer 1012. (See Experiment II.) Two and a half years old. Received 5 cc. Irregular non-typical reaction. Immunity test: fatal attack due to tick infestation. Heifer 1077. Two years old. Received 5 cc. Negative. Immunity test not yet carried out. Cow 1064 and Ox 1066, aged four years and aged, received the same treatment as Heifer 1077, with the same result. Group C.-Piece of lymphatic gland grafted on lymphatic glandHeifer 650' About one year old. Treatment.-Piece of gland from Ox 337, which contracted the disease as the result of intrasplenic injection of spleen pulp, grafted on the right prescapular gland. Result.-Reaction, but examination of the blood, glands, and spleen proved negative. Animal died on twenty-first day, and the post-mortem examination enahled the diagnosis of East Coast fever to be made. Group D.-Intralymphal injection of blood(a) Heifer 1013. Two years old. Treatment.-Injection of 20 cc. of defibrinated blood from Heifer 923 (disease due to tick infestation) into the right prescapular gland. Result.-No reaction. Immunity Test.- Tick infestation lead to fatal attack. (b) Ox 1024. Aged. Treatment.-Injection of 50 cc. of fresh blood from Heifer 928 (tick infected) into prescapular glands. Result.-No reaction. Immunity test not yet carried out ..
ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS.
Experiment IV. Subcutaneous injections and insertions :Group A. Insertion of a piece of spleen-
(a) Heifer 829.
About one year old. (10 by 12 cm.) from Cow 677 which was tick infected placed under the skin of shoulder. Result.-Operation reaction during the first six days, which was repeated between the seventeenth and twenty-third da} s. Blood examinations negative. Immunity Test.-No reaction followed infestation with four batches of ticks. Group B. Insertion of lymphatic glands(a) Heifer 896. Two years old. Treatment.-Two lymphatic glands from Cow 677 (see last experiment) placed under the skin. Result.-Irregular temperature reaction, but blood examination proved negative. This animal was used in Experiment III. Immunity not yet tested by tick infestation. Group C. Injection of lymphatic gland juice(a) Calf 877. Seven months old. Born at laboratory. Treatment.-Joo cc. of gland juice subcutaneously from Heifer 884, which contracted the disease from the intrasplenic injection of spleen pulp. Result.-Acute fatal East Coast fever. Plasma bodies abundant in all organs at death. (b) Cow 1023. Aged. Treatment.-5 cc. of gland juice from Cow 596 subcutaneously (Cow 596 tick infected). Result.-Negative. Immunity not yet tested. Experiment V. Intrathoracic injections : Group A. Spleen pulp(a) Heifer 836. One year old. Treatment. -Pieces of spleen of Cow 594 (tick infected) inserted into thoracic cavity by means of large trocar. Result.-Slight reaction during the first, third, and tenth to nineteenth days. Blood examinations negative. Immunity Test.-Infested four times with ticks without result. (b) Ox 1040. Five years old. Treatment,-5 ce. of spleen pulp from Cow 596 (tick infected). Result.-Some irregular reactions, but glands and blood negative. Immunity Test.-Fatal attack followed tick infestation. Group B. Insertion of lymphatic glands(a) Heifer 833. One year old. Treatment.-Pieces of gland from Cow 594 (tick infected) inserted by means of trocar. Result.-Irregular temperature soon after the operation. Blood examination negative. Reaction between the thirteenth and twenty-first days, and small piroplasm obselved in the blood (mutans ?). Immunity Test.-Four infestations with ticks were without result. Group C. Injection of lymphatic gland juice(a) Ox 1026. Treatment.-Intrathoracic injection of 5 cc. of gland juice from Cow 596 (tick infected). Result.-No reaction. . Immunity Test.- Typical reaction ensued, piroplasms and plasma bodies being found in the blood. Animal killed in extremis. Experiment VI. Intrajugular injections : Group A.-Spleen pulp(a) Ox 1°42. Aged. Tnatment.-Injection of 5 cc. of spleen pulp from Ox 596 (tick infected). Result.-Temperature rose to 1040 F. on eighteenth day. Blood and glands negative. Immnnity test not yet carried out.
Treatment.-A piece of spleen
168
ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS.
Group B. Lymphatic gland juice(a) Bull 1047. Treatment.-5 cc. of gland juice from Cow 596 (tick infected). Result.-Positive. Piroplasms and plasma bodies found in the blood, and both persisted there after the temperature had fallen. Immunity Test.-Animal resisted two infestations. (b) Lymphatic gland juice from Heifer 928 was used for intrajugular injections of the following animalsHeifer 91I. One year old. Dose 10 cc. No reaction. Immunity not tested. Heifer 627. One year old. Dose 10 cc. Irregular temperature. Immunity not tested. Cow 1033. Aged. Dose 10 cc. Reaction on the eighteenth day. Glands negative. Piroplasma bigeminum and few small piroplasms in blood. Immunity Test.- Two infestations were without result. Bull 1052. Aged. Dose 10 cc. Irregular reaction, piroplasma bigeminum. Immunity not yet tested. Cow 1035. Aged. Dose 10 cc. No reaction. Immunity not yet tested. (c) Gland juice from Heifer 897 (tick infected) was used for the ·intra· jugular injection of the following animalsHeifer 831. One year old. Previously used in Experiments I. and III. Dose 10 cc. No reaction. Immunity not yet tested. Calf 919. Seven months old. Born at the laboratory. Dose 10 cc. Slight reaction with piroplasma bigeminum. Immunity Test.-Fatal tick infestation. Heifer 1078. Two years old. Dose 5 cc. Slight reaction with piroplasma bigeminum. Spleen and glands negative. Animal died, but the cause could not be ascertained. Bull 107 I. Aged. Dose 5 cc. No reaction. Immunity not yet tested. Cow 1068. Aged. Dose 5 cc. Irregular reaction. All examinations negative. Immunity not yet tested. Heifer 1014. One year old. (Used in Experiment I.). Dose 10 cc. No reaction. Immunity not yet tested. Group C. Infusion of blood(a) Bull 1045. Aged. Treatment.- Transfused about 3 litres of blood from Heifer 928, piroplasms being numerous in the blood at the time. Result.-No reaction. Immunity not yet tested. . Experiment VII. Intracutaneous injection of lymphatic gland juice;Cow 1034.. Aged. Tnatment.-Injection of 5 cc. of gland juice from Cow 596 (tick infected) intracutaneously. Result.-No typical reaction. Gland examinations negative. Immunity not yet tested. Conclusions. I. East Coast fever was not transmitted by means of blood of a sick animal, either by transfusion of blood into the system, or injections into the peritoneal cavity, spleen, or lymphatic glands, of five healthy animals. 2. The insertion of the spleen or pieces of it, or injection of spleen pulp into the peritoneal cavity, spleen, lymphatic glands, thorax, under the skin, or into the jugular vein, produced the disease in twelve out of seventeen animals-7 I per cent.' 3. The insertion of lymphatic glands or the injection of lymphatic gland juice by the above-mentioned six methods, and, in addition, intracutaneously, produced the disease in fifteen out of sixty-six animals-23 per cent. 4. The intraperitoneal injection of the whole spleen, pieces of the spleen, spleen pulp, lymphatic glands, or lymphatic gland juice, succeeded in seven out of fifteen instances-41 per cent.
ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS.
s. The intrasplenic injection of spleen pulp or lymphatic gland juice succeeded in six out of six instances-IoO per cent. 6. The intralymphal injection of spleen pulp, lymphatic glands, or lymphatic gland juice, succeeded in eight out of forty instances-20 per cent 7. The subcutaneous injection of spleen pulp, lymphatic glands, or lymphatic gland juice, succeeded in two out of four instances-so per cent. _ 8. The intrathoracic injection of spleen pulp, lymphatic glands, or lymphatic gland juice, succeeded in two out of four cases-so per cent. 9. The intrajugular injection of spleen pulp or lymphatic gland juice succeeded in two out of thirteen instances-IS per cent. 10. The intracutaneous injection of lymphatic gland juice did not transmit the disease in one instance. II. The material used for the experiments can be classified as follows :(a) From animals which contracted the disease in the natural way from ticks. (b) From animals which contracted the disease by inoculation. (c) From animals which contracted the disease from ticks, these ticks having been infected by biting animals which contracted the disease by inoculation. From this it appears that the disease can be most successfully transmitted with material obtained from experimentally inoculated animals of the origin and first generation. 12. As indicated by the statistics, the disease was not so fatal from artificial transmission as it is under natural conditions. In the transmission experiments by inoculation the mortality amongst the animals which contracted the disease was sixteen out of twenty-nine-59 per cent. 13. Out of eighty-three animals treated sixteen contracted the disease and died; eleven recovered and proved immune; eleven gave atypical or no reaction, and died under the test infection; three gave atypical or no reaction, but recovered when tested; forty-two were not tested, and should not be considered to be immune, the test not being carried out on account of the absence of any symptoms indicating a typical East Coast fever reaction. The disease transmitted by inoculation did not always resemble the disease contracted by ticks; it was either of a longer or a shorter duration. Piroplasms were not present in every instance, and even plasma bodies were not found in one instance. The reactions were not always typical, and from the fever reactions in some instances no diagnosis as to the presence of East Coast fever could be made. 14. Immunity followed in several instances where no definite diagnosis of a previous East Coast fever reaction could be made. Accordingly the absence of piroplasms in the blood, or of the gamogonous or agamogonous forms in the glands, does not of necessity mean that the animal has not become immune against East Coast fever through the inoculation. (Theiler, Report of the Government Veterinary Bacteriologist, Department of Agriculture, Union of South Africa, for the year 1909-10.)
DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE ON SWINE FEVER. THIS Committee, which was appointed by the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries in April of last year, has issued an Interim Report, dated 8th May I9II. The Committee which was appointed to inquire into the cause of the continued prevalence of swine fever in Great Britain, and to report whether it is practicable to adopt any further measures with a view to secure its speedy extirpation, was constituted as follows :Mr George L. Courthope, M.P. (Chairman); Sir Luke White, M.P.; Mr A. W. Anstruther, C.B., one of the Ass,istant Secretaries of the Board of
corium may be completely removed if an Esmarch elastic bandage be applied. In his earlier cases the author used the knife to remove the bulk of the proliferations, completing the process with an autocautery, or, in cases that were not so advanced, using the cautery only. In his later cases, however, he used the hot iron only for the total removal of the diseased corium. By so doing the healing process is cut short, and there is the great advantage that there is little or no bleeding. Subsequent treatment consists in the apnlication of iodine iodoform gauze or other wound dressings. Cleanliness and dryness of the surface of the wound are the principal considerations, medicaments playing a quite secondary part in the process of healing. Relapses must be carefully watched for. They occurred in sixteen out of twenty-one of the author's cases. A relapse is recognised by a rapid elevation and by the soft consistence of the whitish-yellow epithelium. Such areas, if smail, may be treated with medicaments only. If more extensive operation is necessary,-in his earlier cases the author resorted to the use of the hot iron, but later he used the knife in such cases. Bandages should be changed every three or four days. Relapses sometimes occur when healing has been apparently complete. The author had two such cases. The utmost care and cleanliness are essential, and the diseased foot should be smeared with tar from time to time. Grease is a very obstinate condition to treat, and if the disease be extensive treatment is hardly warranted. In cases where the disease is limited in extent the best results have been obtained by removing the lesions with the knife and the subsequent application of caustics and bandages. Long-continued treatment is necessary, and relapses may render a repetition of the surgical interference or cauterisation imperative. c (Burgi, Schwet'zer Archiv fur. Tierheilk., Vol. LII., Nos. 3, 4, and 5. 1910, pp., 137-161, 207-228, 293-336.)
THE ARTIFICIAL TRANSMISSION OF EAST COAST FEVER. THE primary object of the following experiments was to find out whether the transplantation of entire organs from sick animals into susceptible ones would convey the disease. A positive result attending the first attempt, further experiments followed as a matter of course. An additional impetus was given to the experiments, and a definite line of working indicated, by the demonstration of the possibility of puncturing the spleen of an animal during life. In all, seven series of experiments were devised, involving the use of various materials for inoculation and a variety of methods of administration. The following is a skeleton of the plan adopted : Experiment 1. Intraperitoneal insertions and injectionsGroup A. Insertion of the whole spleen. Group B. Insertion of pieces of spleen. Group C. Injection of spleen pulp. Group D. Insertion of lymphatic glands. Group E. Injection of the juice of lymphatic glands. Group F. Injection of blood. Experiment II. Intrasplenic injectionsGroup A. Injections of spleen pulp. Group B. Injections of lymphatic gland juice. Group C. Injections of blood. Experiment III. Intralymphal injectionsGroup A. InjectIons of spleen pulp. Group B. Injections of lymphatic gland juice. Group C. Engrafting lymphatic gland. Group D. Injections of blood. L
ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS.
Experiment I V. Subcutaneous injections and insertionsGroup A. Insertion of pieces of spleen. Group B. Insertion of lymphatic glands. Group C. Injection of lymphatic gland,juice. Experiment V. Intrathoracic injections and insertionsGroup A. Spleen pulp. Group B. Pieces of lymphatic glands. Group C. Injections of lymphatic gland juice. Experiment VI. Intrajugular injectionsGroup A. Spleen pulp. Group B. Lymphatic gland juice. Group C. Blood. Experiment VII. Intracutaneous injection of lymphatic gland juice. Experiment I. Intraperitoneal imertions and injections : Group A. Insertion of the whole spleen(a) Bull Calf 569. Fifteen months old. Born at the lahoratory. . Material Used.-Spleen of Calf 688, which had contracted the disease naturally from tick infection and was killed on the eleventh day of the disease. Result.-Irregular temperature between the fourth and seventh days. High reaction started on the thirteenth day and lasted till the twenty-first, when the animal was killed. Piroplasma parvum seen in the blood, and plasma bodies in the lymphatic glands. Post-mortem revealed typical lesions of East Coast fever. (b) Bull Calf 560. Fifteen months old. Born at the laboratory. Material Used.-Spleen of Calf 569. Result.-Death from peritonitis on the fourth day. Group B. Insertion of pieces of spleen(a) Madagascar Bull 875. Aged. Material Used.-Pieces of spleen of Heiftr 684, which had been infected by tick and killed on the ninth day of the disease, piroplasms having been numerous in its blood. Result.-Slight reaction during the period of incubation and the appearance of piroplasma mutans in the blood. Typical reaction set in on the eleventh day, and piroplasms appeared in the blood. Animal died five days later of East Coast fever complicated with peritonitis. Koch's bodies found in the lymphatic glands. (b) Africander Bull 615. Fifteen months old. Two portions of spleen measuring 12 by 15 cm. inserted into the peritoneal cavity and attached to the abdominal wall. Pieces of spleen obtained from Heifer 686, which reacted as a result of tick infection and was killed on the twenty-sixth day.
Result.-Indefinite. Immunity Test.-Reacted to tick infestation, but small number of piro-
plasms (species not definitely ascertained) appeared in the blood. No search made for plasma bodIes until the end of the reaction, when they were not found. Bull 615 infested with infective ticks after an interval of six months did not react (c) Africander Bull 565. Aged fifteen months. Material Used.-Portion of spleen of Cow 830, which reacted to tick infestation and was killed on the eighth day of disease.
Result.-Indefinite. Immunity 7est.- Tick infe,tation was followed by a temperature reaction
up to lof, but not typical of East Coast Fever. Blood examinations negative. Six months later again infested with ticks. No reaction. (d) Ox 828. Aged fifteen months. Material Used.-Portion of spleen of Cow 592, which had contracted East Coast fever as result of insertion of lymphatic glands of Cow 830 into the peritoneum (Experiment II.)
ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS.
Result.-Animal died from peritonitis. Group C. Injection of spleen pulp(a) Heiter 831. Aged two and a half years. Imported from Cape Colony. R.eceived about 50 cc. of spleen pulp from Cow 594, which had reacted to tick infestation. Result.- Negative. Group D. Insertion of lymphatic glands(a) Bull Calf 458. Two years old. Born at the laboratory. Tnatment.-Intraperitoneal insertion of four mesenteric and three bronchial and mediastinal glands from Heifer 686, which had contracted the disease by tick infestation. Result.-Slight reaction, not indicative of East Coa~t fever. Immunity Test.-Six adult brown ticks from Heifer 677 caused infection, plasma bodies and piroplasms being both found. Animal killed on the,tenth day of the disease. (b) Africander Cow 592. Ten years old. Tnatment.-Insertion of supramammary and retropharyngeal glands of Cow 830 infected by nymphs from Ox 675 (Experiment 1.) Result.-Mutans reaction followed by fatal East Coast fever infection. Piroplasms ane! plasma bodies both found. Animal used for the engorgement oflarval ticks which were collected as nymphs. (c) Cow 679. Treatment.-Insertion of one supramammary, one precrural, and three lumbar glands from Cow 592 (see previous animal). Result.-Immediate high reaction (106° F.), descending to normal by the tenth day, followed by a reaction resembling that of East Coast fever lasting to the twenty-sixth day. During this reaction small piroplasms were found in the blood, but no plasma bodies were found in the spleen or glands. Immunity Test.- Three subsequent tick infestations were without result. Cow 682. Eight years old. Treatment.--Identical with that in the previous case. Result.-Exactly as in previous case. Immunity Test.-Six adult ticks from Heifer 677 caused a fatal reaction. Piroplasms and plasma bodies were both found. (d) Heifer 895. About two years old. Treatment.-Insertion of one supramammary, one prescapular, and one subiliac gland from Cow 677, which contracted the disease as the result of tick infestation. Result.- Indefinite. Immunity Test.-Infested with ticks on four occasions without result. (e) Heifer 888. A bout one year old. Treatment.-Insertion of one supramammary, one prescapular, and one pre crural gland from Cow 594, which had reacted to tick infe~tation. Result.-Irregular temperature reaction associated with the presence of small piroplasms of undetermined species. Animal died on the thirty-first day. Post-mortem showed that death was due to East Coast fever. (f) Heifer 871, Heifer 833, Ox 621, and Ox 661. Each of these animals had inserted into the peritoneum glands from Bull Calf 458, which died as a result of tick infestation. None of these animals reacted, and they were used for further experiments. Group E. Injections of lymphatic gland juice(a) Calf 878. Eight months old. Tnatment.-Ioo cc. of lymphatic gland juice of Heifer 884, which contracted the disease from intrasplenic injection of spleen pulp. Result.-After showing piroplasm~ bigeminum and parvum, died of septic~mia.
Group F.
Injeclion of blood-
16 4
(a) Heifer 1014.
ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS.
Treatment.~loo cc. of defibrinated blood from Heifer 923, an English animal which contracted the disease from tick infestation. Result.-Blood examinations remained negative. Immunity Test.-Not yet carried out. Experiment II. Intrasplenic injections :Group A. Injections of spleen pulp(a) Heifer 874. Treatment.-Intrasplenic injection of 50 cc. of spleen pulp of Cow 594, which contracted the disease from tick infestaticm. Result.-Irregular reaction associated with piroplasma mutans, followed by a reaction associated with piroplasma parvum and plasma bodies, and terminating fatally. (b) Ox 337. Trelltment.-30 cc. of spleen pulp of Bull Calf 458 (Experiment 1, D, a). Result.-Fatal East Coast fever with piroplasms and plasma bodies. (c) Ox 620. Tnatment.-30 cc. of spleen pulp of Ox 337 (previous animal). Result.-Irregular temperature at first, followed by a more definite reaction. No piroplasms or plasma bodies could be detected. Immunity Test.- Two subsequent infestations with ticks were without result. Heifer 882. Treatment.-20 cc. of spleen pulp from Ox 337. Result.-Definite reaction terminating fatally. Examination of blood negative, but plasma bodies found. Heifer 885. Tnatment.-Io ce. of spleen pulp from Ox 337. . Result.-Fatal reaction. Blood examination negative, but plasma bodies found in the spleen at the post-mortem. Heifer 884. Treatment.-5 cc. of spleen pulp from Ox 337. Result.-Positive reaction. Animal killed. Plasma bodies present in glands. Group B. Injections of lymphatic gland juiceHeifers 912 and 608. Both animals died from septic~mia. Group C. Injections of blood(a) Heifer 1012. Tnatment.-IOO cc. of blood from Heifer 923, which contracted the infection from ticks. Result.-Negative. Experiment III. Intralymphal injections :(Note.-In the case of old animals it could not be definitely stated that the whole dose entered the gland, as no juice was obtainable when the gland was punctured by the needle.) Group A. Injection of spleen pulp(a) Ox 825. Aged. Treatment.-I5 cc. of spleen pulp from Ox 337 (Experiment II., b) into the right prescapular gland. Result.-No reaction till the forty-fifth day, when a typical reaction occurred. Plasma bodies observed in the glands before the appearance of piroplasms in the blood. Note.-Possiblythis infection was due to stray ticks. (b) Calf 879. Six months old. Born at the laboratory. Treatment.-2o cc. of spleen pulp from Ox 884 (Experiment II., c). Result.-Temperature rose at once, and remained high till death on the eighteenth day. No piroplasms observed in the blood, but rare plasma bodies seen in the spleen post-mortem.
ABSTRACTS AND RRPORTS.
Group B.
Injection of lymphatic gland juiceAged. Treatment.-Io cc. of gland juice from Ox 337 (Experiment II., b) injected into prescapular glands. Result.-Incubation period of fourteen days. Blood examinations negative. Animal died on the eighteenth day. Post-mortem warranted the diagnosis: acute East Coast fever. (b) Calf 880. Seven months old. Born on the station. Treatment.-I cc. of gland juice of Calf 884 (Experiment II., c) injected into the prescapular gland. Result.-No diagnosis possible; irregular temperature associated with piroplasma bigeminum. Immunity Test.-Animal infested with ticks died of the disease after showing anaplasma marginale. Ox 621. Aged Africander. (Previously used in Experiment I.) Treatment.-5 cc. of juice from Ox 884. Result.-Reaction associated with plasma bodies in the glands. Immunity Tests.-Animal twice infested with ticks without result. Ox 661. Eight years old. (Previously used in Experiment 1.) Tnatment.-Io cc. of gland juice from Ox 884 injected into the prescapular gland. Result.-Fatal reaction, plasma bodies being found. (c) Calf 905. Six and a half months old. Born at the laboratory. Treatment.-20 cc. of gland juice from Ox 661 (previous animal) injected into prescapular glands. Result.-Irregular temperature during first few days only. Immunity Test.- Tick infestation produced a fatal attack, plasma bodies and piroplasms being demonstrated. (d) Ox 87 I. One year old. (Previously used in Experiment 1.) Treatment.-I cc. of gland juice from Calf 917, which contracted fatal attack as result of tick infestation. Result.-Irregular temperature for several days, blood negative on the thirteenth day. Irregularity continued. No blood examinations made. Immunity Test.- Two infestations with ticks were without result. Heifer 833. Two and a half years old. (Previously used in Experiment 1.) Treatment -Exactly as Ox 87 I. Result.-No reaction. Heifer 83 I. Two and a half years old. (Previously used in Experiment 1.) Tnatment.-As Ox 871. Result.-No reaction. Heifer 896. History unknown. Treatment.-As Ox 87 I. Result.-Blood and gland smears negative. Heifer 897.-History unknown. Tnatment.-As Ox 871. Result.-Negative. Immunity Test.- Tick infestation led to infection, piroplasms and plasma bodies being demonstrated. Animal killed on twenty-fourth day. (e) Heifer 1016. About one year old. Treatment.-20 cc. of gland juice from Ox 825, which contracted the disease as the result of intralymphal injection of spleen pulp. Treatment.-20 cc. of gland juice injected into the prescapular glands. Result. - N ega ti ve. Immunity Test.-N ot yet carried out. (f) Cow 596, which contracted the disease as the result of tick infestation, supplied gland juice for the injection of the following animals. All the animals were aged and their history unknown. Bull 1049 received 5 cc. of gland juice. Negative. Immunity not yet tested. (a) Ox 826.
166
ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS.
Cows 103l and 1031 and Ox 1028 received I cc. each. Results in the cows negative, and their immunity has not yet been tested. Result in Ox 1028: fatal attack. Cows 1030 and 1029 and Ox 1048 each received 2 cc. None reacted, and their immunity has not been tested. Oxen 1038 and 1043 and Bull 1039 each received 3 cc. None reacted, and their immunity has not been tested. (g) Ox 1018, which reacted to tick infestation, supplied gland juice for the injection of the following animals. With the exception of Heifer 1027 (aged two years) all the animals were aged and in no case was the history known. Heifer 1027 received 10 cc. Negative. Not yet tested for immunity. Ox 1025 received 8 cc. Negative. Not yet tested for immunity. Ox 1050 received 6 cc. Negative. Not yet tested for immunity. Bull 1051 received 4 cc. Negative. Not yet tested for immunity. Ox 1046 received 2 cc. Negative. Not yet tested for immunity. (II) Heifer 928, which was tick infested, supplied juice for the following animalsOx 1036. Aged. Dose, 10 cc. No reaction. Immunity not yet tested. Ox 1037. Aged. Dose, 10 cc. No reaction. Immunity not yet tested. Ox 1041. Aged. Dose, 10 cc. No reaction. Immunity not yet tested. Ox 1011. One year old. Dose, 10 cc. Reaction irregular and not typical. Immunity Test.- Tick infestation lead to a reaction. Piroplasms and plasma bodies found; the latter present in the blood on the twenty-first day, when the animal was killed. Ox 1020. One year old. Dose, 10 ce. Temperature irregular. Blood examination negative. Immunity not yet tested. (i) Heifer 897, which contracted the disease as the result of tick infestation, supplied gland juice for the injection of the following animalsHeifer 833. (See Experiments 1. and III.) Two years old. Received 5 cc. Negative. Immunity not yet tested. Heifer 896. (See Experiments III. and IV.) Two years old. Received 5 cc. Negative. Immunity not yet tested. Heifer 1012. (See Experiment II.) Two and a half years old. Received 5 cc. Irregular non-typical reaction. Immunity test: fatal attack due to tick infestation. Heifer 1077. Two years old. Received 5 cc. Negative. Immunity test not yet carried out. Cow 1064 and Ox 1066, aged four years and aged, received the same treatment as Heifer 1077, with the same result. Group C.-Piece of lymphatic gland grafted on lymphatic glandHeifer 650' About one year old. Treatment.-Piece of gland from Ox 337, which contracted the disease as the result of intrasplenic injection of spleen pulp, grafted on the right prescapular gland. Result.-Reaction, but examination of the blood, glands, and spleen proved negative. Animal died on twenty-first day, and the post-mortem examination enahled the diagnosis of East Coast fever to be made. Group D.-Intralymphal injection of blood(a) Heifer 1013. Two years old. Treatment.-Injection of 20 cc. of defibrinated blood from Heifer 923 (disease due to tick infestation) into the right prescapular gland. Result.-No reaction. Immunity Test.- Tick infestation lead to fatal attack. (b) Ox 1024. Aged. Treatment.-Injection of 50 cc. of fresh blood from Heifer 928 (tick infected) into prescapular glands. Result.-No reaction. Immunity test not yet carried out ..
ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS.
Experiment IV. Subcutaneous injections and insertions :Group A. Insertion of a piece of spleen-
(a) Heifer 829.
About one year old. (10 by 12 cm.) from Cow 677 which was tick infected placed under the skin of shoulder. Result.-Operation reaction during the first six days, which was repeated between the seventeenth and twenty-third da} s. Blood examinations negative. Immunity Test.-No reaction followed infestation with four batches of ticks. Group B. Insertion of lymphatic glands(a) Heifer 896. Two years old. Treatment.-Two lymphatic glands from Cow 677 (see last experiment) placed under the skin. Result.-Irregular temperature reaction, but blood examination proved negative. This animal was used in Experiment III. Immunity not yet tested by tick infestation. Group C. Injection of lymphatic gland juice(a) Calf 877. Seven months old. Born at laboratory. Treatment.-Joo cc. of gland juice subcutaneously from Heifer 884, which contracted the disease from the intrasplenic injection of spleen pulp. Result.-Acute fatal East Coast fever. Plasma bodies abundant in all organs at death. (b) Cow 1023. Aged. Treatment.-5 cc. of gland juice from Cow 596 subcutaneously (Cow 596 tick infected). Result.-Negative. Immunity not yet tested. Experiment V. Intrathoracic injections : Group A. Spleen pulp(a) Heifer 836. One year old. Treatment. -Pieces of spleen of Cow 594 (tick infected) inserted into thoracic cavity by means of large trocar. Result.-Slight reaction during the first, third, and tenth to nineteenth days. Blood examinations negative. Immunity Test.-Infested four times with ticks without result. (b) Ox 1040. Five years old. Treatment,-5 ce. of spleen pulp from Cow 596 (tick infected). Result.-Some irregular reactions, but glands and blood negative. Immunity Test.-Fatal attack followed tick infestation. Group B. Insertion of lymphatic glands(a) Heifer 833. One year old. Treatment.-Pieces of gland from Cow 594 (tick infected) inserted by means of trocar. Result.-Irregular temperature soon after the operation. Blood examination negative. Reaction between the thirteenth and twenty-first days, and small piroplasm obselved in the blood (mutans ?). Immunity Test.-Four infestations with ticks were without result. Group C. Injection of lymphatic gland juice(a) Ox 1026. Treatment.-Intrathoracic injection of 5 cc. of gland juice from Cow 596 (tick infected). Result.-No reaction. . Immunity Test.- Typical reaction ensued, piroplasms and plasma bodies being found in the blood. Animal killed in extremis. Experiment VI. Intrajugular injections : Group A.-Spleen pulp(a) Ox 1°42. Aged. Tnatment.-Injection of 5 cc. of spleen pulp from Ox 596 (tick infected). Result.-Temperature rose to 1040 F. on eighteenth day. Blood and glands negative. Immnnity test not yet carried out.
Treatment.-A piece of spleen
168
ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS.
Group B. Lymphatic gland juice(a) Bull 1047. Treatment.-5 cc. of gland juice from Cow 596 (tick infected). Result.-Positive. Piroplasms and plasma bodies found in the blood, and both persisted there after the temperature had fallen. Immunity Test.-Animal resisted two infestations. (b) Lymphatic gland juice from Heifer 928 was used for intrajugular injections of the following animalsHeifer 91I. One year old. Dose 10 cc. No reaction. Immunity not tested. Heifer 627. One year old. Dose 10 cc. Irregular temperature. Immunity not tested. Cow 1033. Aged. Dose 10 cc. Reaction on the eighteenth day. Glands negative. Piroplasma bigeminum and few small piroplasms in blood. Immunity Test.- Two infestations were without result. Bull 1052. Aged. Dose 10 cc. Irregular reaction, piroplasma bigeminum. Immunity not yet tested. Cow 1035. Aged. Dose 10 cc. No reaction. Immunity not yet tested. (c) Gland juice from Heifer 897 (tick infected) was used for the ·intra· jugular injection of the following animalsHeifer 831. One year old. Previously used in Experiments I. and III. Dose 10 cc. No reaction. Immunity not yet tested. Calf 919. Seven months old. Born at the laboratory. Dose 10 cc. Slight reaction with piroplasma bigeminum. Immunity Test.-Fatal tick infestation. Heifer 1078. Two years old. Dose 5 cc. Slight reaction with piroplasma bigeminum. Spleen and glands negative. Animal died, but the cause could not be ascertained. Bull 107 I. Aged. Dose 5 cc. No reaction. Immunity not yet tested. Cow 1068. Aged. Dose 5 cc. Irregular reaction. All examinations negative. Immunity not yet tested. Heifer 1014. One year old. (Used in Experiment I.). Dose 10 cc. No reaction. Immunity not yet tested. Group C. Infusion of blood(a) Bull 1045. Aged. Treatment.- Transfused about 3 litres of blood from Heifer 928, piroplasms being numerous in the blood at the time. Result.-No reaction. Immunity not yet tested. . Experiment VII. Intracutaneous injection of lymphatic gland juice;Cow 1034.. Aged. Tnatment.-Injection of 5 cc. of gland juice from Cow 596 (tick infected) intracutaneously. Result.-No typical reaction. Gland examinations negative. Immunity not yet tested. Conclusions. I. East Coast fever was not transmitted by means of blood of a sick animal, either by transfusion of blood into the system, or injections into the peritoneal cavity, spleen, or lymphatic glands, of five healthy animals. 2. The insertion of the spleen or pieces of it, or injection of spleen pulp into the peritoneal cavity, spleen, lymphatic glands, thorax, under the skin, or into the jugular vein, produced the disease in twelve out of seventeen animals-7 I per cent.' 3. The insertion of lymphatic glands or the injection of lymphatic gland juice by the above-mentioned six methods, and, in addition, intracutaneously, produced the disease in fifteen out of sixty-six animals-23 per cent. 4. The intraperitoneal injection of the whole spleen, pieces of the spleen, spleen pulp, lymphatic glands, or lymphatic gland juice, succeeded in seven out of fifteen instances-41 per cent.
ABSTRACTS AND REPORTS.
s. The intrasplenic injection of spleen pulp or lymphatic gland juice succeeded in six out of six instances-IoO per cent. 6. The intralymphal injection of spleen pulp, lymphatic glands, or lymphatic gland juice, succeeded in eight out of forty instances-20 per cent 7. The subcutaneous injection of spleen pulp, lymphatic glands, or lymphatic gland juice, succeeded in two out of four instances-so per cent. _ 8. The intrathoracic injection of spleen pulp, lymphatic glands, or lymphatic gland juice, succeeded in two out of four cases-so per cent. 9. The intrajugular injection of spleen pulp or lymphatic gland juice succeeded in two out of thirteen instances-IS per cent. 10. The intracutaneous injection of lymphatic gland juice did not transmit the disease in one instance. II. The material used for the experiments can be classified as follows :(a) From animals which contracted the disease in the natural way from ticks. (b) From animals which contracted the disease by inoculation. (c) From animals which contracted the disease from ticks, these ticks having been infected by biting animals which contracted the disease by inoculation. From this it appears that the disease can be most successfully transmitted with material obtained from experimentally inoculated animals of the origin and first generation. 12. As indicated by the statistics, the disease was not so fatal from artificial transmission as it is under natural conditions. In the transmission experiments by inoculation the mortality amongst the animals which contracted the disease was sixteen out of twenty-nine-59 per cent. 13. Out of eighty-three animals treated sixteen contracted the disease and died; eleven recovered and proved immune; eleven gave atypical or no reaction, and died under the test infection; three gave atypical or no reaction, but recovered when tested; forty-two were not tested, and should not be considered to be immune, the test not being carried out on account of the absence of any symptoms indicating a typical East Coast fever reaction. The disease transmitted by inoculation did not always resemble the disease contracted by ticks; it was either of a longer or a shorter duration. Piroplasms were not present in every instance, and even plasma bodies were not found in one instance. The reactions were not always typical, and from the fever reactions in some instances no diagnosis as to the presence of East Coast fever could be made. 14. Immunity followed in several instances where no definite diagnosis of a previous East Coast fever reaction could be made. Accordingly the absence of piroplasms in the blood, or of the gamogonous or agamogonous forms in the glands, does not of necessity mean that the animal has not become immune against East Coast fever through the inoculation. (Theiler, Report of the Government Veterinary Bacteriologist, Department of Agriculture, Union of South Africa, for the year 1909-10.)
DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE ON SWINE FEVER. THIS Committee, which was appointed by the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries in April of last year, has issued an Interim Report, dated 8th May I9II. The Committee which was appointed to inquire into the cause of the continued prevalence of swine fever in Great Britain, and to report whether it is practicable to adopt any further measures with a view to secure its speedy extirpation, was constituted as follows :Mr George L. Courthope, M.P. (Chairman); Sir Luke White, M.P.; Mr A. W. Anstruther, C.B., one of the Ass,istant Secretaries of the Board of