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during the afternoon. The sun-glare in Madras during the day is inimical to
acute microscopic vision. After nightfall, when critical observation was
possible, all filaments were clearly resolvable as ' streptococcoidal' in struc-
ture, as shown in Figs. i and j of diagram 5. Fig 15 of Plate XII is a photo-
micrograph of one specimen of the phase. The outline of the parent ' ring '
can be clearly seen ; the blurring is produced by short filaments in active
movement throughout the exposure (5 minutes).
Figs. 16 of Plate XII depicts a phase which we were fortunate enough on
one occasion not only to find but to photograph. There can be no doubt that
it corresponds with the genethode IV described by Turner, which was observed
by him once only in cultures of the bovine organism. The body was composed
of a central granular mass, to which were adherent numerous ' rings ', which
were visibly increasing in size. Owing to a technical hitch no further photo-
graph is available, but the observed evolution of the body was similar to that
described by Turner, namely, expansion of the rings, and fusion of adjacent
rings, followed by dispersion. 45 minutes after the photograph was taken only
one large ring was still adherent.
Four feature of the phase as photographed merit mention, viz.
(1) The circular conformation of the peripheral bodies, as compared
with the elliptical conformation of those in Turner's specimen.
(2) The opacity of the centre of five of the associated rings, as compared
with the remainder, which are clear.
(3) The apparent dissociation of four of the rings form the parent mass.
(4) The presence of a well defined dot on the circumference of two of the
rings. This appearance has been not infrequently observed in
isolated ring forms in other preparations.
Other forms have been observed which are not recorded.
In material examined after 48-72 hours storage at either room temperature
or zero, only coccoid forms are evident. This change is probably associated
with the loss of virulence.
GENERAL DISCUSSION
The absence of continuous fever in the pneumonia is very remarkable, and
makes it unique, not excluding the specific bovine disease. What is perhaps
still more remarkable is that in no instance in goats with local reactions, as
severe as depicted in the plates and ordinarily fatal, has there been any febrile
reaction whatsoever. If fever is a defence mechanism this feature conforms
with the extraordinarily high mortality.
The pathogenesis of the disease is of peculiar interest. There is clear
evidence that it is acquired by absorption of the infective agent through the
naso-pharynx. Its subsequent course is not known, but the ' multiple focus '
type of early lesions strongly suggests a blood-borne infection.
Both the local reactions and the early pulmonary lesions have oedema
as their principal feature, and it is thought that this ' oeclematogenic ' pro-
perty of the infective agent is the main factor in the pathogenesis of the disease.
The organism, once lodged, causes a disturbance in the balance of the body
fluids at that site, which results in the local accumulation of lymph. This
provides the pabulum for the organism, and the processs is accordingly
progressive, and combined with leucocytic and fibroblastic reactions, accounts