16
occasions to Mallein, and that the pathological changes observed in the lungs,
Post-mortem, were in the majority of instances pathognomonic of Glanders.
On the evening of the 3rd March, in company with the Director, Army Remount
Department (Colonel H. Goad), and Veterinary Lieutnant W. A. Pallin, I
visited the segregation camp, Paddocks No III and IV outside the limits of the
Depôt and found 13 animals consisting of 4 c.b. horses and 9 mules in the former
and 6 in the latter, presenting small tumours and open wounds on different
parts of the body, associated in some instances with swellings varying in size
from a small walnut to that of a hen's egg, from which corded and beaded
lymphatic vessels issued. Whilst in others tumours were observed which on
manipulation were found hard and fluctuating according to the stage which they
had attained. In the majority of cases the Lymphangitis had made its appear-
ance on a level with a pre-existing wound of little importance, abrasion of the
skin, or harness gall, etc., which had been healed for some time, may be for
months, and had broken out afresh, on the original site or pustules appeared in
close proximity to the cicatrix. In more advanced cases considerable areas of
the skin covering the ribs, front of the chest, side of the head or limbs were
involved, and one animal presented a fair sized ulcer (as large as a four anna
piece) in the nose, situated on the mucous-membrane of the nasal septum,
raised above the level of the surrounding tissue, edges crateriform, interior
of chancre concave, granulations presenting a glazed waxy appearence, ab-
sence of discharge, sub-maxillary glands not yet affected, abscess on angle of jaw
externally, and corded lymphatics. On March 4th, 1900, microscopical exa-
mination of pus collected from the sores of horses Nos. 231 and 612, inmates
of No. III segregation paddock, large numbers of the " Cryptococcus " which
produces the so-called Lymphangitis Epizootica, were discovered in each speci-
men. These organisms were found free in the fluids under examination, as well
as enclosed in the pus cells. At a later date, I systematically examined, with the
aid of the microscope, material obtained from all the isolated animals in
Nos. III and IV segregation paddocks, which presented either open or
scabbed wounds with unmistakable cording and beading of the lymphatic vessels
and on all suspicious cases of the disease. The following are the results obtained.
Of 30 cases presenting suspicious symptoms, the material collected from
29 contained the Cryptococcus in varying numbers. On the 30th animal, as
the pustules were only forming, no pus was obtainable, but as there was cord-
ing and beading of the lymphatic vessels present, it was no doubt with regard
to the diagnosis. It was suggested that all the animals in the Depôt, present-
ing any wounds however small or insignificant should have material taken
and submitted to microscopical examination, with a view to determine the
presence or absence of the " Cryptococcus." Of material collected from 50
animals out of 400 odd, 5 animals only were found to present the organism of
the disease in question.
Numerous guinea pigs were inoculated by the intraperitoneal method with
material obtained from animals suffering from the disease, and from one which
had given a reaction to Mallein, but no symptoms of any kind have super-
vened. If the Bacillus Mallei had been introduced into the peritoneum of the
inoculated animals, orchitis or oophoritis would have supervened in the course
of 2 to 3 days, followed by death from the 12th to 15th day.
Of the 20 horses presenting the disease at the time of or since my visit to
Hapur Remount Depôt, two animals only have shown a reaction when subject-
ed to the Mallein (Pasteur's and MacFadyean's) test on three occasions at inter-
vals of several months. In each instance—
the first injection was doubtful ;
the second, reaction recorded ;
the third, no reaction.
Of 20 mules, each tested with Mallein on three and one animal on four occa-
sions, no reactions are recorded, but a doubtful result in one case.
For the following reasons, therefore, it would appear that the animals
from which material was obtained for experimental purposes both at Karnal
and Hapur, were not suffering from Glanders :—
(a) Inoculation experiments on guinea pigs showed negative results, even
when obtained from an animal which reacted to Mallein.