Bacteria: Especially as they are related to the economy of nature, to industrial processes, and to the public healthNewman, George, Sir
Science
Bacteria: Especially as they are related to the economy of nature, to industrial processes, and to the public health
Newman, George, Sir
Bacteria; Bacteriology
The anatomical changes in bovine tubercle are mostly found in the
lungs and their membranes, the pleuræ. It also affects the internal
membrane lining, the abdomen and its chief organs, the peritoneum,
and the lymphatic glands. In both these localities a characteristic
condition is set up by small grey nodules appearing, which increase
in size, giving an appearance of "grapes." Hence the condition is
called grape disease, or _Perlsucht_. The organs, as we have said, are
equally affected, and when we add the lymphatic glands we have a fairly
complete summary of the form of the disease as it occurs in cattle. As
has been clearly pointed out by Martin, Woodhead, and others in their
evidence before the Royal Commission, the organs, glands, and membranes
are the sites for tubercle, not the muscles (or "meat"). This latter
is most liable to convey infection when the butcher smears it with the
knife which he has used to remove tubercular organs.
As regards the udder in its relation to milk infection, it may be
desirable to state that the initial lesion, according to Nocard and
Bang, takes the form of a progressive sclerosis. The interlobular
connective tissue, normally scanty, becomes thickened, fibrous, and
infiltrated by minute miliary granulations. The granular tissue is
thus "smothered by the hypertrophy and fibrous transformation of the
interstitial connective tissue" (Nocard). The walls of the ducts are
thickened and infiltrated, the lumen frequently dilated by masses of
yellow caseous material. On the whole it may be said that tubercle
of the udder is rare. Usually only one quarter is attacked, and by
preference the posterior. For some time the milk remains normal,
but gradually it becomes serous and yellow, and contains coagula
holding numbers of bacilli. Lastly, it becomes purulent and dries up
altogether. While the milk is undergoing these changes the lesion of
the udder is becoming more marked, the tissue becomes less supple, and
the toughness increases almost to a wooden hardness.
The general anatomical characteristics of the disease are similar to
those occurring in man.
The percentage of cattle suffering from tubercle varies. In Germany it
appears to vary from 2 to 8 per cent. of all cattle, in Saxony 17 to
30 per cent., in England 22 per cent. approximately (in London 40 per
cent.), in France 25 per cent. Lowland breeds are much more infected
than mountain breeds, which possess stronger constitutions.
Tuberculosis of the _pig_ is less common than that of cattle, but not
so rare as that of the calf (Nocard). In nine out of ten cases the pig
is infected by ingestion, particularly when fed on the refuse from
dairies and cheese factories. The disease follows the same course as
in cattle. The finding of the bacillus is difficult, and the only safe
test is inoculation (Woodhead).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account