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The microscopic preparations on being stained in various ways showed the presence of small rods resembling diplococci. This diplococcoid appearance was called forth by the more intense staining reaction at the poles of the rod-an appearance similar to that presented by B. pestis, and a large number of other rod- shaped micro-organisms. They did not retain the stain when treated by GRAM'S method.
The organism grew upon all media as gelatine, bouillon, agar-agar, potato, milk, &c. On all of these media the growth characteristics were similar to those of B. coli.
The organism was non-motile.
All the animals inoculated died after 24 to 48 hours with symptoms of post- mortem appearances of Septicæmia with the occurrence of many hæmorrhages throughout the various internal organs. One pigeon was inoculated intra-mus- cular, and after death at the point of inoculation one found a white, thick, and hard swelling with marked necrosis of the surrounding muscle fibres.
Owing to a variety of reasons, the research was not prosecuted further, but it is the intention to follow up the disease more closely on the next favourable opportunity. From the symptoms and pathological appearances, coupled with the bac- teriological investigations, one is drawn to conclude that these animals suffering from a form of Hæmorrhagic Septicemia-a group of diseases affecting large numbers of different animals.
In view of the fact that such a disease or group of diseases prevails amongst cattle, it would be important to determine how widespread this disease is in the Colony, and in all cases to clearly distinguish the disease from what is called Rinderpest-a disease which so far has baffled all the attempts of bacteriologists to reveal its exciting agent.
Further, in view of the fact that this form of Septicemia breaks out, apparently regularly each year, it would be useful to determine whether the animals in such herds could be protected by some method of active Immunisation.
During the year, an attempt was made to prepare HAFFKINE'S vaccine and plague curative serum. Operations were commenced, but had to be given up owing to want accommodation in the Infectious Diseases Hospital, its distance from the other branches of the Department, and further to want of suitable animal accom- modation in the immediate neighbourhood. It is felt that until some adequate accommodation in the form of a Bacteriological Laboratory, combined with the centralisation of the work requiring to be done, the preparation of complicated curative vaccines and sera cannot be undertaken.