Sessional_Paper_1906 — Page 291

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Experiment No. III.

Animal-One monkey.

This animal was fed in the same way with pieces of gastro duodenal mucosa from a very acutely fatal case of Beri- beri lasting four days.

Result-Negative after three month's observation.

Observations on Pigs.

FEEDING EXPERIMENTS.

Feeding experiments were made with pigs under conditions similar to those used in connection with other animals.

In dealing with these animals, no difficulty was found in getting con- siderable quantities of the presumably infected material swallowed, As will be seen from the following experiments in certain cases very considerable amounts of Beri-beri tissue were consumed.

Experiment No. I.

(Temperature Chart attached.)

This pig, an adult, in good health and fat. was kept under observation for a few days previous to the commencement of the experiment. It was found to be normal.

September 28th, 1904.-The animal was given as food the stomach, intestines, kidneys, liver, pancreas and spleen of a fresh Beri-beri cadaver. The post-mortem examination was made an hour or two after death, and these organs were sliced into small pieces, nixed with boiled rice and warm water, and placed in a wooden trough before the pig. In order to ensure consumption, the animal had been kept without food of any description for the previous 24 hours. The pig attacked the bolus with considerable vigour, and in a short time had consumed practically the whole of the contents of the trough.

September 29th, 1904.-To-day the animal is bright and lively and anxious to obtain more food. It suffered no immediate bad effects from its gorge on the previous day. Its temperature is normal.

October 1st, 1904.-The animal is dull, and does not eat its food with much relish. It now lies in its pen throughout the day, and on urging it to move it bellows with great force.

Fever is present. An examination of the blood gave a

negative bacteriological result.

October 3rd, 1904.-The animal has lost a considerable amount of flesh. Its temperature is now maintained over 105° F. It practically refuses all food, and if left alone, lies apparently sleeping in a corner of its pen, emitting short groans frequently. It has great thirst. There is no vomiting or diarrhoea. On urging the pig to move over the compound slight weakness of the hind legs is seen. The gait is groggy, and the animal appears to have difficulty in placing its hind legs firmly upon the ground. There is no cedema of the legs. Pressure on the muscles of the thighs is greatly resented by the animal. The knee-jerks could be elicited with difficulty. No definite disturbances of sensation could be made out. sure on the epigastrium was not resented.

Pres-

October 5th, 1904. The pig refuses all food but drinks voraciously. Its temperature is the same. There is no diarrhoea. Emaciation is proceeding rapidly. It is now difficult to get the animal to progress. After considerable stimulation, the gait is found to be very feeble, the animal swaying from side to side in a drunken manuer on forward progression. The hind legs are with difficulty placed straight on the floor and infringe the one against the other on progression. Pressure on the muscles of these limbs call forth loud grunting from the animal. The anterior extremities were normal. In the affected legs the knee-jerks could not be obtained. There was no cedema. No epigastric tenderness could be found. The blood was examined but gave a negative result as regards organisms.