CHAPTER IV.

                        HÆMORRHAGIC SEPTICÆMIA.

When examining the blood of elephants suspected of having
succumbed to anthrax, Mr. Cameron, C.V.D., myself and others
have seen the organism of this disease which in all probability is far
more common than we imagine. The symptoms so closely resemble
those met with in anthrax that a mistaken diagnosis is an easy
matter. By means of a microscope the diagnosis is rendered easy,
as the organisms are very different.

Definition.—The disease is a virulent infective fever caused by the
presence of an organism which is small in size, ovoid in shape and on
staining often presents only the terminal portions coloured, the inter
vening portion being unstained.

As in anthrax, sporadic cases may be met with at any season,
but generally speaking the disease is most prevalent during the
early rains or towards the close of the monsoon. It may be met
with after any unseasonable rain, but is most common on low-lying
lands subject to periodical inundation and on those which may be
submerged by extraordinary floods.

Duration of attack.—From a few hours to thirty-six hours.
Animals that live beyond this—and they are few—have a chance of
pulling through. The disease is in some cases so rapidly fatal as to
be mistaken for snake-bite. I fear much time is spent and wasted
very often in hunting for " fang marks." Animals may die so
rapidly as to preclude the appearance of the more prominent symp-
toms. As in anthrax, outbreaks do not usually last long—ten to
fifteen days. The mortality is very high.

Infection.—In elephants the main channel of infection is
generally through wounds, abrasions, etc. The nature of their food
is such as to frequently cause wounds and abrasions about the lips
and mouth in addition to those they may acquire about the limbs,
trunk, feet and body by sharp bamboos, thorny bushes, stumps, etc.,
while grazing in the jungle. The virus may also gain entrance to
the system through abrasions in the lining membrane of the digestive
tract by means of infected fodder, water, etc.

Symptoms.—The general symptoms are complete loss of appetite,
frequent yawning, mouth being usually kept open, the trunk
contracted or shrunken-looking, trembling, high fever and the