Botulism. Racial immunity. Acquired immunity. Gastric secretions,
protective. Bacteria in septic beef, old brine, stale fish, privy air.
Symptoms: sudden onset, colic, nausea, retching, vomiting, septic
vomit, fever, tender abdomen, bloody, fœtid, mucous diarrhœa,
prostration, death in three to twenty-four hours. Lesions: of
gastro-enteritis, ingesta fœtid, congestions and petechiæ of other
organs. Treatment: emetic, laxative, diuretics, potassium iodide,
antiseptics, demulcents, stimulants.
_Causes._ What is called _botulism_ in man is not uncommon in carnivora.
Eating carcasses of animals that have died of disease, of poisoning,
etc., in a raw condition and too often in an advanced state of
putrefaction, they are liable not only to infection by the pathogenic or
poisonous microbes, but also to direct poisoning by the ptomaines and
toxins. There are however certain protective conditions. Accustomed as
this class of animals is to the consumption of such food, they have by
selective evolution acquired an insusceptibility to many such poisons
which would prove deadly to the herbivora. Again the mature dog or cat
has already been subjected to many of these poisons and having survived
them has acquired an immunity which renders it comparatively safe for
the future. The antiseptic power of the gastric secretion of the dog may
be easily shown, by letting him bolt a moderate piece of putrid meat,
and killing him ten or fifteen minutes later when the mass will be found
in the stomach without odor of decomposition. He succumbs to the poison
either when the quantity ingested is too large, or when the digestion is
from any cause deranged and the gastric secretion impaired. Anthrax
flesh may produce pharyngeal or intestinal anthrax in the dog. In the
animal with temporarily impaired immunity the more virulent septicæmias
may prove infecting. From putrid beef the following pathogenic bacteria
have been isolated: 1. Gärtner and Basenau have independently isolated
=bacillus bovis morbificans= which forms clear colonies on the surface
of peptonized gelatine, and brownish ones beneath the surface, and
coagulates milk in 24 hours. This is short with rounded ends, very
motile, non-liquefying, and capable of surviving the freezing
temperature. Its toxins are not destroyed by boiling. It causes
enteritis, or, subcutem, debility, somnolence, and stupor. This bacillus
was pathogenic to mice, rats, guinea-pigs, rabbits, goats and calves but
had little effect on dogs or cats. 2. The =bacillus of Poels= which
produces paralysis. 3. The =bacillus of Gatky= which performs very rapid
gyratory movements only, and is not found in the muscles.
=Old Brine= is as poisonous for the dog as for pigs. Six to nine ounces
proved fatal, (Reynal).
=Stale Fish= has been known to prove poisonous in the same way.
Three dogs that were made to breathe the air over a foul privy were
seized with vomiting, fever and diarrhœa.
_Symptoms._ These usually develop six or more hours after a feed. The
earlier symptoms are those of digestive disorder. There is colic,
nausea, retching, vomiting of septic or bilious matter, ardent thirst,
dry mouth, furred tongue, redness of the buccal mucosa, and tenderness
of the abdomen. Diarrhœa sets in early and may become bloody, fœtid and
dysenteric. There is usually much prostration and debility so that apart
from his compulsory movements under the colics the animal remains most
of the time curled up. Fever is usually slight but the temperature may
rise to 105° F. Death may take place in 3 hours, or may be deferred 24
hours or longer.
_Lesions._ There is usually gastro-enteritis, the mucosa being
congested, red œdematous, with petechiæ, and congestion and swelling of
Peyer’s patches, the solitary glands, the mesenteric glands, the liver
and kidneys. The contents of the bowel are brownish red, and an effusion
into the peritoneum is common. The spleen is often engorged and
enlarged. Congestions of the lungs and brain are common.
_Treatment._ Evacuate the stomach by ipecacuan, etc., and the bowels by
a purgative. Next seek elimination of the toxins by potassium iodide and
other diuretics. Antiseptics (calomel, salol, naphthalin) to counteract
the further formation of toxins, and demulcents by draught and enema are
indicated. In cases of great prostration, heart and nerve stimulants may
be useful.