Abstract
In a previous paper (1) we have described the results observed with a cutaneous anaphylactic reaction in canine distemper with a polyvalent emulsion of washed and heat killed B. bronchisepticus (Ferry-McGowan). The intracutaneous injection of this emulsion or “bronchisepticin,” has been followed by well marked papular or pustular reactions in 77 per cent of dogs suffering with distemper at the time of the tests, and in 60 per cent known to have had the disease while under our observation. Reactions were also observed in 35 per cent of dogs just admitted to the animal house of the University and presenting no clinical evidences of distemper; we were unable to state what percentage of these dogs had had the disease or whether the reactions were purely traumatic. Whether or not B. bronchisepticus (Ferry-McGowan) is accepted as the primary etiological agent of canine distemper, we concluded that these anaphylactic reactions may be interpreted as indicating that in this disease a large percentage of dogs display a condition of cutaneous hypersensitiveness to its protein.
