PSITTACOSIS

Abstract

Within the period of a year approximately 500 cases of psittacosis have been recorded. 1 The clinical picture of the disease has been recognized for at least fifty years, 2 and many of the recent cases have been carefully described. Furthermore, the literature has been excellently reviewed by a number of workers. 3 The reasons for reporting the present case are the facts that (1) daily blood counts were made by means of the supravital method of staining; (2) the changes in the lungs were followed by daily roentgen examinations; (3) electrocardiographic studies were made, and (4) a positive laboratory diagnosis was obtained through the use of white mice. Work on psittacosis was begun in our laboratory February 26, and has continued for four months. A large number of parrots, mice, guinea-pigs, rabbits and monkeys have been inoculated with the virus, and the course of the infection in these animals