496 



Journal of Agriculture , Victoria. [lo Aug., 19 12, 



— a disease which produces a form of anaemia with intermittent 

 fever, wasting, oedema of the Hmbs and belly, weakness, and 

 paralysis. It lasts in the horse from one to two months, whilst camels 

 have been known to be affected with it for as long as three years. Dogs 

 are also susceptible. It is a disease which has caused great havoc, being 

 present in India. China, Burmah, South Africa, Dutch Indies, Mauritius, 

 Philippines, the Malav States, and Persia. In Mauritius the first outbreak 



was recorded during 1902, and by June 

 of the same year the mortality was ap- 

 palling — the majoTitv of the draught 

 animals having succumbed. It was intro- 

 duced by a cargo of cattle in September, 

 1901 ; and in June, 1902, Dr. Lesur wrote 

 — " The epizootic at first appeared to be 

 almo.st exclusivelv confined to oxen ; then 

 it attacked dogs, mules, donkevs, and 

 horses. The destruction of draught 

 FIG. 17. TABANus. animals has gone to such an extent that 



farmers are anxiously asking themselves whether they will be able to 

 gather in the harvest." By 29th January, 1903, the ruin was complete. 

 " Horses and mules had practically disappeared, and at Port Louis it 

 had become necessary to hand o\er the work of scavengering to prisoners, 

 who, under the supervision of policemen, were used to pull the carts. The 

 organism which produces this death is about 1/ 1,000th of an inch in length, 

 and I /51,000th of an inch in width. It is known to be carried from animal 

 to animal bv various biting flies.'' (Fig. 17.) 



FIG. 18. DOURINE SHOWING CHARACTERISTIC PLAQUE. 



Another disease which this parasite is re.sponsible for is " Dourine." 

 It is a disease of horses that is peculiar in that it is transmitted only by 

 coitus. Its presence has been recorded in Spain, Germany, Switzerland,. 

 Austria, Russia and Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Asia-Minor, Persia, India, 

 United States, and Java. The first sign of the disease appears in from 

 II to 20 days after coitus ; it shows with swelling at the lower part of 



