96 



5 or 6 feet. The kidneys were iioniiiil in size ;iutl color, but ui»oii section, I Ibund 

 the pelvis filled with a gelatinous luaterial. The muscular system was exceedingly 

 flabby and pale in color. The body seemed to be absolutely destitute of fat. The 

 iiriue was normal. The brain showed a slight serous olfusion about the base, and to 

 a slightly greater extent iu the region of the medulla oblongata. There also was a 

 slight effusion into the abdominal cavity. The only other change that could be found 

 iu the brain of these sheep was a slight congestion of the arachnoid membrane. 



The above description is taken from so-called " locoed " animals, but 

 applies equally well to tieni;e-infected sheep. Of the many "locoed" 

 aninuils examined, but one or two have been free from tcenicv, and iu 

 these the gall ducts were thickened and enlarged as though they had 

 at some earlier datebeeu infected. It is extremely diSficult to separate 

 the symptoms of the two diseases, aiul it seems to me that numy cases 

 of " locoed " aninuils are victims of the tapeworm. That the twnia may 

 tend to produce depraved appetites and the morbid craze for a particu- 

 lar food, is also a reason for suspecting that the loco disease may depend 

 in part on the tapeworm disease. 



In Dr. Faville's description there is one point which deserves atten- 

 tion, and that is the finding of a slight congestion of the arachnoid mem- 

 brane. In si)ecimens examined by the writer there seemed to be no 

 undue congestion, and the arachnoid membrane, which is a vascular 

 one, naturally looks red or dark colored. The brain symptoms of these 

 animals are such as arise from aunemia rather than hypenemia of the 

 brain. 



In affected yearlings which are not suspected of eating loco more 

 thau other aninuils (all eat of the loco plauts), the following ante aud 

 postmortem symptoms can be observed : Lambs that are badly afl'ected 

 are large headed, with undersized bodies aud hide bound skins. Their 

 gait is slightly like that of a rheumatic. They seem to have difficulty 

 in cropping the shorter grass; they also appear to be more foolish than 

 the other sheep, standing oftener to stamp at the sheep-dogs or herder 

 than the healthier ones. Others do not seem to see as well, or are so 

 affected that they appreciate danger less. In driving they are to be 

 found at the rear of the flock. luternally the organs present no marked 

 symptoms of disease. The abdomen contains more dark-colored serous 

 fluid than normal ; the omentum is often nearly devoid of fat. The ca- 

 tarrhal inflammation and thickening of the mucous membrane of the 

 duodenum and gall-ducts have already been noticed. The liver, in 

 cases of long standing, is somewhat smaller than normal ; the kidneys 

 are sometimes flabbier and paler than normal ; the lymphatics look 

 somewhat darker; the muscles are thinner and weaker. There is iu 

 all cases a diminution of fat, and in most cases the leanness of muscle 

 is marked. In those places where the fat usually occurs in masses little 

 or none is fouud. Associated with this condition is the presence of se- 

 rous infiltration of the connective tissue in the abdomen, thorax, spinal 

 and cranial cavities. This infiltration is the most marked in the worst 

 cases. The groin, the pelvis of tUe kidney, the spaces between serous 



