DR. LEGEAR'S STOCK BOOK. 265 



VARIOLA EQUINA (HORSE-POX). 



All domestic animals appear to be subject to variola, or pox, 

 in some form or other. It is a disease similar to smallpox in 

 man, but is comparatively simple to what it is in the human 

 family. It is an acute infectious disease, accompanied by fever, 

 producing eruptions or pustules, and, like all febrile diseases, 

 runs a certain length of time. 



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Causes. It is caused by a germ. The more common means 

 of contagion is by direct contact, or the virus may be carried by 

 means of the bridle, the saddle, etc. A stallion suffering from 

 this disease may be the means of transmitting it to a number of 

 brood mares, and they in turn return to the farms, where they 

 are surrounded by young animals to whom they convey the 

 contagion. 



Symptoms. Dullness with more or less fever. Soon small red 

 patches appear upon the skin, and these patches are depressed 

 in the center. These little nodules usually appear about the 

 mouth, nose, heels, etc., and soon appear as vesicles, becoming 

 filled with a watery fluid. These vesicles soon become pustules 

 (containing pus or matter) which break and discharge, in some 

 cases, several times in succession. When the mouth is much 

 affected the animal chews his food with considerable difficulty. 

 Variola runs its course in from eight to fifteen days and is not at 

 all serious if treated properly. The virus (poison) is in a fixed 

 form, and the disease may be communicated to man and from one 

 animal to another by contact and by the virus obtaining entrance 

 into a wound or sore. The period of exposure is from six to 

 twelve days. 



