EEPORT ON DOURINB. 83 



is difficult to imagine that the animal IB the subject of a serious 

 form of disease, as the general symptoms may be entirely absent, 

 the temperature within normal limits varying but half a degree 

 Centigrade betweeu the morning .and evening records, the appetite 

 unimpaired, and no noticeable loss of flesh. 



Mares.- The first symptom after the infective covering most 

 frequently observable is inflammation of the mucous-membrane of 

 the vagina (vaginitis) followed by the formation of a vesicle or 

 vesicles and later ulcers. These readily heal, and if situated a little 

 distance from the vulva may be overlooked. To the casual observer 

 the first symptom to draw attention is the swollen condition of the 

 lips of the vulva; the swelling may in the first instance be 

 unilateral, bilateral or affect the lower half of the vulva and 

 inferior commissure, but frequently at a later date both sides of the 

 vulva become involved, and undergo an alternate augmentation 

 and diminution in size which immediately arrests the attention of 

 the observer. The swelling may increase and extend upwards to 

 the tissues of the anus forming folds on either side of the vulva, 

 and downwards to the perineum and mammary region, occasionally 

 invading the subcutaneous tissues of one or both thighs. These 

 swellings are for the most part cold and painless. A clear mucos 

 discharge, which may become abundant and later of a yellowish 

 colour, escape:? from the vaginal passage and becomes dried on the 

 inferior commissure of the vulva, but the quantity and quality of 

 tli is discharge varies considerably in different mares and may in 

 some cases be hardly noticeable. About this period the mucous- 

 membrane of the vagina becomes more or less cedematous, and 

 owing to the patency of the vulva brought about by the pressure from 

 within may be a marked symptom. Sexual excitement is frequently 

 present, and in addition, an intense irritation due to pruritus causes 

 the patient to take advantage of any object that may be in close 

 proximity to rub herself against. During the first period in mares 

 unpigmented patclias or leucoderma may appear and involve the 

 vulva after the separation of the film-like epidemic scales. 



II. This phase of the malady is more or lees distinguished as 

 that during which the ' conta^ium ' becomes generalized through 

 the system, and some symptoms become aggravated, while the 



