BBPORT ON DOUR1NB. 45 



Section VI COURSE AND PROGNOSIS. 



Observations conducted in different countries vary as to the 

 duration of this disease. Thus, in France, it is said to extend from 

 three to eight months and even to three years ; while in Germany 

 it is stated that its average duration is from six months to a year, 

 although it may extend to four years or even longer. In the few 

 cases which have come under our observation in India, it would 

 appear that in stallions the disease may run on for longer periods 

 than in mares. We have in two horses evidence that disease may 

 still be in an active state after an interval of three years has elapsed 

 from the exhibition of the first symptom, while in mares we find 

 that the disease ran its course and death occurred after 75 days in 

 the case of a New Zealand animal and in two Australians ; the 

 interval between covering or inoculation and death was just under 

 6 and 7 months respectively. Our observations have been con- 

 ducted with several breeds of equines, and the evidence at our 

 disposal points to the fact that country-bred mares are not so 

 susceptible to Douriue as imported animals, and this we can under- 

 stand if we look upon the malady as one that has had its habitat 

 most probably for an indefinite period in the East, so that the " con- 

 tagium " has lets effect upon country-breds than it has upon imported 

 breeds as English and Australians, which come from countries 

 where the disease has never been observed. Most European 

 authorities give the mortality in this disease as 70 per cent., and 

 state that recovery is only possible at the beginning of the attack, 

 the prognosis being more unfavourable in stallions than in mares. 



Sufficient time has not been allowed to elapse with regard to 

 experiments, to allow of our giving anything but a guarded opinion, 

 for our oldest case only dates back to the early part of 1901, vie. 

 Shamaher, and the animal presents certain symptoms of active 

 disease at present (March 1904). Of 18 horses and mares under 

 observation, four have succumbed, viz., one stallion, Fender, and 

 three mares (one a New Zealand breed and the other two Austra- 

 lians), so that the mortality up to date, March 1904, has been 

 30*77 per cent. Stallions appear to offer more resistance to the 

 'contagium' than mares. 



