REPORT ON DOURINE. 



Symptoms. The parts generally affected in equines are the 

 mucous-membrane of the penis in males and the cutaneous covering 

 of the vulva and m. m. of the vagina in females. The period of 

 incubation, according to our observations, varies from within 

 twenty-four hours to 10 or 11 days. In mild cases there appear 

 small vesicles on the inner surface of labia pudendi, the vaginal 

 mucous-membrane is red and inflamed, or the vesicles may be sur- 

 rounded each by a red halo. The vesicles contain a clear, trans- 

 parent fluid, but as the vesicle gets older, its contents change to an 

 opalescent hue and later to a yellow colour. When these evacuate 

 their contents, small ulcers form with flat bases and irregular edges 

 which secrete* a sticky glairy fluid o a light yellow tinge. Con- 

 currently or at a later period the same changes may occur on the 

 external surface of the vulva, and may implicate the structures on 

 either side of the vulva, the anus and the under-surface of the root 

 of the tail. But in these latter situations the eruption exhibits the 

 following characteristics. Each individual vesicle appears upon a 

 raised and swollen base, some more marked than others, later all 

 form pustules, discrete or confluent, their contents presenting a 

 light or dark shade of yellow to orange. After persisting for a 

 period of 4 to 6 days, the contents of the pustules are evacuated, 

 open sores or ulcers form somewhat flat and with irregular outlines. 

 Within a period of 24 to 48 hours the healing process commences 

 and continues under scabs, the whole process from vesicle to 

 separation of scabs occupying from 11 to 17 days, although a chro- 

 nic vaginitis may persist after other symptoms have disappeared. 

 The scabs vary in colour from brown to black. When healing has 

 taken place, scabs and film-like coverings, the consistency and 

 thickness of collodion scales commence to separate and circular or 

 irregular shaped unpigmented patches are left which constitute 

 leucodermic areas, and when numerous, give a piebald appearance 

 to the affected tissues. In stallions, such areas have been observed 

 on the scrotum, and in one instance the tissues of the anus were 

 involved. No constitutional disturbance is present in the benign 

 form of the affection, and the temperature does not usually vary 

 except within very normal limits 37 to 38C. 



Our experiments include six mares which contracted Dourine 



