MALARIA 69 



In doQfs there is an acute and a chronic form of Kala-azar. 



Acute occurs in young dogs with fever, loss of appetite, wasting, 

 tremors, motor disturbance in the hind-quarters and diarrhoea (rare). 



The animal dies comatose in three to hve months. 



Chronic with insidious onset, progressive aucemia, weakness, 

 wasting, tremors, &c. ; spleen much enlarged ; the disease may resemble 

 rabies. 



Pseudo-Kala-azar (Tropical febrile splenomegaly). 



DEFINITION. 



This is mentioned here because of its clinical similarity to Kala-azar. 



It is a chronic, irregular, febrile disorder of unknown causation, 

 characterized by splenic hypertrophy, gastro-intestinal disturbance and 

 emaciation. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



South America, India, Ceylon, China, Egypt, Philippines, North 

 Africa and Italy. 



It can onlv be differentiated from Kala-azar by absence of the 

 parasites during life and after death by repeated examination. 



Spleen puncture is unsuccessful. 



The febrile attack differentiates it from Banti's disease, and splenic 

 removal does not effect a cure. 



The prognosis is bad. 



Arsenic and tartar emetic should be given. 



IMALARIA ("Mai aria," Italian for "bad air"). 



DEFINITION. 



Malaria is the term employed to indicate : — 



A group of acute or chronic specific fevers or to morbid conditions 

 arising directly therefrom. 



Caused by the vSporozoal organisms Plasmodium malaria, Plas- 

 modium vivax and Laverania malari^e. 



Carried by the Anophelin^e, in which the parasites undergo part of 

 their life-history. 



Characterized by fever, usually periodic, anaemia, enlargement of 

 spleen, and the deposition of a peculiar pigment in the viscera and 

 elsewhere. 



Quinine is a specific treatment for most of these conditions. 



HISTORY. 



In 550 B.C. Hippocrates recognized and differentiated periodic fevers 

 into quotidian, tertian, sub-tertian and quartan. 



Galen, Celsus and other Romans also described these fevers 

 accurately. 



