474 CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



only in the latter stages of the disease. This swelling may also be noticed 

 under the abdomen. The swelling indicates a very poor circulation, and 

 is a very bad symptom. There are also found petecchiae (little blood 

 spots) on the mucous membranes. These are especially found on the 

 surface membrane of the eye. As the disease advances, the color of 

 these spots become darker, resembling that in mortification, and gives 

 the observer a very good index of the progress of the case. Whenever 

 these spots are found on the mucous membrane of the eye, the case almost 

 always proves fatal. Another marked symptom is the increase of the 

 urine. Large quantities of urine are secreted. This is also a serious 

 symptom. 



IV. Diagnosis. 



This disease is not very difficult to diagnose, at least not in the latter 

 stages of the disease. In the early stages it may be mistaken for influenza 

 or pneumonia, but when one has seen a case in the advanced stages, then 

 it is not so difficult. However, it is well for one w^ho is inexperienced to 

 defer judgment until the animal has been examined two or three times 

 on that many days. If one takes into consideration the good appetite 

 with continual loss of flesh, the pale mucous membranes, and the peculiar 

 pulse, he can diagnose without much trouble. 



Prognosis. — The prognosis of this disease is very unfavorable. Some 

 ranchmen and veterinarians claim that the death rate runs from 50 to 

 75 per cent, while others claim even a higher percentage. The writer 

 is of the opinion that a very small per cent of the animals recover. We 

 have observed that where farmers have carefully nursed their animals 

 they appeared to recover, only to have another attack which seemed to 

 be more severe, death finally resulting. The writer has never seen a 

 thoroughly cured animal since he has observed this disease. 



V. Field Work. 



The disease was first observed by this station in 1902 in this statf:. 

 Since that time a great many horses have been lost. 



The field work consisted in visiting several ranches on which a number 

 of horses had died, so as to study the conditions. It was our aim to make 

 post mortem examinations and to treat animals that were affected. In 

 the majority of cases that came under our observation the animals were 

 in the advanced stages of the disease. 



Last July the writer visited a number of ranches, and also held post mor- 

 tem examinations on diseased animals. We found that the animlas were all 

 greatly emaciated and the mucous membranes very pale; and in all cases 



