1372 



DISEASES PECULIAR TO SOUTH AFRICA 



How To Know \\, lu the Acute or Pulmonary form the symptoms 

 are comparatively absent until just before death. The animal seems to 

 be in perfect health and, within an hour, characteristic symptoms appear, 

 viz., respiration, animal lies down and gets up immediately, followed by 

 violent heaving of the flanks, staggers about for a few minutes, falls down, 

 ejects a quantity of white froth from the nostrils and mouth, and probably 

 dies within a few minutes. Owing to the absence of symptoms 

 until just before death, it was thought that the disease was of short dura- 

 tion. It is proved, however, that the period of incubation is seven or eight 

 days; and from the period of infection to the symptoms above described, it 

 will be noticed that there has been a gradual rise of temperature, each day 

 higher than the preceeding day, and the evening temperature higher than 

 the morning, till it rises to the final stage, 103 F. or 107 F., when there 

 is a sudden drop to below normal, and then death. During the period of 

 incubation there have been going on other changes not visible to the ordi- 

 nary eye, viz., a dusky yellow discoloration of the eye, spots are seen on 

 the white parts accompanied, perhaps, by a watery discharge from the 

 eyes. By placing one's ear close to the front part of the neck, a peculiar 

 dry, crackling sound might be heard; and then is seen a swelling of the 

 parts above the eye and eyelids. Inside, the nostrils change color and 

 become congested, with swelling along the line of the jugular vein. The 

 horse becomes easily tired, stands lazily, resting its head upon some sup- 

 port and, finally, the symptoms above described soon put an end to the 

 animal's suffering. 



The Dikkop Fornii The symptoms in this form usually appear some 

 days before death, gradually becoming well defined towards the end. 

 The head, neck, and lips become swollen, in some cases enormously; the 

 eyes close and lower lip drops, and death soon follows. 



Blue Tongue Form (Biaauw Tong), This is a sub-variety, in which 

 the swellings of the head and neck are Jiot so marked, but the tongue be- 

 comes very much swollen and of a vivid blue colour, due to intense venous 

 congestion. 



The Bilious Form (or Subacute). The .symptoms come on gradually, 

 the animal being off its feed. There is constipation, and the faeces are 

 coated with mucous. The urine is of a deep amber color, temperature 

 of the body 106 F. to 108 F. and the pulse is quick and hard. Abdom- 

 inal pains are frequently noticed, sometimes violent, and often accom- 

 panied by a foul smelling diarrhoea. Jaundice sets in. Sometimes brain 

 symptoms appear, in which case it is hopeless; as also when swellings, 

 filled with a quantity of yellow fluid, occur on the limbs and body, the 

 owner may expect a fatal issue. The symptoms just described might 

 equally apply to those of biliary fever, and indeed is many times mis- 



