64 



easily seen in the unstained specimen and is recognized by its size, 

 shape, and highly refractory double outline. Furthermore, the injec- 

 tion of mallein in cases of mycotic lymphangitis will be attended 

 with negative results. 



Treatment. Treatment consists at the onset of the disease in 

 entire extirpation of the nodules, lymph vessels, and neighboring 

 lymph glands in case the lesions are localized. In cases where the 

 nodules have formed abscesses, their opening is recommended, fol- 

 lowed by the application of the actual cautery or a 1 to 250 solution 

 of bichlorid of mercury. It must be borne in mind that the organ- 

 ism is highly resistant to almost every antiseptic, and the best results 

 will be obtained from the application of a solution of a strong anti- 

 septic following the opening of the lesions. In the most favorable 

 cases, recovery results in from five to seven weeks; as a rule, however, 

 it requires several months. 



In order to prevent the spreading of the disease the affected 

 animals should be isolated, the products of the disease should be 

 destroyed, and the stable should be disinfected with very strong 

 liquid disinfectants in consideration of the great resistance of the 

 causative organism. (Spl. Rpt. Horse Dept. Agr. 1911.) 



RABIES, HYDROPHOBIA, OR MADNESS. 



Rabies is a contagious disease, which is usually transmitted by 

 a bite and by the introduction of a virus contained in the saliva of 

 an affected animal. It may, however, be transmitted in other ways. 

 It is characterized by symptoms of aberration of the nervous sys- 

 tem, and invariably terminates fatally. It is accompanied by 

 lesions, inflammation, and degeneration in the central nervous sys- 

 tem. It is a disease that is most common in the dog, but is trans- 

 mitted to the horse, either from dogs or from any other animal af- 

 fected with it. As a disease of the .horse it is invariably the result 

 of the bite of a rabid animal, usually a dog. 



Perhaps no disease in medicine has been the object of more 

 controversy than rabies. Certain medical men of prominence have 

 even doubted the existence of the disease. Many medical men have 

 claimed for it a spontaneous origin. The experience, however, of 

 ages has shown that contagion can be proved in the great majority 

 of cases, and, by analogy with other contagious diseases, we may 

 only believe that the development of one case requires the pre-exis- 

 tence of a case from which the virus has been transmitted. 



Symptoms. From the moment of inoculation by the bite of 

 a rabid dog or other rabid animal or by other means, a variable time 

 elapses before the development of any symptoms. This time may 

 be eight days or it may be several months ; it is usually about four 

 weeks. The first symptom is an irritation of the original wound. 

 This wound, which may have healed completely, commences to itch 

 until the horse rubs or bites it into a new sore. The horse then 

 becomes irritable and vicious. It is especially susceptible to moving 

 objects; excessive light, noises, the entrance of an attendant, or any 

 other disturbance will cause the patient to be on the defensive. It 

 apparently sees imaginary objects; the slightest noise is exagger- 



