630 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



Angoras are frequently affected with lice, which cause a loss 

 of mohair from the rubbing and scratching of the goat. The lice 

 may be exterminated by dipping. The common sheep dips are 

 generally used for the purpose. It is a common practice to dip 

 the goats once a year, and some advise dipping twice a year in 

 spring just after shearing and again in the fall. 



The fact that many plants which are poisonous to sheep and 

 cattle may be eaten with impunity by goats is frequently referred 

 to by writers for the press. It is true, however, that goats sometimes 

 die from eating poisonous plants, especially in the mountainous dis- 

 tricts of the Carolinas. It is believed that goats will not eat poison- 

 ous plants to an injurious extent unless driven by hunger to do so. 



TAKORIS, A CONTAGIOUS DISEASE OF GOATS. 



The disease presents many of the symptoms usually accom- 

 panying a parasitic invasion and is characterized by great ema- 

 ciation and weakness, with symptoms of diarrhea and pneumonia. 

 In the early stages of the affection there is usually little to indicate 

 that anything is seriously amiss with the animal. The first ob- 

 servable symptom manifested is the listless and languid appear- 

 ance of the animal, evidenced by its lagging behind the flock, and 

 is usually accompanied by a drooping of the ears and a drowsy 

 appearance of the eyes. The pulse is slow T and feeble and the tem- 

 perature is elevated slightly at first, but becomes subnormal a few 

 days before death. The highest temperature observed in the 

 natural disease w r as 104.1, and the lowest, in a prostrated animal 

 a few hours before death, registered 99.7 F. Snuffling of the nose, 

 as in a case of coryza, with occasional coughing is sometimes in 

 evidence. 



As the disease advances the animal moves about in a desultory 

 manner, with back arched, neck drawn down toward the sternum, 

 and with a staggering gait. Rumination is seldom impaired. The 

 appetite, while not so vigorous, is still present, though capricious, 

 and the affected animal shows plainly that the ravages of the dis- 

 ease are rapidly overcoming the restorative elements derived from 

 the food. The fleece is usually of good growth and presents a sur- 

 prisingly thrifty appearance when the condition of the animal is 

 taken into consideration. All the exposed mucous membranes 

 appear pale and the respirations are accelerated and labored. The 

 goats finally become so weak that they are readily knocked down 

 and trampled upon by their fellows. If picked up they may move 

 off slowly and eat a little, but within a few hours are down again, 

 and in this way linger for several days, shrinking to about half 

 their natural weight, and occasionally bleating or groaning, with 

 head bent around on the side or drawn down to the sternum. A 

 fluid discharge from the bowels of a very offensive odor is usually 

 observed in the last few days of life, but this symptom is not 

 constant. 



COURSE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY. 



This disease may assume a subacute or chronic type, usually the 

 latter. The animal dies of inanition in from eight days to six or 



