'g30 Dourine. 



The number of red blood corpuscles in the blood may 

 diminish to one-tenth of the normal, while white corpuscles 

 may increase 10 to 30 times. In many cases a pronounced 

 eosinophilia may also be demonstrated (Marek, Frohner). 



The daily quantity of the urine fluctuates withm normal 

 limits ; its specific gravity is 1,023 to 1,060 and on an average 

 it is lower than in healthy horses. Of the normal constituents 

 the quantity of phosphoric acid is markedly increased m about 

 70% of the cases (up to 4-5 gm.) ; besides the quantity of urea 

 is also increased (Liebermann; according to Roger the urine 

 contains glucose). 



In the eyeground the papillae and their surroundings ap- 

 pear congested in some cases, and in time blood pigment is 

 deposited in the tissues surrounding them. These changes may 

 later reduce the vision and even result in blindness. Conjunc- 

 tival catarrh is a frequent symptom, in some cases however also 

 an exudative iritis develops which finally leads to atrophy of 

 the bulbus. Frohner observed in one case a unilateral con- 

 traction of the pupil. 



The body temperatures show a periodical rise of remittent 

 character (Fig. 148). In the later course a continuous fever 

 may set in, probably produced in part by suppurative processes, 

 especially in the genital organs, but towards the termination 

 of the disease also by the gangrene of the sores from constant 

 lying down. With the temporary febrile attacks, fresh plaque 

 eruptions develop frequently, but the course of the disease may 

 continue without fever even for months. 



Mares which are impregnated by an infected stallion fre- 

 quently abort during the second or third month of pregnancy. 



The affected animals become greatly emaciated during the 

 paralytic stage of the disease, although the appetite remains 

 good almost to the end. Besides the paralysis, the weakness 

 brought on by the emaciation contributes to the inability^ of 

 the animals to rise in the later stages of the disease. The im- 

 mediate cause of death is either a hypostatic pneumonia or a 

 septicemic affection in association wdth the gangrene caused by 

 the pressure sores. 



Course and Prognosis. In northern regions dourine usually 

 runs a chronic course. After the local affection of the genital 

 organs, several weeks or even months usually elapse before 

 the nervous symptoms are markedly perceptible, while the dollar 

 spots may appear earlier, sometimes simultaneously Avith the 

 swelling of the sheath. After the appearance of the nervous 

 symptoms the disease may in unfavorable cases take a rapid 

 course, so that the animal succumbs in 3 to 4 weeks, completely 

 exhausted, or — and this is more frequently the case — the disease 

 extends over several months, frequently from 1 to 2 years. In 

 such cases more or less pronounced improvement may be 

 noticed periodically, which is however only temporary, and 



