Etiology, Anatouiical Changes, Symptoms. 847 



puberty, especially in girls, and is associated with a diminution of the hemoglobin 

 contents of the red blood corpuscles. It subsides after a systemic administration 

 of iron. The affection of sheep designated under this name is, as already men- 

 tioned, not identical with this disease. 



Anatomical Changes. All organs of animals wMch have 

 died as a result of hemorrhage are characterized by a con- 

 spicuous paleness and by the absence of blood; this is most 

 readily recognized in the lungs, which appear pale pink in color. 

 At the same time the heart and the large blood vessels con- 

 tain only small amounts of loose blood coagulum. In chronic 

 anemia blood is frequently found in nearly normal amount in 

 the heart and in the blood vessels, but it appears paler, more 

 watery, stains the hand only slightly and contains only little 

 loose gelatinous coagulum. Fatty degeneration of the parenchy- 

 matous organs, especially of the heart muscles and of the 

 kidneys is not infrequent. Dropsical development is almost 

 constantly found in chronic fatal anemia. 



Symptoms. The syniptoms of acute anemia develop in ac- 

 cordance with the severity of the hemorrhage, sometimes very 

 rapidly, at other times somewdiat more slowly. The animals 

 become much depressed, perspire profusely, stagger and sw^ay 

 in w^alking. The mucous membranes become gradually more 

 and more pale, finally even porcelain white; the heart action 

 is throbbing, the pulse at first frequent, tense and small, later 

 however soft and empty. The respiration is accelerated and 

 labored; a conspicuous cooling off develops in the peripheral 

 parts of the body; there is also muscular trembling. If the 

 animal has lost great quantities of blood within a short time 

 its entire behavior expresses great anxiety, it sways, finally 

 falling to the ground, becomes unconscious and dies in con- 

 vulsions if the bleeding continues. 



The symptoms of chronic anemia develop much more 

 slowly and persist for a longer time. The mucous membranes 

 appear very pale, pink colored, in severe cases almost milky 

 or porcelain white. There is languor, easy fatigue even on 

 quiet walking; after prolonged exercise the animals commence 

 to sway and sometimes even fall to the ground. At rest they 

 appear somnolent and indifferent and lie down a great deal. 

 The frequency of the heart action increases considerably, even 

 on very slight external causes. The heart sounds sometimes 

 become imperceptible or indistinct owing to the false sounds; 

 the pulse is at the same time weak. In severe cases slight 

 hemorrhages appear in various organs. Further symptoms of 

 severe anemia are diminished appetite, irregular movement of 

 the bowels, accelerated and superficial respirations, lusterless 

 hair, in sheep dryness and dullness of the wool. The nutrition 

 is at first, and sometimes also in the later stages satisfactory, 

 the anemia however which is caused by organic affections or 

 insufficient feeding causes emaciation. 



