Anatomical Changes. Symptoms. 491 



sometimes a little cloudy, exudate with flocculi of fibrin. The 

 subperitoneal areolar tissue is in a condition of edematous in- 

 filtration, amber in color, and contains hematomata of the size 

 of a walnut up to that of an egg, and hemorrhagic spots, partic- 

 ularly in the parietal portion of the mesentery, the intestinal 

 serosa, and also often in the perineal fat. The hemorrhagic 

 spots and foci contain each one mature worm, which shines 

 through like a varicose vein if situated superficially. Ex- 

 ceptionally, there may be a fatal peritonitis after perforation of 

 a nodule by the worm it contained. The intestinal mucosa may 

 show diffuse or circumscribed hemorrhages. The submucosa 

 contains worm nodules, the size of a millet seed up to that of an 

 almond, with reddish-yellow or purulent contents, in which the 

 larv« are situated, or they may already have migrated into the 

 intestinal lumen. The anatomical findings in the most profound 

 cases include the signs of anemia, emaciation or cachexia. 



Symptoms. Mature worms of Sclerostoma quadridentatum 

 and of Scl. bidentatum do not cause any disturbance of health, 

 as has already been stated, while the larvae of Scl. bidentatum 

 cause thrombotic closure of various blood vessels. Continued 

 intestinal hemorrhages, with emaciation, occur in the presence 

 of Cyathostomum tetracanthum ; in other cases only short at- 

 tacks of diarrhea with colic. Numerous cases of disease have 

 also been observed (Schwarzmeier, Penl)ertliy, Williams, Boch- 

 berg) especially in foals kept on wet pastures. Some of the 

 affected animals, particularly foals, succumb to the disease. 



Of much greater importance is that form of sclerostomiasis 

 (sclerostomiasis enzootica, Schlegel) that is caused by the larvae 

 of Sclerostomum edentatum and almost exclusively occurs in 

 foals. It often manifests itself only in a progressive anemia 

 and emaciation, extending over months and even years; other- 

 wise the body temperature and the pulse are normal (Glage) ; 

 in some cases, however, particularly after exercise, colicky symp- 

 toms are observable (Klaber). 



In other cases the clinical symptoms are more pronounced 

 and are similar to those of a peritonitis with colic (Schlegel). 

 The temperature rises rapidly to 40-41.9° C, sometimes only to 

 38.5-39.6° C. ; the pulse up to 78-80-100 per minute ; it becomes 

 weak and finally can no longer be felt. Respiration is rapid and 

 accompanied by groaning. There is great prostration, lack of 

 appetite, yellowish or brownish-red discoloration of the mucosa. 

 Occasionally there are attacks of a mild colic, urination is excep- 

 tionally frequent and the urine shows a red discoloration. The 

 symptoms gradually become more intense and finally profound 

 anemia and cachexia develop. Most patients die after a few 

 days (acute form) ; in others the disease lasts up to seven weeks. 

 Some animals, however, are not very seriously sick and recover, 

 while those affected profoundly all die. Isolated hemor- 

 rhagic spots with larvae of sclerostoma are frequently found in 



