Diagnosis. Treatment. Tabes Dorsalis. 701 



Diagnosis. A diagnosis may be based upon the symptoms 

 of jDaralysis nnassociated with any special sensory disturbance, 

 the maintenance of the appetite for some time, the absence of 

 hemoglobinuria, the rigidity of the muscles of the quarters, in 

 many cases the edema of the genital organs, and on the infec- 

 tious nature of the disease in many outbreaks. In sporadic 

 cases, and especially during the occult stage of the disease, con- 

 fusion is possible with other diseases. Whether, as believed by 

 Perucci, a diagnosis may be based with certainty in such cases 

 upon the cultural demonstration of the causal organism in the 

 blood is a matter for further investigation. The conditions 

 that are likely to be confounded with the disease are infectious 

 anemia, paralytic hemoglobinemia, piroplasmosis (see Vol. I), 

 and, in the postmortem room, sclerostomiasis (see page 488). 

 Septicemic conditions and certain intoxications must also be 

 excluded. 



Treatment. This is useless in cases that develop rapidly. 

 In less acute cases the treatment advised for paralytic hemoglo- 

 binemia (see Vol. I) may l)e applied. Symptomatic treatment 

 and the administration of disinfectants must also be considered. 

 In a case of the authors, atoxyl produced no satisfactory re- 

 sults (see page 492). 



As prophylactic measures Schlegel advises that a diet con- 

 taining large proportions of maize, bran, molasses, roots or 

 potatoes should be avoided, and that the stables should l)e kept 

 clean and well ventilated. Healthy horses should be separated 

 from the diseased, and intestinal disinfectants should be ad- 

 ministered. A change of diet appears to be indicated. 



According to Perucci the injection of anti-streptococcic 

 serum is useful in outbreaks inasmuch as the animals acquire 

 an increased resistance. 



Literature. Albrecht, D. t. W., 1896, 311.— Comeny, Eec, 1888, 230.— Duvin- 

 age, Z. f. Tk., 1905, 473.— Kiill, ibid., 1904, 473; 1906, 353.— Pastriot, Eev. Vet., 



1906, 488.— Perucci, D. t. W., 1910, 409 (Lit.).; Pr. Vb., 1900-1904.— Schlegel, B. t. 

 W., 1906, 463 (Lit.); Die infekt. Ruckenmarkenzundimg der Pferde, 1907 (Lit.). — 

 Schmidt, A. f. Tk., 1885, 407.— Sorrian, J. Vet., 1905, 271.— Zwick, Z. f. Infkr., 



1907, II, 310 (Lit.). 



Tabes Dorsalis. Although this disease occurs frequently in man 

 in connection with diseases of the spinal cord, it so happens that tabes 

 dorsalis or an analogous disease does not occur in animals. Tabes dor- 

 salis (progressive locomotor ataxia of Duchenne) is a quite deiinite 

 chronic disease of the central nervous system, the most striking feature 

 of which is a degeneration of the posterior cohnnns of the cord, involv- 

 ing the posterior nerve roots, and also to a greater or less degree the 

 other centripetal paths. There is also degeneration of certain groups 

 of fibers in the brain. The disease is systemic and tends to involve 

 constantly certain groups of fibers. 



In veterinary practice, cases have been and are still reported which 



