412 DISEASES OF THE BLOOD, 



TAKOSIS: A CONTAGIOUS DISEASE OF GOATS.* 



This disease has been seen in Angora goats brought from Texas into 

 Pennsylvania, U.S.A. 



Symptoms. The disease presents many of the symptoms usually 

 accompanying a parasitic invasion, and is characterised by great emacia- 

 tion and weakness, with symptoms of diarrhoea and pneumonia. In the 

 early stages of the affection there is usually little to indicate that any- 

 thing is seriously amiss with the animal. The first observable symptom 

 manifested is the listless and languid appearance of the animal, evidenced 

 by its lagging behind the flock, and is usually accompanied by a drooping 

 of the ears and a drow^sy appearance of the eyes. The pulse is slow and 

 feeble, and the temperature is elevated slightly at first, but becomes sub- 

 normal a few days before death. The highest temperature observed in 

 the natural disease was 104"1°, and the lowest, in a prostrated animal a 

 few hours before death, registered 99*7° Fahr. 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 disease are rapidly over- 

 coming the restorative elements derived from the food. The fleece is 

 usually of good growth, and presents a surprisingly thrifty appearance 

 when the condition of the animal is taken into consideration. All the 

 exposed mucous membranes appear pale, and the respirations are accele- 

 rated and laboured. 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 odour 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 eight weeks. Several owners have reported deaths 

 after only two or three days of illness, but the goats doubtless had been 

 affected for a longer period, although not noticed on account of their 

 mingling in the flock. Many of the animals live for weeks, but gradually 



* Annual Report, U.S.A. Bureau of Animal Industry, 1902, p. 354 (Mohler and 

 Washburn). 



