414 DISEASES OF THE BLOOD. 



mucus or plastic exudate, and the appearance is that of a chronic catarrh 

 associated with necrosis of the mucosa. 



Bacteriology. Examination of cultures and slides showed the presence 

 of a micrococcus, usually arranged in the form of a diplococcus, which 

 was found in pure cultures from the heart's blood, spleen, kidneys, and 

 pericardial fluid, and essentially so in the tubes inoculated from the 

 other organs. 



The specific organism of takosis appears in fresh bouillon cultures as 

 a spherical or oval micrococcus with a diameter of 0*8 to 1 /t. In these 

 cultures it is single or in chains of two, three, or four elements, but most 

 frequently in pairs, as diplococci, with a diameter transverse to the axis 

 of the chain greater than the longitudinal diameter. 



Treatment: Prophylaxis. Sudden climatic changes should be 

 avoided as far as possible, and when shipments of goats for breeding 

 purposes are to be made which necessitate their transportation over 

 considerable distances the changes should be made during the months 

 of summer or late spring, and not in the fall or winter, when the con- 

 trast of temperature will be so much greater. 



Angora goats should be provided with stables that are thoroughly 

 dry, erected upon ground that has perfect natural drainage. 



As a third measure of prevention may be mentioned careful feeding. 



The segregation or isolation of all affected animals as soon as they 

 evince any symptoms of the disease will be found a most valuable means 

 of protection for those that remain unaffected, and a strict quarantine 

 over all of the diseased members of the flock should be maintained so 

 long as the disease remains upon the premises. 



Medicinal treatment has proved unsatisfactory in many of the cases 

 of takosis to which it has been applied. The best results have been 

 derived from the administration of calomel in 0.1 -gram doses twice daily 

 for two days, followed by arsenic, iron, and quinine, as follows : 



Arsenious acid . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-40 grams. 



Iron, reduced . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 12-00 ,, 



Quinine sulphate . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.00 ,, 



Mix and make into twenty powders, giving one to each adult goat 

 morning and evening at the conclusion of the administration of calomel. 

 After an interval of two days this treatment is repeated. In case the 

 diarrhoea persists, the sulphate of iron has been substituted for the 

 reduced iron, with beneficial effects. 



Conclusions. After preliminary investigation, the following con- 

 clusions have been reache'd: — 



(1.) The disease described as takosis has appeared in many parts of 

 America, but particularly in the Northern States, where it has caused 

 great loss to many breeders of Angora goats. 



