64 



TAKOSIS 



as " a disease peculiar to goats." The identity of this disease 

 and the various affections of goats, largel}' pneumonia, 

 described by Duquesnoy, Hutchens, Pusch, Steele and others 

 is not established. Mohler and Washburn seem to be the only 

 investigators in this country who have carefully studied this 

 affection. 



i^ 



57. Geographical Distribution. Takosis is reported 

 from a number of localities in this country, more especially in 

 the Northern States. 



§ 58. Etiology. Accord- 

 ing to Mohler and Washburn 

 this disease is caused by M. 

 caprinus. It is pathogenic 

 for goats, chickens, rabbits, 

 guinea pigs and white mice, 

 but not for sheep, dogs or 

 rats. It usually appears in 

 pairs. It has been isolated 

 in pure culture from the 

 heart's blood, spleen, kidneys 

 and pericardial fluid. It 

 was not obtained in cultures 

 from the spinal cord. 



Fig. 8. Micrococcus caprinus from 

 the blood of an angora goat 

 {Mohler) . 



§ 59. Symptoms. The first observable symptom is a 

 listless and languid appearance of the animal. The affected 

 goats lag behind the flock. Frequently there is drooping of 

 the ears and a drowsy appearance of the eyes. There is slight 

 elevation of the temperature in the beginning, but later in the 

 course of the disease it becomes subnormal. As the disease 

 advances the goats move about in a desultory manner, the 

 back arched, neck drawn down toward the sternum, and the 

 gait staggering. Rumination is seldom impaired. The appe- 

 tite is usually good but capricious. The exposed mucous 

 membranes are pale. The respirations are accelerated and 

 labored. The affected animals soon become so weak that they 

 can stand with difficulty, and often they are knocked down 



