Dourine 87 



and the knuckling over at the hind pasterns are rarely seen in 

 other forms of disease. 



In addition, there is the clinical histor}- of infection by coition, 

 along with the malignancy of the malady. 



Finalh', the finding of the trypanosoniiini equiperdum in the 

 blood of the animal serves to definitely establish the diagnosis. In 

 many cases it seems to be very difficult to find the parasite in 

 the blood of the animal and, consequently, this proof of the 

 character of the disease is not always readily produced. 



The Mortality from Dourine is very great and the loss amounts, 

 upon the whole, to far more than the total value of the diseased 

 animals. When it has once become widely disseminated in a 

 breeding district, it practically ruins the industry for a time be- 

 cau.se its character is so insidious that it is exceedingly difficult 

 to trace in it all its ramifications. The mortality among the 

 affected animals reaches 60 to 80 ^r. which places it among the 

 most fatal of infectious diseases. Those which recover do so 

 very slowly and the time consumed before they are again fit for 

 work is so great that it almost destroys their value. We have 

 no data to show that an animal once affected can ever be bred 

 again with safety, however completely they may have apparently 

 recovered or how long a period may have elap.sed. 



The tabulated list on next page of affected stallions in the Illinois 

 outbreak, copied from the author's report upon the disease, is of 

 interest, as showing the transmissibility and mortality of the 

 malad}-. 



Control and Eradication. There is no specific treatment 

 known for the disease and, at present, the most that can be done 

 is the .securing of rest with favorable food and environment. 

 Complications may be handled according to circumstances. Some 

 investigators have obtained apparently favorable results from the 

 admini.stration of arsenic and other antiseptics but there is no 

 definite evidence of specific action of these, though they are 

 worthy of trial. In the Illinois outbreak, some animals recovered 

 their general health after having been so completely paralyzed 

 that they constantly required assistance, for several weeks, in 

 getting up. As a general rule, however, animals which become 

 so weak and paralytic as to be unable to get up when down, 

 soon succumb to the di.sea.se. 



