62 SPECIAL CATTLE THERAPY 



JOHNES DISEASE 



This disease, also known as para-tuberculosis in- 

 testinalis, is a form of diarrhea which affects cattle 

 with some frequency in certain localities. The .disease 

 is an infectious one and the feces from cattle suffering 

 from it are to be considered as the most common car- 

 rier of the infection. The course of Johnes disease 

 is chronic in character, extending over several months 

 as a rule, and generally terminating in death. 



While the disease occurs mainly in isolated in- 

 stances, affecting only one or two cows in the herd 

 at the same time, the infection may remain in the 

 stable indefinitely, so that cases of the disease appear 

 at intervals for years. 



The symptoms of Johnes disease are not accom- 

 panied by any very remarkable diagnostic climax. 

 Until the veterinarian has seen a few cases of the 

 disease he does not get a very clear conception of the 

 clinical index to the condition. 



A cow, in the beginning, has somewhat more fre- 

 quent bowel evacuations than normal; a little later 

 these evacuations become somewhat thin in consis- 

 tency, and finally, at the end of a week or two, a real 

 diarrhea has developed. This diarrhea is very per- 

 sistent; it may improve slightly on certain days, but 

 always returns. There is no particular character of 

 evacuations; towards the end of the disease there may 

 be some mucus mixed w^th the feces. 



The appetite of the cow is but slightly affected, but 

 emaciation rapidly becomes evident. At the end of 

 six weeks or two months there is a veritable cachexia, 

 terminating in marasmus, decubitus, and death. Re-' 

 coveries are rare once the disease becomes well estab- 



