146 . DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



one, the fixing of a net under the penis in such fashion as will prevent 

 the extension of the penis, or so prick the organ as to compel the 

 animal to desist through pain. 



MALADIE DU COIT, OR DOURINE. 



This is propagated, like syphilis, by the act of copulation and 

 affects stallions and mares. It has long been known in northern 

 Africa, Arabia, and Continental Europe. It was imported into 

 Illinois in 1882 in a Percheron horse. 



From one to ten days after copulation, or in stallions it may be 

 after some weeks, there is irritation, swelling, and a livid redness of 

 the external organs of generation, sometimes followed by the erup- 

 tion of small blisters one-fifth of an inch across on the penis, the 

 vulva, clitoris, and the vagina, and the consequent rupture of these 

 vesicles and the formation of ulcers or small open sores. Vesicles 

 have not been noticed in this disease in the dry climate of Illinois. 

 In the mare there is frequent contraction of the vulva, urination, and 

 the discharge of a watery and later a thick viscid liquid of a whitish, 

 yellowish, or reddish color, which collects on and soils the tail. The 

 swelling of the vulva increases and decreases alternately, affecting 

 one part more than another and giving a distorted appearance to the 

 ojDening. The affection of the skin leads to the appearance of circu- 

 lar white spots, which may remain distinct or coalesce into extensive 

 patches which persist for months. This, with the soiled tail, red, 

 swollen, puckered, and distorted vulva, and an increasing weakness 

 and paralysis of the hind limbs, serves to characterize the affection. 

 The mare rarely breeds, but will take the male, and thus propagate 

 the disease. The disease winds up with great emaciation and stu- 

 pidity and death in four months to two years. In horses which serve 

 few mares there may be only swelling of the sheath for a year, but 

 with frequent copulation the progress is more rapid. The penis may 

 be enlarged, shrunken, or distorted ; the testicles are usuallv pendent 

 and may be enlarged or wasted and flabby ; the skin, as in the mare, 

 shows white spots and patches. Later the penis becomes partially 

 paralj^zed and hangs out of the sheath; swelling of the adjacent 

 lymphatic glands (in the groin), and even of distant ones, and of the 

 skin appears, and the hind limbs become weak and unsteady. In 

 some instances the glands under the jaw swell, and a discharge flows 

 from the nose, as in glanders. In other cases the itching of the skin 

 leads to gnawing and extensive sores. Weakness, emaciation, and 

 stupidity increase until death, in fatal cases, jet the sexual desire 

 does not seem to fail. A stallion without sense to eat, except when 

 food was put in his mouth, would still neigh and seek to follow mares. 

 In mild cases an apparent recovery may ensue, and through such 

 animals the disease is propagated to new localities to be roused into 



