INFECTIOUS ANEMIA OR SWAMP FEVEE. 553 



ease. In other cases the lungs may be studded with petechise, with 

 a serous exudate present in the thoracic cavity. In addition to the 

 petechia ah^eady noted, the pericardial sac generally contains an 

 increased amount of fluid. The abdominal cavity may show peri- 

 tonitis and a hemorrhagic condition of the intestines, which probably 

 result from overfeeding in consequence of the ravenous appetite. 

 The liver sometimes presents a few areas of degeneration, although 

 usually normal. The spleen is at times found to be enlarged and 

 covered with petechise. The kidneys may appear normal or anemic 

 and flaccid, but microscopically they usually show a chronic paren- 

 chj'matous degeneration. The lymph glands may be enlarged and 

 hemorrhagic. 



Diagnosis. — The diagnosis of the disease is not difficult, especially 

 in advanced stages. The insidious onset, remittent fever, progressive 

 emaciation and anemia, unimpaired or ravenous appetite,, staggering 

 guit, and polyuria are a train of symptoms which make the disease 

 sufficiently characteristic to differentiate it fi'om other diseases af- 

 fecting horses in this country. The peculiar relapsing type of fever, 

 the gi-eat reduction in the number of red blood cells, and the absence 

 of eosinophilia are sufficient to differentiate it from the anemias pro- 

 duced by internal parasites, while it may be readily distinguished 

 from surra by the nonsusceptibility of cattle and by the gi-eat ease 

 with whicli the tr3^panosoma may be found in the latter affection. 



Prognosis. — The prognosis of the disease is very unfavorable. 

 Veterinarians in different sections of the country where it is preva- 

 lent report a mortality of 75 per cent or even higher. Recovery 

 takes place only Avhen treatment is begun early or when the animal 

 has a long convalescent period. 



Treatme7it. — The treatment of the disease has so far been far from 

 satisfactory. The iodid, permanganate, and carbonate of potash have 

 been used. Arsenic, axytol, quinin, and silver preparations have been 

 suggested, but all have uniformly been without success. Intestinal 

 antiseptics have been resorted to^ and the results are encouraging but 

 not altogether satisfactory. Symptomatic treatment seems to be the 

 most dependable. For instance, Davison, of this Bureau, was able to 

 reduce greatly the mortality from this affection by giving an antipy- 

 retic of 40 grains of quinin, 2 drams of acetanilid, and 30 grains of 

 powdered nux vomica four times daily. In the late stages, with weak 

 heart action, alcohol should be substituted for acetanilid. Cold-water 

 sponge baths may be given, and in addition frequent copious injec- 

 tions of cold water per rectum, which has a beneficial effect in re- 

 ducing the temperature and in stimulating peristalsis of the bowels, 

 which, as a result of the disease, show a tendency to become torpid 

 during the fever. Avoid giving purgatives unless absolutely neces- 

 sary, on account of their debilitating effect, but instead give laxative, 



