514 GENERAL DISEASES. 



The "Veterinary Record" of 24:th March, 31st March, 14th 

 April, 12th May, and 19th May, 1900, contains a translation of 

 an admirable paper on dourine by Surgeon-Major Schneider and 

 Veterinary-Surgeon Buffard of the French Army. 



Horse -Pox ( Variola Equina) 



is a rare disease which appears to be identical with the cow-pox 

 of cattle. Its effects are mild, and, in themselves, entirely free 

 from danger to the life of the animal. Unlike the small-pox of 

 man, it can be transmitted only by contact. The watery fluid 

 contained in the vesicles of horse-pox acts like that taken from 

 the cow, in guarding persons from small-pox. Cattle suffering 

 from cow-pox appear capable of infecting horses with horse-pox; 

 and vice versa. There seems to be no difference between horse- 

 pox and pustular stomatitis (p. 409), except that the effects of the 

 former are confined to the mouth and neighbouring parts of the 

 head ; those of the latter being more or less general. 



In variola, under which general term, horse-pox, cow-pox, and 

 small-pox of man are classed, there is a definite course of the 

 following stages : (1) fever lasting about two days ; (2) an erup- 

 tion of pimples, which in from ten to fourteen days successively 

 turn into (3) vesicles (pimples containing clear fluid), (4) pustules 

 (pimples containing pus), and (5) scabs, due to the drying up of 

 the fluid in the pimples. The. disease runs its course in about a 

 month from the time that the animal receives the virus, until the 

 scabs fall off. When the legs are much affected, they may continue 

 swollen for a month or two longer. 



The fever preceding the eruption is often so slight that it does 

 liot attract attention. The pustules have the characteristic appear- 

 ance of variola, in that they are depressed in the centre, and 

 have a red circle round each of them. They are, usually, confined 

 to the legs below the hocks and knees, but may also appear on 

 the shoulders, back, mouth, nostrils, and other parts. When the 

 eruption is on the legs, it is generally confluent (running together), 

 and resembles, to some extent, grease, from which it may be dis- 

 tinguished by the character of the vesicles (pimples filled with 

 serum), and pustules (pimples filled with pus), and by the 

 fact that the scabs of the pustules adhere, principally, by means 

 of the hair. The sudden and transitory nature of an attack of 

 horse-pox is very different from the gradual and lasting one of 

 grease. The sores left after the scabs of horse-pox are generally 

 very superficial ; they heal rapidly, with little or no scar ; and 

 do not affect the lymphatics : conditions which distinguish this 

 disease from glanders and farcy. The eruption may cause swel- 



