DOURINE OR MALADIE DU CO IT 11 



tinge with but very little fat. The muscles are somewhat pale, but otherwise appear 

 to be normal. Wliere emaciation is marked the muscles present evidences of gelatin- 

 ous degeneration with yellow serous infiltration. Kemoval of the hind legs at the coxo- 

 femoral joint reveals considerable oedema about the joint and the ligamentum teres. 

 The ligamentum teres is not of its normal size in cases of long standing. The 

 articulatory surfaces of this joint, particularly that of the acetabulum, in a majority 

 of instances, present a distinct ulceration, usually somewhat triangular in shape and 

 in one instance each side of this irregular triangle was one inch in length. (Plate 

 II.) The synovial fluid presents no alteration either in colour or consistency. 



The bones when split open were found to be very brittle, spongy, and infiltrated 

 with gelatinous material. (Plate VII.) The articular cartilages may be eroded and 

 this erosion is particularly to be noted in those cases where the characteristic lame- 

 ness has been a clinical symptom during the course of the affection. 



On opening the abdominal cavity, fluid was invariably present, in which were 

 seen numerous nematodes ( filar ia papillosa). These, however, are usually met with 

 in horses kept under range conditions, and therefore bear no special relationship to 

 the disease under consideration. The connective tissue of the abdominal cavity was 

 of the same yellowish tinge noticed in connection with the subcutaneous connective 

 tissue. The mesentery also exhibits this peculiar colouration. The intestines are 

 pale, and on their serous surface evidence of previous inflammatory changes are 

 usually present. 



The spleen is of a greyish colour and the surface presents many petechial spots. 

 In consistency the spleen is soft and flabby, pitting on pressure, the pit not resum- 

 ing its natural position- on the removal of the finger. In size it is about normal or 

 somewhat enlarged, and on its si;rface may be seen scars, which from a careful histo- 

 logical study, appear to be the result of haemorrhage beneath the capsule. (See 

 plate III.) ' 



The liver appears to be much shrunken in size, in some cases appearing to be 

 but half that of the normal organ, and it is of a much darker colour than is the case in 

 horses not suffering from this disease. The organ is very firm, with no evidence 

 of cirrhosis. The capsule of the liver usually presents evidence of an old inflam- 

 matory process. 



Dr. Hadwen, while working with this disease at Lethbridge found that the maxi- 

 mum weight of the spleen in thirty-six cases was 2,976 grammes, while the minimum 

 was 992 grammes, the average being 1,587-2 grammes. He also found that -the liver 

 presented a maximum weight of 9,672 grammes, a minimum weight of 6,944 grammes, 

 while the average was 5,952 grammes. In the most advanced and emaciated cases 

 he also found that there was no increase in the size of the liver, but that it was 

 decreased in size, due to the fact that all available fat and nutriment had been 

 absorbed in an endeavour to sustain life. The horses upon which these observations 

 were made were condemned as soon as the symptoms warranted such action, and 

 therefore were in different stages of the disease. The weight of the animals in 

 question varied from 900 to 1,300 pounds. 



A gelatinous deposit is usually found at the hihun of the kidney, and this 

 deposit responds to the tests for mucin. An enlargement of the kidiiey is also 

 frequently noted, while histologically the cells are degenerated and largely rephiced 

 by strings of mucin. 



Dr. Hadwen found ammonium urate in advanced cases, but was unable to demon- 

 strate albumen or sugar. We have been unable to find evidence of sugar in urine 

 taken from the affected mares Avith which we were experimenting here, nor in urine 

 forwarded to this laboratory by Dr. ITargrave, of Medicine Hat, Alberta, taken from 

 affected horses in various stages of the disease at the time of their slaughter. Cal- 

 cium carbonate was found by Dr. Hadwen in the urine of two well marked cases of 

 dourine, in which there was paralysis of the hind limbs. In both instances, the hair 

 of the tail and legs became matted with the urine, giving off a very offensive odour. 



