16 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Nigger 590. 



This mare was received at the laboratory with the two preceding and originated 

 at the ranch of the Medicine Hat Ranch Company, having been selected by Dr. Har- 

 grave as a recently infected case of dourine. She was a young mare (6 years) weigh- 

 ing 1,100 pounds and was in fair condition. There was a marked inco-ordination of 

 both the fore and hind limls which was particularly noticeable when she was forced 

 to step over a small obstruction. The movements of the forefeet gave the impression 

 that she was feeling for the ground, the nervous involvment evidently affecting the 

 flexor and extensor muscles. The hindquarters swayed considerably and a distinct 

 knuckling was to be observed even when walking. Eye lesions were looked for but it 

 was impossible to detect any abnormality of the external surface of these organs or 

 of their muscles, and the retina presented a normal appearance. There was no distor- 

 tion of the genitals although the mucous membrane of the vagina was found to be in 

 the folds common to all cases of maladie du coit or dourine. 



During the period of her life at the laboratory, no evidence was obtainable of her 

 having lain down (from November 21 to December 14), until the 14th day of December 

 when she was led oiit to v/ater. On this date the ground was very slippery, ice having 

 formed over the surface of the ground as the result of a rain and sleet storm, this ice 

 being subsequently covered with about three inches of snow making it impossible 

 for one to discern the spots which were particularly treacherous. She slipped on such 

 a spot and fell never again to regain her feet. After falling she was carried to the 

 stable where a careful examination was made to determine whether there was any 

 broken bones. Being unable to find any abnormalities she was made comfortable 

 with a plentiful supply of bedding and allowed to remain till the following morning 

 when an effort was made to place her in slings. She was quite easily raised and could 

 support some weight on her fore feet but was unable to exercise any control over her 

 hind limbs, even when they were placed directly under her. It being evident that she 

 was more comfortable in a recumbent position she was unslung. She ate very little, 

 although no paralysis of the jaws was noted and death resulted on the 18th from a 

 terminal infection. 



The autopsy revealed the usual findings, yellow colouration of the subcutaneous 

 connective tissue, oedematous infiltration, swollen lymph glands, flabby heart muscle, 

 firm liver with adhesions, -pale grey flabby spleen with petechise, joint ulcerations, 

 etc. Ulcerations were found in the coxo-femoral, the hock, the stifle and the fetlock 

 joints of the hind limbs and in the shoulder, elbow and knee joints of the fore limbs 

 and in some instances the ulceration was intense and active. A few animal inocula- 

 tions were made from the fluid surrounding the spinal cord and brain, and with emul- 

 sions from the cord itself. These animals, however, died of septicsemia, a result 

 accounted for by the presence of the terminal infection in the mare. 



During the entire stay of this mare at the laboratory there was a distinct louco- 

 cytosis with but little deviation from the normal proportion of the various cells as 

 instanced by the counts recorded in connection with the remarks on 'Blood Examina- 

 tions in Dourine,' (table IV). 



RlDEAU^ 650. 



This is an aged stallion purchased May 15, 190G, for experimental breeding in 

 connection with maladie du coi't. This stallion was raised in this immediate vicinity, 

 and has never been used at a point remote from the Rideau and Ottawa rivers. 

 During the season of 1906 he was bred to (Puss, 589), she being the case whifh 

 seemed more likely to prove infective to the stallion, and subsequently he was bred 

 to the healthy mare (Boulger, 670). 



The result of these breeding experiments was that the niai-c (Puss, 589) was 

 impregnated and gave birth to a filly foal on June 20, 1907, which, as has already 

 been stated, died of navel ill on July 1. The breeding of the stallion to the mare 



