DOURINE OR MALADIE DU COIT . 55 



APPENDIX B. 



Report of Dr. Davison, 



RusHviLLE, Neb., May 14, 1904. 



Chief of Bureau of Animal Industry, 

 Washington, D.C. 



Sm, — In accordance with instructions received, I went to Lethbridge, Alberta, 

 for the purpose of conferring with J. G. Rutherford, Veterinary Director General of 

 th« Dominion of Canada, in regard to suspected outbreak of maladie du coit among 

 horses in the vicinity of Lethbridge. I examined such suspects as were available, 

 and have no hesitation in confirming the diagnosis of Dr. Rutherford. 



I found no good cases. However, considering in the aggregate the symptoms 

 manifested by different individuals does not leave room for a reasonable doubt as to 

 the character of the disease. At the ranch of W. T. McCaugherty, eight miles west 

 of Lethbridge, I examined a herd of about fifty mares and one stallion. The stallion 

 presented a general unthrifty appearance, was quite emaciated, eyes and nostrils 

 weeping, scrotum thickened and of a doughy consistency, two plain cicatrices^ on 

 under surface of penis just below inferior border of prepuce. No plaques. showing, 

 but owner gives history that would indicate that they have been frequently in evi- 

 dence. Meatus highly inflamed, constant dripping of mucus from urethra, voiding 

 of urine frequent and attended with considerable discomfort. 



Of the fifty mares, about fifteen are quite suspicious. Several show vaginal dis- 

 charge and defective muscular co-ordination. Several had small white spots on vulva 

 and cicatrices on vaginal mucous membrane. One mare showed two well defined 

 plaques. In addition to the symptoms which were in evidence, we have the history 

 of a lar^e percentage of abortions. Also the owner gave in detail the history of mare 

 which had died two weeks previous, a case which, I judge from his description, had 

 aU the characteristic symptoms of an animal in the advanced stage of maladie du 



coit. 



I examined a stallion at Macleod, the property of one Wm. Damon. This stal- 

 lion's sheath was badly swollen, and had been so for about six months. This was the 

 only suspicious symptom in evidence, and considered alone would hardly justify one 

 in regarding the stallion as a suspect. However, I learned that the stallion had covered 

 a mare afflicted with a venertsal disease of some kind, and that another stallion, which 

 had previously covered the mare died with some kind of a venereal affection. 



The history of various suspects and current rumours would seem to indigate that 

 the affection had been prevalent in Alberta for two or three yeans at least. The 

 origin of the difficulty is at present, of course, only a matter of conjecture. 



Very respectfully, 



(Sgd.) E. T. DAVISON, 



Inspector. 



