AFRICAN HORSJE-SICKNESS—PESTIS EQUORUM 367 



Prophylaxis. — In civilized countries cattle plague has been 

 stamped out by the compulsory slaughter of all animals 

 affected and the enforcement of strict quarantine measures 

 against infected districts. As the disease is not transmitted 

 any distance through the air, its eradication is not difficult 

 when cooperation on the part of the cattle owners can be 

 obtained. The period of quarantine should extend ten days 

 after the last patient has died or been killed. Carcasses 

 should be disposed of as in anthrax. 



Protective Inoculation. — As one attack of cattle plague 

 confers lasting immunity, efforts have been made to protect 

 against it by inoculating healthy cattle with various secre- 

 tions (bile, nasal discharge, tears), blood serum and blood 

 from affected animals. The inoculated animals, however, 

 can spread the disease which has led to considerable losses 

 where the method of vaccination has been practised. In 

 badly infected districts, like South Africa, however, fair 

 results have been obtained. (For details see larger works.) 



AFRICAN HORSE-SICKNESS. PESTIS EQUORUM. 



Definition. — ^African horse-sickness is an infectious disease 

 of solipeds due to an ultramicroscopic virus. It is charac- 

 terized by extensive edematous swellings under the skin and 

 hemorrhages in the internal organs. 



Occurrence. — The disease is indigenous to South Africa 

 where it occurs epizootically and leads to enormous losses 

 among horses and mules. It therefore attains economic 

 importance. 



Etiology. — The cause is a filtrable virus. The blood of a 

 horse affected with the disease will readily transmit it to 

 susceptible animals no matter what way the inoculation is 

 attempted. The manure is thought not to be infectious. It 

 does not seem possible to infect animals other than horses, 

 asses and mules, although Angora goats have been arti- 

 ficially inoculated. 



Natural Infecljion. — The disease appears during the warm, 

 rainy months of January, February and March. It disap- 

 pears after the first frost. Horses on pasture during these 



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