34 STRANGLES 
was described first by Schiitz and later in the same year (1888) by 
Sand and Jensen. This discovery has been confirmed by Poels, 
Lupka and others. Ligniéres has discovered a “coccobacillus” 
which he believed to be the primary cause. His conclusions have not 
been confirmed. 
Geographical distribution. Strangles is a wide spread disease 
among young horses. It exists in all countries where horses are raised. 
It is more prevalent in breeding districts than elsewhere. It is 
reported, however, that Argentina and Ireland are free. 
Etiology. Strangles is caused by Streptococcus equi. With pure 
cultures of this organism Schiitz was able to produce the disease in 
healthy horses. This streptococcus is fatal to mice, a maximum 
virulent virus destroying life in three days. Rabbits and guinea pigs 
are less susceptible. Injected into horses subcutaneously a suppu- 
rating inflammation follows. In the writer’s experience streptococci 
are the onlv bacteria that have been found in the abscesses. 
The period of incubation varies. The usual time is from four to 
eight days. 
Symptoms. The first indication of this disease is a rise of tempera- 
ture. There is loss of appetite, depression, and often great weakness. 
The general symptoms may continue for a few days before the locali- 
zation of the lesions is apparent. The first local manifestation con- 
sists usually in a catarrh of the nasal mucosa or swelling of the sub- 
maxillary and pharyngeal lymphatic glands. The nasal discharge is 
at first serous and somewhat viscid, but in from 8 to 5 days it becomes 
purulent and of a yellowish green color. The catarrhal condition 
may exist in one or both nostrils. It may extend into the pharynx, 
larynx, trachea and even to the bronchi. In most cases, swelling 
of the sub-maxillary glands appears concurrently with the purulent 
nasal catarrh. The spreading of the inflammation to the connective 
tissue which surrounds the glands, and the stasis of the lymph in the 
efferent lymph vessels, often cause the development, from the sub- 
maxillary lymph glands, of extensive swellings that may occupy the 
entire inter-maxillary space, and may spread even to the outer side 
of the maxilla. Abscesses form in most cases. 
In exceptional cases, strangles may present catarrhal symptoms 
without suppuration of the lymph glands. Jensen states that it 
may first assume the form of pharyngitis, purulent pneumonia, and 
pleuritis without any well marked morbid affection of the lymph 
