MORBID ANATOMY 43 
Geographical distribution. Takosis is reported from a number of 
localities in this country, more especially in the Northern States. 
Etiology. According to Mohler and Washburn this disease is 
caused by M. ca prinus. It is pathogenic for goats, chickens, rabbits, 
guinea pigs and white mice, but not for sheep, dogs or rats. It 
usually appears in pairs. It has been isolated in pure culture from 
the heart's blood, spleen, kidneys and pericardial fluid. It was not 
obtained in cultures from the spinal cord. 
Symptoms. The first observable symptom is a listless and languid 
appearance of the animal. The affected goats lag behind the flock. 
Frequently there is drooping of the ears and a drowsy appearance 
of the eyes. There is slight elevation of the temperature in the 
beginning, but later in the course of the disease it becomes sub- 
normal. As the disease advances the goats moye about in a desultory 
manner, the back arched, neck drawn down toward the sternum, and 
the gait staggering. Rumination is seldom impaired. The appetite 
is usually good but capricious. The exposed mucous membranes are 
pale. The respirations are accelerated and labored. The affected 
animals soon become so weak that they can stand with difficulty, and 
often they are knocked down and trampled by their companions. 
They shrink often to nearly half their normal weight. There is 
usually a fluid discharge from the bowels of a very offensive odor 
during the last few days. The goat groans occasionally and the head 
is usually bent around to one side. Death follows in from eight days 
to ten weeks. -Recoveries have not been observed. The young are 
reported to be more susceptible to the disease than the older animals. 
Morbid anatomy. According to Mohler and Washburn emacia- 
tion and anemia are the most striking lesions. The lungs usually 
contain areas of pneumonia. Their surface is mottled by areas of 
congestion and iron gray patches. On section these areas show a 
frothy mucus in the bronchioles. The heart muscle is pale, dull, soft 
and flabby. Inflamed hemorrhagic areas may appear on the epi- 
cardium. Sometimes they are present in the endocardium especially 
that lining the ventricles. The pericardium is slightly thickened and 
usually contains a small quantity of blood-stained fluid. The gall 
bladder is frequently distended with a pale-yellow watery bile. The 
liver appears to be unaffected. The kidneys are anemic and softened. 
The cortex is pale and contrasts strongly with the dark pyramids. 
