274 INFECTIOUS DISEASES 



DOURINE. 



Synonyms. Veiierial disease of solipeds ; equine syphilis ; 

 maladie du coit ; chancerous epizootic ; breeding paralysis ; 

 epizootic paraplegia. 



i~ 205. Characterization. A contagious affection of 

 solipeds, transmitted by copulation and attended by specific 

 lesions of the generative organs and nervous system, such as 

 local ^-enereal swellings, chancerous ulcers and cicatrices, 

 dementia and paralysis. 



The disease is essentially an equine one, although the 

 following species are susceptible to experimental inoculation, 

 namely ; dogs, rabbits, rats, mice and asses. While the horse 

 shows the greatest susceptibility, the ass is comparatively 

 resistant to the infection. 



§ 206. History. Dourine has existed for a long time. 

 It was first clearly described in 1796 by Amnion who found it 

 in the royal stud at Trakchnen in Northern Prussia. We 

 have later, 1801 and 1S07 descriptions of the disease in the 

 same locality. It was found in Bromberg in 18 17 to 1S20, in 

 Austria and Bohemia in 1821-8, in Syria in 1821, in Switzer- 

 land in 1830, in France in 1830-32, in Siberia in 1833-40, in 

 Italy in 1S36, in Russia in 1843, in Poland in 1830-40, in 

 Algiers in 1847-55. In Syria and Asia generally it is reported 

 to appear perennially. 



It is not known to have invaded Belgium, Scandinavia, 

 England, South America or Australia. All indications point 

 to Asia and Northern Africa as the home of the disease where 

 it still appears perennially. 



It was found in Bloomington, 111., in 1882. The first 

 animal showing the disease was a brown stallion that had been 

 imported from France. In this locality it spread to a consid- 

 erable number of breeding mares and stallions. The disease 

 was very largely stamped out of that region by a rigid quaran- 

 tine of diseased and exposed animals. Some exposed animals 

 had, however, left the district, and it is not surprising that 

 isolated centers of infection are occasionally found. 



i^ 207. Etiology. Thanhofife^ found in the blood, vaginal 

 mucus, testicle, semen, spinal fluid and roots of the dorsal 



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