380 Strangles. 



Course and Prognosis. The instances in whicli the symp- 

 toms represent typical cases, the inflammatory process being 

 confined to the submaxillary lymph glands and the nasal mucous 

 membrane, are favorable indications of the disease, while the 

 deviations from this type render the prognosis more unfavor- 

 able. In the typical cases the disease lasts two to four weeks, 

 and terminates in complete recovery. Localization of the in- 

 flammatory swellings in the submaxillary space, rapid pro- 

 gress towards abscess formation, and correspondingly high 

 fever indicate a favorable course, while in less pronounced 

 inflammatory symptoms the disease may persist for a longer 

 time. The extension of the processes to the mucous membrane 

 of the .pharynx, or to the superficial lymph glands of other 

 parts always lengthens the course, but even in these cases 

 recovery takes place in most instances. This is likewise the 

 case in affections of the retropharyngeal lymph glands, but in 

 these instances there is always danger of an inhalation pneu- 

 monia, and therefore the prognosis should be cautious. Symp- 

 toms indicating an affection of the intrathoracic or intra- 

 abdominal lymph glands, and metastasis in the internal organs, 

 have always an unfavorable significance. 



Sometimes the course is very prolonged, inasmuch as after 

 the healing of one abscess others appear in other parts of the 

 body, and this may repeat itself (wandering strangles). Finally 

 however healing may take place, or the animals may die from 

 exhaustion or f;rom the involvement of internal organs leading 

 to chronic pyemia. 



The course depends considerably on the age and strength 

 of the patients. While in horses over one year old the disease 

 almost always runs a favorable course, very young or poorly 

 developed and badly nourished animals, or foals which have 

 already been weakened by other diseases, do not stand the 

 disease as well. 



Accordingly the mortality varies greatly. While ordi- 

 narily it amounts to only 1-3%, it may be considerably higher 

 under unfavorable hygienic conditions. 



The course also depends on the character of the outbreak, 

 inasmuch as in some years, or in some localities, the suppurating 

 process, with or without participation of the submaxillary 

 lymph glands, attacks the abdominal and thoracic lymph glands 

 with remarkable frequency. 



Szollos observed in 1906 130 cases in a small territory with severe manifes- 

 tations, of which 37 terminated fatally. At this time the disease frequently affected 

 older horses. Prussian oflScial veterinarians likewise report severe outbreaks, es- 

 pecially Bernt in 1904, which occurred in the District of Gumbinnen. 



In the Hungarian Government studs, 1711 colts were affected between the 

 years 1886-9, almost all under the age of one year, of which 48 (2.8%) died. In 

 the same period the disease had been observed in the government stallion depots, 

 among 118 stallions, and in only one instance was the course so severe that it be- 

 came necessary to destroy the affected animal. Among the horses of the Prussian 

 cavalry, in the years 1900-1903, out of 3954 affected remount and service horses 

 82 (2.1%) died (the loss varied in the different years between 0.0 and 3.4%). In 



