AZ0TUB1 A— PARALYTIC HEMOGLOBINURIA 179 



Prophylaxis. — The prophylaxis consists in destroying all 

 animals diseased, segregating the suspects and preventing 

 the food and water from contamination with urine. The 

 stables should be disinfected and wet pasture lands drained. 

 In the purchase of new horses, especially those coming from 

 known infected districts, all anemic animals (pale mucous 

 membranes, early fatigue at work, increased heart fre- 

 quency after slight exercise, etc.), and those showing albumin- 

 uria should be rejected or at least placed in quarantine for 

 a period of three months. Experiments to produce artificial 

 immunity have so far proven unsuccessful. 



AZOTURIA. PARALYTIC HEMOGLOBINURIA. 



Definition. — An acute auto-intoxication of the horse char- 

 acterized by degeneration of certain muscles and the presence 

 of hemoglobin in the urine. 



Occurrence. — Most frequent in young, well-fed horses accus- 

 tomed to regular work. The disease usually follows a tran- 

 sient rest of a day or so and appears when the horse is again 

 put to work. 



Etiology. — The predisposing causes are heavy feeding dur- 

 ing a short (two or three days) rest, the horse being used to 

 regular work. Exceptions, however, are noted: Horses are 

 sometimes befallen in the stable, and those which have hot 

 been rested, may be attacked in harness. More rarely are 

 poorly fed, thin horses affected. Occasionally azoturia may 

 follow unusually severe exercise as struggling in the hobbles, 

 becoming cast in the stall, etc. The disease is more common 

 in winter than during the hot months but may occur any time 

 of the year. The disease occurs in hot, winterless climates. 

 Badly ventilated, dark, damp stables are said to be predis- 

 posing causes. 



The exciting cause of azoturia is not known. In all prob- 

 ability it will be found to be due to the formation of certain 

 toxins which develop either in the muscle or in the digestive 

 tract during rest. These toxins degenerate the muscle paren- 

 chyma and induce a dissolution of the red blood corpuscles, 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



