304 ACUTE GENERAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES 



bits, guinea-pigs, and white mice, but not for sheep, dogs, or 

 rats. 



Necropsy. — The necropsy shows evidence of general anemia. 

 In the serous membranes petechia? are found. In the lungs 

 centres of pneumonia are present and in the pericardium 

 accumulations of transudate. There is chronic catarrh of the 

 mucous membranes, and occasional areas of necrosis have 

 been noted. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of takosis are very similar to 

 those following a parasitic invasion. In general there are 

 emaciation, weakness, with symptoms of diarrhea and cough. 

 In the early stages, except for a slight weakness, no symptoms 

 are observable. Later the affected goat becomes listless and 

 languid, lags behind the flock, holds its head low, and the 

 eyelids partially closed. There is usually some nasal discharge 

 and occasional coughing. The pulse is slow and weak, the 

 temperature at first elevated (104.1° F.) but later, a few hours 

 before death, it becomes subnormal (99.7° F.). As the disease 

 progresses the gait becomes staggering, the back arched, 

 the patient moving in a wavering, unsteady fashion. The 

 appetite is capricious. Rumination is rarely impaired. The 

 mucous membranes are anemic, the respirations increased. 

 Finally the patient becomes so weak that it falls to the ground 

 and must be assisted to its feet. Gradually losing weight, it 

 lingers from day to day, and finally under symptoms of fetid 

 diarrhea, succumbs. Frequent, plaintive bleating is noted. 



Diagnosis. — The symptoms of takosis are usually so similar 

 to those of parasitism that from the clinical aspects alone a 

 diagnosis would hardly be possible. The necropsy would 

 determine the presence or absence of parasites. However, in 

 parasitism the pneumonic symptoms are not so well developed 

 and the tendency for submaxillary edemas to form is greater. 



Course. — The course is usually chronic, the patient dying in 

 from one to eight weeks. The mortality is 100 per cent. 

 Pregnant does usually abort. 



Treatment. — Medicinal treatment has proved unsatisfac- 

 tory, as all patients naturally infected die. Some authorities 

 recommend small doses of calomel (gr. ij twice daily for two 

 days) followed by arsenic, iron, and quinin: 



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