TBIFOLIOSIS OF THE HORSE. 



249 



TRIPOLIOSIS (CLOVER DISEASE) OP THE HORSE. 



{Kleehranhheit), 



Etiology. Authors are unanimous in recognizing that hybrid 

 clover is the only hurtful clover plant. The pathogenic properties 

 of this plant have been known for a long time (Delafond). They 

 are, perhaps, due to mould {Erysiphe communis f), which exerts its 

 irritating action directly upon the gastro- intestinal mucous mem- 

 brane, or which produces the formation of a toxic substance which 

 is like that of which we have spoken when referring to lupinosis, 

 and which acts particularly upon the liver and the brain. 



Symptoms. Clover disease is sometimes expressed by symp- 

 toms which are localized upon the skin and the buccal mucous 

 membrane, at other times by manifestations showing the existence 

 of grave lesions of the internal organs. In the first case we observe 

 a tumefaction of the face and an intense stomatitis, accompanied 

 by ulcers of the skin and of the mucous membrane of the lips, 

 also a desquamation of the epithelium of the tongue, etc. (Liibicke, 

 Hackbarth). Similar alterations are found in the regions of the 

 cutaneous integument covered with lanugo (as on the face, the legs, 

 etc.). The skin becomes yellowish on these places, is covered with 

 vesicles, and acquires an extreme sensitiveness and slowly becomes 

 converted into an eschar (the same processes as are observed in 

 lupinosis). Among the general symptoms resembling lupinosis 

 that are produced by the exclusive ingestion of clover, let us par- 

 ticularly point out : the icteric coloration of the buccal mucous 

 membrane and of the conjunctiva (Aubry, Uebele/ Zipperlen), 

 attacks of colics, great weakness, drowsiness alternating with an 

 intense nervous excitement (convulsions, rabiform symptoms, epi- 

 leptiform attacks), the staggering gait, paretic accidents such as 

 amaurosis, paralysis of the pharynx, and hemiplegia (Aubry, 

 Uebele). 



This latter form of the disease, which is frequently observed as 

 an enzootic, and which resembles subacute encephalitis, is almost 

 always rapidly fatal. 



Treatment is rarely followed by success. We must at once stop 

 the feeding of clover, and then resort to symptomatic medication. 



1 Uebele (unpublished communication). 



