TRYPANOSOMIASIS. 
309 
coloured jelly-like material about the base, and beneath the lining 
membrane blotches and dark-coloured spots may be seen. They 
are also to be seen beneath the internal lining membrane of the 
heart. 
Treatment. — Arsenic is the only drug that has proved of service 
in this malady. Commence treatment by giving 4 grains twice 
daily, the quantity of arsenic should be increased by half a grain 
^very second or third day till i 2 grains per diem is reached, when 
the dose may be decreased daily by half a grain until 2 grains is 
reached. If the patient shows intolerance of the drug manifested by 
loss of appetite, weeping from the eyes, partial loss of power in hind- 
quarters, evidenced by unsteady gait, nervousness, the medicine 
must be discontinued. Liquor arsenicalis is the most convenient 
preparation, each ounce contains four grains of arsenic and as it 
is tasteless it is easily administered in sweetened gruel. The 
medicine should be given after the animal has taken some food. 
Within the last few years several methods of treatment have 
been tried with varying success, the most promising up to date being 
what is known as the " atoxyl " treatment. Atoxyl is a preparation 
of arsenic with an organic acid of complex composition. The theory 
of the treatment is that if ordinary preparations of arsenic are 
pushed one quickly observes symptoms of poisoning, but the 
compound atoxyl can be given in doses exceeding by several times 
the dose of arsenic it is possible to give. Still more recently 
Captain Holmes, C.V.D., in India, in experimenting with atoxyl 
and orpiment obtained most satisfactory results. The matter is still 
more or less in the experimental stage, and time alone will show 
whether or not the method can be extensively employed as a 
permanent cure in cases of trypanosome affections.* 
Prevention — Is difficult, but the following suggestions are 
made r — 
(1) Avoid camping in marshy localities in the neighbourhood 
of which the disease is of course most common. 
(2) Protect the animals from the bites of flies when they 
are prevalent, by means of smearing their bodies with 
some weak mixture containing some tarry preparation 
or evil-smelling drug and by burning refuse about 
camps. ^ 
(3) Prevent certain flies from breeding, by attending carefully 
to the proper disposal of manure and refuse about stand- 
ings and in camps. 
* Later reports have been so encouraging that this method of treatment will 
probably be generally adopted. 
