EQUINE RELAPSING FEVER. 
197 
Symptoms. —Dullness, abdominal breathing, great elevation 
of temperature, runs from 105 F. to 108 F., pulse weak and ir¬ 
regular, mucuous membranes very pallid, staggering gait, there 
may be swelling of one or both of the posterior limbs, which 
may extend to the sheath and abdomen, very loud, unceasing 
intestinal murmur, sphincter ani relaxed, bowels generally loose 
and, owing to the relaxed condition of the sphincter, the faeces 
fall away without the animal making an effort to expel them, 
coat rough and dry, the general appearance of the animal would 
indicate over-exertion. Although the appetite is retained fairly 
well throughout, there is very remarkable loss of flesh or gradual 
wasting away, and as the disease advances, control of the pos¬ 
terior extremity is almost lost. It runs its course in from ten 
days to as many weeks. 
I have made several post-mortem examinations without any 
very satisfactory results. The pallor observed in the mucuous 
membranes before death seems to be general in all the tissues 
throughout the body. In fact, the tissues have the appearance 
of being bloodless. I found in one an enlarged spleen, but in 
the others that I have examined the spleens were of normal size. 
Aside from degeneration of some of the structures, nothing 
further seems to be observable. 
Causes .—There have been a great many theories advanced as 
to the cause of this malady. It was thought for some time to be 
anthrax of the horse. This was succeeded by the very erroneous 
idea that it was a disease caused by eating the golden rod (soli- 
dago odora), and it is to be regretted that the latter idea was 
given so much credit by some veterinarians. It was a foolish 
conclusion, jumped at without consideration. No doubt you are 
all well aware that the plant contains no poisonous properties 
whatever. It has very slight astringent diaphoretic and aroma¬ 
tic actions, but is almost inert. Effusions made from the dried 
leaves are used with impunity by some people in place of tea. I 
think this is sufficient proof of the absurdity of the theory. I sent 
some specimens of blood extracted from a horse just before death 
to the Bureau of Animal Industry, Washington, D. C. Their 
