247 
MALA DIE DU COIT-DOURINE. 
derstood and accepted as the obvious and principal means of 
infection. 
The duration of the incubation varies from eight davs to two 
months, according to Maresch, and even longer according to 
Haubner. 
Whether it is communicable to other domestic animals has 
not been observed; the equine and asine species alone are known 
to be subject to it. We may remark, however, that persons em¬ 
ployed in the care of diseased animals have at times been known 
to suffer with an eruption on the hands of little vesicles, forming 
small superficial ulcers, which, however, healed rapidly, and 
seemed to possess no specific character, but rather to be of the 
same nature as those likely to arise from any septic contact. 
The heredity of dourine has been affirmed by Rodloff and 
Jessen. The march of the maladie du coit, as an epizootic, is no 
less singular than its movements in the sporadic form. Its inva¬ 
sion always occurs during the breeding season, or through the ' 
months of April, May and June, when the first cases are ob¬ 
served, though a few late cases may occur in July and August. 
The following year it appears on a larger scale, but towards the 
third year it diminishes considerably, or may even quite disap¬ 
pear—nearly always, however, to reappear in another locality in 
the neighborhood of the first invasion (Lafosse). This habit is 
due to transmission of the disease by displacement, and might be 
prevented by suitable sanitary precautions. 
VIII. Treatment .—Hygienic measures are of essential value 
in the treatment of dourine. Rich and healthy feeding, healthy 
and comfortable stabling, protection against extremes of heat and 
cold, good bedding and cleanliness, are all most essential. 
In mares, when the inflammation is acute, tepid mucilaginous 
vaginal injections are indicated, to be subsequently replaced by 
aromatic and even astringent applications, such as preparations of 
sulphate of zinc, permanganate of potash, alum, carbolic acid, 
etc., with a view to soothe the inflammation and stimulate the 
cicatrization of the erosions. 
In cauterizing such of the ulcerations as can be reached, sul¬ 
phate of copper and nitrate of silver are to be preferred to prepar¬ 
ations of corrosive sublimate. 
