MALADIE DTT COIT. 
349 
du coit comes from Prussia in 1796, although it is believed to 
have existed in southern Russia before that period. 
In 1815, Woltersdorf observed it in Austria, and Haveman, 
Director of the Veterinary School of Hanover, observed it there 
in 1816. From this time we have accounts of its spread over the 
different countries of Europe. In 1847 it was reported in Al¬ 
geria, by the French veterinarian, Signol, and who described it as 
an “ Epizootic Paraplegia.” He also mentions that the Arabs 
had long been acquainted with it. 
In 1851 the disease was imported into France, and spread to 
thirty-one communes around Tarbes. It reappeared in this dis¬ 
trict again in 1856, and Dr. Trelut traced the origin of the dis¬ 
ease in Faance to the importation of a stallion from Syria, where 
the disease prevailed. Ho records appear of the existence of this 
disease in Great Britain, Spain, Denmark or Italy. 
During the past century many eminent pathologists of Europe 
have devoted considerable time to a study of maladie du coit as 
it appears among the horses there, and they have demonstrated 
its contagious character and the manner of its spread. The 
French have named the disease “ Maladie du Coit,” the Arabs 
call it “ El-Dourine.” 
This disease is peculiar to solipeds—equine and asine ; it is 
contagious, and is transmitted in the act of copulation. The dis¬ 
ease presents both local symptoms, affecting the generative or¬ 
gans, and those of a general character affecting more or less every 
organ of the body, producing a state of marasmus and great 
emaciation. It affects the nerves to a marked degree, ending in 
paralysis of the posterior extremities prior to death. 
Some authorities have imagined it to be allied to human 
syphilis, basing their supposition on the course of the local symp¬ 
toms, some of the pathological alterations and their serious char¬ 
acter. Recent experiments by able investigators have failed to 
reproduce human syphilis by inoculation in the mare. Therefore 
all stories about the transmission of syphilis from man to the 
mare may be dismissed, as they have no foundation. 
Although able pathologists in Europe have been for years en¬ 
gaged in the study of maladie du coit, it is to be regretted that 
