93
ally decreasing. With the exception of numerous petechiæ on the membranæ nictitantes, which appeared on the 24th,
and the rise of temperature on the 26th, which became slightly above normal, and continued on the 27th, 28th and 29th,
there was no noticeable symptom of disease, and the blood remained free from hæmatozoa. On the 30th, the swelling
at the seat of inoculation suddenly diminished in size, and a few hæmatozoa were detected in the blood. On the 31st,
symptoms of Surra appeared; the animal became weak, and both fore and hind limbs œdematous. Towards evening,
the sheath was swollen, and the animal became too weak to stand; a few hours later he fell, and death took place at
3 A.M. It should be noted that up to 30th, the urine had been alkaline in reaction, but on the 31st became strongly acid.
The points of great interest in this case are :—
(i) That Rat-Surra is transmissible from rat to horse and again to horse ; the period of incubation becoming
much shorter, and the virulence of the disease appears to be much increased.
(ii) The short period the animal lived after the hæmatozoon appeared in the blood.
(iii) The extraordinary pathological lesions noted, and the rapidity with which they were produced.
HORSE No. XXXVII.
Subcutaneous inoculation with soiled blood of rat, previously passed through two horses. Maximum local mani¬
festations at seat of inoculation on the 4th day. Appearance of the hæmatozoon after a latent period of 5 days. Death
on the 3rd day of the disease. Marked pathological lesions in the heart.
Chestnut country-bred, aged, healthy and in fair condition.
Date.
1891.
August 2 ...
„
3 ...
„ 4 ...
„
5...
„ 6 ...
„
7 ...
„ 8 ...
„
9 ...
„ 10 ...
„ 11 ...
„ 12 ...
„ 13 ...
„ 14 ...
„ 15 ...
„ 16 ...
„ 17 ...
Day of
Disease.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
2
3
Temperature °C.
A.M.
36.5
36.5
36.6
35.8
35.8
35.7
35.8
35.7
36.0
35.4
35.1
35.2
35.2
35.8
35.8
38.2
1 P.M.
36.6
36.6
36.5
36.3
36.2
36.3
36.1
36.3
36.0
36.0
36.0
35.8
36.0
36.3
36.1
...
5 P.M.
36.9
36.7
36.4
36.5
36.4
36.3
36.3
36.4
35.8
361
36.3
36.0
36.2
36.4
36.3
...
Pulse.
A.M.
36
34
30
31
30
28
29
33
28
22
28
26
40
42
68
120
P.M.
40
35
32
34
32
36
36
38
38
34
36
48
58
60
80
...
Respiration.
A.M.
11
12
11
12
11
10
10
11
11
10
11
10
12
14
16
28
P.M.
14
14
12
15
13
12
13
14
12
12
14
15
16
18
20
...
Hæmatozoa
in Blood.
Healthy ...
„ ...
„ ...
„ ...
„ ...
„ ...
„ ...
„ ...
„ ...
Absent ...
„ ...
„ ...
„ ...
Few ..
Numerous
...
REMARKS.
10th, 5 P.M.—The animal was inoculated
subcutaneously over the left shoulder
with 0.7 c.c. of serum drawn from the
jugular vein of Horse No. XXXV, 6½
hours after death. The blood on the
day previous to death contained very
numerous hæmatozoa.
11th.—There is a small circular and raised
swelling 1" in diameter at seat of ino¬
culation.
12th.—Swelling now measures 1.75" in
diameter, and is tense and tender on
manipulation.
13th.—Swelling still further increased,
and is now surrounded with an œdema-
tous zone ; the tenderness is moreper¬
ceptible.
14th.—
Do.
do.
15th.—The tension and tenderness is
reduced, but size of tumour remains
unchanged.
16th.—The animal is weaker, numerous
conjunctival petechiæ have appeared,
and the visible mucous membranes are
tinged yellow. Some swelling and
œdema of the lower extremities, especi¬
ally the hind limbs ; the appetite remains
good, and fæces normal. 6 P.M.—The
animal is getting rapidly weaker.
17th.—The animal is unable to rise at
10.45 A.M., the pulsations of the heart
were counted by placing a finger on the
apex of the organ, and were found to
be 226 per minute. Death supervened
at 11 A.M.
Autopsy at noon.
Body emaciated ; membranes of a yellow tinge ; mucous membrane of mouth pale and anæmic.
B 2236—24 ap