Diseases of cattle, sheep, goats and swineMoussu, G. (Gustave)
Science
Diseases of cattle, sheep, goats and swine
Moussu, G. (Gustave)
Veterinary medicine
In the second phase pain referable to the bones sets in. Lameness
develops without visible lesions and is rapidly followed by synovitis
and arthritis in the lower portions of the limbs, and by wasting and
anæmia.
The animals seem unable to move rapidly, or if forced to do so may
sustain fractures even at a trot: the limb bones sometimes break or
ligamentous insertions in the neighbourhood of joints are torn away,
resulting in sudden falls on the ground and fracture of ribs or even of
the vertebral column. This corresponds to the third phase, osteoclastia,
in oxen.
[Illustration: $1]
From then onwards, horses become useless and, if not destroyed, may,
after a few weeks or months, develop the condition known as
osteomalacia, in which the flat bones become softened, the head, the
branches of the lower jaw and the face become deformed, while
mastication and other functions are impeded.
Germain gives the above symptoms as characteristic of the mode of
development of the disease in French and Algerian horses imported into
Tonquin, and his description, written several years ago, is fully
confirmed by more recent observations. Since Tonquin was taken over by
the French, however, improved methods of culture have resulted in the
production of better cereals and forage; the fodder plants have been
vastly improved, to the great benefit of imported animals.
In the goat, the disease shows some slight peculiarities. Thus, in the
second phase, during which goats and sheep suffer so markedly from
lameness and pain in the bones, goats often walk on the knees. The
disease, however, is uncommon in these animals. The phase of
osteoclastia is also less marked and fractures are rare, because the
animals weigh less and also because they are less exposed to falls and
violent shocks. The bones, nevertheless, are extremely fragile and
fractures may be produced at will.
Osteomalacia, on the other hand, is always well marked.
Regarding the development of the disease in pigs, we may repeat what has
just been said respecting the goat. Walking on the knees is often one of
the first signs, fractures are somewhat rare, and the period of
softening and deformity is always very noticeable.
=Course.= The development of the disease is slow, lasting from one to
three months as a rule, and is little influenced by hygienic conditions.
Good milking cows, however, seem to be most frequently attacked,
probably because of the great losses of nutritive material which occur
through the milk. The calves borne by such animals are often rachitic.
Oxen are less commonly attacked. Horses rarely suffer from the disease
in France, but frequently in Tonquin. Pigs reared on very poor soil
seldom escape attack.
[Illustration: $1]
If treated from the beginning, or even before the second phase has
become well developed, the disease may be cured, but after this period
little improvement need be expected.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account