Text book of veterinary medicine, Volume 3 (of 5)Law, James
Science
Text book of veterinary medicine, Volume 3 (of 5)
Law, James
Veterinary medicine
5th. =Concurrent diseases=, in individual cases or flocks, manifestly
contributed to the general loss of nervous power. In some the bowels
were studded with the nodules of the œsophagostoma, in others œstrus
larvæ had extensively invaded the nasal sinuses, one had congestion of
the mucosa of the small intestines, some had congestion and fatty
degeneration of the liver, others had fatty kidneys, and one had a
papilloma pressing on the spinal cord. Manifestly diseases and
degenerations of various kinds would still further undermine nervous
energy and add to the atony.
Cold and heat did not seem to dominate, as most were kept in warm barns,
and wore heavy winter fleeces, while one clipped early in December, and
kept in an atmosphere of 40° to 55°, was attacked in the second week of
January.
As this experience was had in a goitre district it may become a question
whether the poison of this disease was a causative factor. Goitre was
not a prominent feature in either ewes or lambs.
_Symptoms._ Variable. The most prominent are, leaving the flock, moping
alone, grinding the teeth, drooping and trembling of head and ears,
temperature normal or subnormal (100.5°), respiration 24, pulse 80,
feeds and ruminates sparingly, bowels normal, buccal mucosa pale,
conjunctiva hyperæmic, in some cases stupor and partial blindness, the
animal walking against racks or fences, walk is slow and unsteady, the
muscles feel soft and flabby, the abdomen may be full, but its walls are
quite flaccid so that the lambs can be easily felt. As the disease
advances all symptoms are aggravated, food is no longer taken,
rumination ceases, the ewe remains recumbent, cannot be made to rise,
and when lifted and carried makes no struggle. After 24 hours of this
helpless condition death supervenes. In some instances labor pains have
come on and the ewe has perished in a vain effort at delivery. Illness
lasted about a week.
Prominent _lesions_ have been noted under causes. It need only be added
that no notable difference from the normal was found in making a count
of the red globules, and the size of the individual globule was normal
or only perceptibly smaller as is to be expected in a dense plasma. In
different cases there was found congestion of the abomasum, small
intestine, liver and brain.
_Prevention._ The most important measure is to maintain a strong,
well-developed muscular system, and a vigorous nervous tone by a
sufficiency of out door exercise during the winter months. Half a mile
or a mile at least should be given daily to the breeding ewes, no matter
what the attendant difficulties. If clover hay is musty it should be
replaced in whole or in part by another kind. Parasites and other
diseases which tend to lower the general tone should be appropriately
treated.
_Treatment._ When once established, the disease has not been
successfully treated. Nerve tonics are indicated.
NEURITIS. PERINEURITIS.
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