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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TPERE C.O. 885

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20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

Post mortem.

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by the natives either not knowing of, or not understanding the purport of, the Whatever the cause may have been, however, for this lack of published notice. interest, it is a matter for regret that the number of cases examined and recorded was not doubled, which might easily have been done. Every opportunity was taken of studying the disease both clinically and microscopically, but careful examination of the jugular and peripheral blood, carried out morning and evening, failed to show any blood parasites or other pathogenic blood organisms. From my return to Lagos on the 17th May up to the date of writing no further cases have come under my observation, although I am informed that several animals have died of the disease during my absence.

39. The disease has been well designated locally as "Mad Staggers," which He plunges, rears, term explains the outstanding symptoms. The onset is sudden, the animal, without any previous illness, being taken with a severe fit of madness.' &c., and there is a severe contraction of the superior muscles of the neck which causes the head to be thrown upwards and backwards, accompanied by a violent shaking of same, and in some cases a champing of the teeth. The animal has a great tendency to curry backwards, and if tied up with a halter will strain and pull in. desperation until the rope gives way, in which case he usually falls right over on to his back, and while the paroxysm lasts has much difficulty in regaining his feet. If not attended to he will knock himself about badly in his attempts to rise, through getting half way up and falling heavily down again. At this stage the temperature is normal or sub-normal, the mucous membrane of the eye is highly coloured, the animal sweats profusely at the flanks, and paralysis of the hind quarters is shown. The animal has a difficulty in walking until he has rested for some time after a fit. During the next two or three days there is little wrong apparently, except for a recurrence of the fits, which lasts from five to thirty seconds, and of which there may be five or six per day. Usually in the course of three or four days the animal goes down in the stable with complete paralysis of the hindquarters, in which posture he may remain for two or three days. Should he fall with one or both of his hind legs in an awkward position, he can make no attempt to rectify them. The paroxysms of the neck muscles become greatly aggravated, and towards death the jaws become fixed (not constant), with laboured breathing and excessive perspiration followed Hæmoglobin remains normal throughout by coma, in which state the animal dies. the entire course of the disease.

40. Considerable difficulty was experienced in obtaining post-mortem exami- Even when orders were nations of horses which died from Lagos horse sickness. given in the event of a horse dying in the evening that the carcass was not to be touched, it was generally found on a visit being made early in the morning that it had been cut to pieces. The reason for this appears to be that dead horse is considered a dainty by Kroo boys, who consume the flesh with avidity. In the case of sick horses belonging to Europeans the owners say that from previous experience they know there is little or no chance of recovery, and they prefer to have an animal am of the same opinion, From what I have seen of the disease, destroyed at once. and when asked for my views as to possible recovery have had to answer that there was very little chance, once an animal has got down, of his ever rising again. But From the few post- it will be seen that the destruction of horses in this way, while no doubt the merciful course, yet greatly hampers the veterinary investigator. mortems which were secured the outstanding lesions appear to be cystitis and thickening of the walls of the bladder, which usually contains a small quantity of grumous whitish urine. The kidneys are congested with capsule adherent. The brain and medulla oblongata are congested and surrounded with a quantity of yellowish exudate. In one case the spleen was found to be slightly enlarged and firmer than normal. Patches of inflammation were usually found throughout the intestinal tract, but this can be ascribed to the presence of intestinal parasites, such as Sclerostoma Tetracanthum. Attention was attracted to the urine of horses suffering from Lagos horse sickness (first on the 10th February, 1908), and every subsequent opportunity of making microscopic examinations thereof was taken advantage of, and at times with what seemed to be encouraging results. For the purpose of future examination and consultation a number of slides have been pre- pared to take home. Besides those from the urine, numerous other preparations were made, as, for instance, from the liver, lungs, heart blood, spleen, kidneys, and brain, and medulla, with their fluids, as well as from the lumbar fluids, &c. Any

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results which may accrue from future investigations in this direction will be duly communicated to add to this report.

11. A number of small tubes of heart water and lumbar fluids were taken from typical cases of Lagos horse sickness for the purpose of future study as to culture, &c., but these were lost or destroyed consequent upon my laboratory being disturbed and the articles left therein being removed during my absence from Lagos between March and May, 1908. This is to be regretted, as results of value might well have been obtained from examination of this material which took some trouble to collect, and which there is no present chance of replacing.

42. Several experimental inoculations were carried out on smaller animals, the results of which cannot be given at present, as a good many of the slides prepared from these animals have still to be examined. I purpose giving here a list of experi- mental animals inoculated, together with a few particulars, so that in the event of there being anything definite or encouraging to be reported later as a result of future examinations of slides, a statement of observations in full can be rendered, which will be easily referable to its proper place herein.

N.B.-The numbers given are those of the experimental animals in table No. 1, which see:---

(a) 8th January, 1908. Dog. Experimental animal No. 4b. Inoculated subcutaneously with three cubic centimetres jugular blood from horse in last stage of Lagos horse sickness. (Observations incomplete.)

(b) 10th January, 1908. Buck Rabbit. Experimental animal No. 6. Inocu- lated subcutaneously with brain emulsion from same horse as at (a), non-pathogenic after 25 days.

(c) 3rd February, 1908. Dog. Experimental animal No. 5a. Inoculated subcutaneously with four cubic centimetres of brain emulsion from horse dead of the disease.

(d) 5th February, 1908. Buck Rabbit. Experimental animal No. 6a (previ-~

ously numbered 6). Inoculated subcutaneously with four cubic centi- metres of brain emulsion of No. 4b.

(e) 16th February, 1908.

Rat. Experimental animal No. 7. Inoculated subcutaneously with five cubic centimetres of urine from horse showing doubtful symptoms of Lagos horse sickness.

43. From the foregoing it may be gathered that at present no definite cause for Lagos horse sickness has been found. I still, in the absence of such, consider that there is ground for suspecting that guinea corn may play some part in producing the sickness. The feeding of animals with a moderate quantity of well-garnered grain would probably do no harm, but the unripe heads to be found in the bundles sold in the markets are quite capable of causing serious mischief.

It must, of course, be understood that to demonstrate beyond doubt that the disease is produced by guinea corn would require a series of experiments upon particular horses with this end alone in view. At the same time the suggestion, for it can be called little more, is worth the attention of horse owners, who would be well advised to try a change of diet for their animals, and note the results.

EPIZOOTIC LYMPHANGITIS.

4. This is a contagious disease caused by an organism belonging to the Blastomycytes or "budding fungi." It was found to be prevalent in the Colony. Three positive cases were diagnosed in Lagos town from microscopical examination, and one clinically at Idah. From history obtained from the District Commissioner, Illushi, I conclude the disease has been prevalent there also. It is practically confined to equines, and is characterised by the appearance of small nodules situated subcutaneously. These may appear upon any part of the integument, but probably the most usual seats of their commencement are:-the hind legs below the hocks. the inside of the thighs, on the shoulders, and the flat of the neck. The nodules, or huds, soon burst outwardly and become converted into an ulcer, newly-opened bud: discharging a thick creamy pus. The disease runs a very chronic course, and death from it is far from common. It is spread by subcutaneous inoculation, and contact with contaminated grooming utensils, harness, &c., is capable of transmitting the infection. Where the disease exists, wounds and abrasions increase the chances of infection, and such appear to be frequently the starting point of the disease.

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Logis- Iation.