The remainder were allowed the freedom of the yard and hillside and were stabled on the barn floor proper between two haymows. Feeding troughs and mangers had been erected, and this provision was in every way satisfactory for the purpose for which it was designed. The barn, pens, and yards in which the animals were kept appeared to be in good sanitary condition and well adapted to the sheltering of goats. The feed consisted of corn, oats, and hay in ample quantities and in proper proportion, and the goats at all times took readily to this diet, even up to the time of death. In fact, it was a curious circumstance to observe, on postmortem examination of a large proportion of these animals, that the stomachs were filled with recently partaken food. And the goats could be seen eating hay sometimes with evident relish, at other times in a listless manner, when their vitality was so reduced as to make standing impossible. Despite the change from the mountain pasture, including an entire change of surroundings as well as diet, deaths continued with alarming frequency, and the services of the Bureau were solicited in combating the affection.

The continuance of the fatalities after a complete change of diet and shelter, the regularity of the course of the disease, the apparent similarity of the symptoms in all the affected animals as well as the evident spread of the affection from one animal to another, led the owner to be strongly suspicious that he was dealing with a contagious disease, and he therefore constructed a pen in a corner of the basement wherein all the affected goats were placed. This proved to be a step in the right direction, but the disease became so prevalent that an additional pen was brought into service. As no endeavor had been made to separate the latter hospital from the remaining pens, the results were not so beneficial as they might have been had this pen been entirely isolated, as was the original hospital. As it was, the larger unaffected does and bucks were able to hurdle the fence and thus carry the infectious principle back to the healthy goats. This was at once brought to the notice of the owner, and steps were immediately taken to keep the healthy animals out of the infected pen as well as to isolate more thoroughly the inclosed goats by securely boarding up these quarters. This method of segregating the diseased animals, together with the disinfecting measures adopted, probably resulted in confining the ravages of the affection to a minimum.

SYMPTOMS.

The disease presents many of the symptoms usually accompanying a parasitic invasion and is characterized by great emaciation and weakness, with symptoms of diarrhea and pneumonia. In the early stages of the affection there is usually little to indicate that anything is seriously amiss with the animal. The first observable symptom mani

fested is the listless and languid appearance of the animal, evidenced by its lagging behind the flock, and is usually accompanied by a drooping of the ears and a drowsy appearance of the eyes. The pulse is slow and feeble and the temperature is elevated slightly at first, but becomes subnormal a few days before death. The highest temperature observed in the natural disease was 104.1, and the lowest, in a pros trated animal a few hours before death, registered 99.7° F.

Snuffling

of the nose, as in a case of coryza, with occasional coughing is sometimes in evidence.

As the disease advances the animal moves about in a desultory manner, with back arched, neck drawn down toward the sternum, and with a staggering gait. Rumination is seldom impaired. The appetite, while not so vigorous, is still present, though capricious, and the affected animal shows plainly that the ravages of the disease are rapidly overcoming the restorative elements derived from the food. The fleece is usually of good growth and presents a surprisingly thrifty appearance when the condition of the animal is taken into consideration. All the exposed mucous membranes appear pale and the respirations are accelerated and labored. The goats finally become so weak that they are readily knocked down and trampled upon by their fellows. If picked up they may move off slowly and eat a little, but within a few hours are down again, and in this way linger for several days, shrinking to about half their natural weight, and occasionally bleating or groaning, with head bent around on the side or drawn down to the sternum. A fluid discharge from the bowels of a very offensive odor is usually observed in the last few days of life, but this symptom is not constant.

COURSE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY.

This disease may assume a subacute or chronic type, usually the latter. According to our own observations, the animal dies of inanition in from eight days to six or eight weeks. Several owners have reported deaths after only two or three days of illness, but the goats doubtless had been affected for a longer period, although not noticed on account of their mingling in the flock. It is the consensus of opinion among the breeders interviewed that many of the animals succeeded in living for weeks, but gradually became weaker and more debilitated, finally dying in a comatose condition. In no instance have we observed or heard of the natural recovery of an animal after once the symptoms of takosis were noticed.

The younger goats seemed to be the most susceptible to the disease, although the old animals were by no means immune. The does, wethers, and also the bucks became affected, and for a period of almost two months (December and January) newly diseased goats varying in number to as many as 11 were removed to the hospital daily on the

Pennsylvania farm where the disease was investigated. Owing to the preponderance of does at this place, it appeared that the affection was most virulent for them, but this fact has not been sustained by reports subsequently received from other sections.

PATHOLOGICAL ANATOMY.

As already indicated, the general appearance of the carcass simulates that produced by a wasting disease. The visible mucous membranes are pale and anemic, while the fleece, which appears somewhat dry and lusterless, furnishes a shroud for the extremely emaciated condition that becomes plainly perceptible on skinning. This masking quality of the hair prevents an accurate estimate of the condition of the animal by the eye alone, and necessitates handling of the individual to appreciate to the full extent the inroads made by the affection. The same anemic condition of the subcutaneous and muscular tissues is observed on eviscerating the carcasses. The lungs in most cases are the seat of a peculiar diversified inflammation, never of a remarkable extent. The external appearance of these organs is at times mottled, caused by a few congested areas, several patches of an iron-gray color similar to areas of pneumonia during the process of absorption, and normal tissue. On section through the reddened patches, a frothy mucus may exude from the bronchioles, and in one case numerous punctiform hemorrhages were observed on the sides of the incision. This tissue, while not so buoyant as a normal portion would be, nevertheless floats when placed in water.

The heart in all cases is pale and dull, its tissue soft and flabby, while inflamed areas, more or less penetrating, are present at times on the epicardium about the auricular appendages, and at other times on the endocardium, especially that lining the ventricles. These hemorrhagic patches consist of either pure extravasated blood or blood mixed with serum, which gives them a more diffuse appearance and a gelatinous consistence. The pericardium is slightly thickened, and usually contains a small increase of fluid tinged with blood. The liver usually appears normal, although the gall bladder is frequently distended with pale-yellow watery bile. The kidneys are anemic and softened. The cortex appears slightly thicker and paler than normal, and contrasts strongly with the darker pyramids. The capsule strips off easily from the parenchyma of the organ. In one instance several pale areas simulating anemic infarcts were observed under the capsule extending into the cortex, which probably resulted from the compression of the capillaries by the swollen parenchymatous cells. The presence of albumin in the urine was detected by the nitric-acid test. The spleen appears atrophied and indurated, and on section the fibrous tissue far exceeds the splenic pulp. Attachments by fibrous adhesions may fix the spleen to the diaphragm or the neighboring organs. The

intestines may contain normal fecal matter or semifluid feces of a disagreeable odor. The surface of the mucous membrane is at times covered with a slimy mucus or plastic exudate, and the appearance is that of a chronic catarrh associated with necrosis of the mucosa. The brain and spinal cord of four cases were examined, but without discovering any apparent alterations. As an illustration of the ravages of this disease, the following brief notes are recorded upon two Angora goats which were sent from the same flock to the laboratory in order that work previously done and facts already established might be confirmed.

The larger of these was a female, one year old, greatly emaciated, and was at no time after its arrival at the laboratory able to stand alone, even when lifted up and placed on its feet. It was still able and willing to eat and drink, but it showed plainly that the ravages of the disease were rapidly getting the best of the reconstructive forces. The fleece was of good length, and appeared more glossy than that naturally found on animals so seriously emaciated. All of its exposed mucous membranes were pale. Temperature subnormal, pulse imperceptible, and heart's action feeble and irregular. Occasional bleating was heard, and the goat seemed in great distress. Because of the helpless condition of this animal it was killed the second day after its arrival, and at the autopsy the following conditions were noted:

Muscular tissue pale and anemic; lymph glands enlarged, but of normal color; the superficial inguinal glands were especially noticeable in regard to this condition. The lungs were affected throughout with a finely diversified pneumonia. There were three small areas (0.5 cm. to 2 cm. in diameter) of complete hepatization irregularly located near the surface of the left lung, while the remaining portions of both lungs were grayish red in color. The pleura showed no lesion. The heart muscle was pale, and directly beneath the epicardium were a number of dark hemorrhagic areas which ranged in size from a pin head to a large bean.

The pericardial sac contained from 250 to 300 c. c. of slightly reddened nonviscid fluid. Liver apparently normal. Spleen shrunken and pale. The kidneys appeared anemic and somewhat flabby. The bladder contained about 30 e. c. of albuminous urine. The small intestines were inflamed and their internal surface was covered, wherever the inflammation existed, with a slimy, malodorous deposit. The stomachs and large intestines were normal, as were also the brain and spinal cord. The general appearance of the affected animal would lead one to suspect a verminous affection of the alimentary tract. The emaciated, anemic condition of the animal, as well as the persistent appetite associated with diarrhea, would strengthen such an opinion. For this reason a careful examination of the stomachs and intestines The only result, however, was the discovery of three

specimens of the comparatively harmless Cysticercus tenuicollis, which were attached to the external surface of the rumen. There was no trace of animal parasites to be found in the stomachs, intestines, or other organs.

Cultures made from the heart, lungs, spleen, liver, and mediastinal lymph gland proved positive, and in most of these instances the micrococcus was grown at once in pure culture.

The smaller of the two goats received at the laboratory during the latter part of March was a wether about one year of age. It was much emaciated but still active on its arrival. Its appetite was unimpaired. Physical examination made on the day previous to its death showed a temperature of 102.5 F.; respiration, 32; pulse, 112, irregular and somewhat fluttering. The exposed mucous membranes were pale and the eyes dull and lusterless.

This animal died on the third day after its arrival at the laboratory. At the postmortem examination there was found to be general emaciation of the muscular tissues, which appeared whitened and bloodless. About 200 c. c. of fluid was present in the pericardial sac. It was reddish, thin, and appeared like greatly diluted blood. The lungs floated in water, but presented the same grayish red appearance that has already been noted in the lungs of its mate. The spleen was small, pale, and firm. The kidneys appeared swollen and anemic. The bladder was empty. The liver showed no lesions. The mucosa of the abomasum was slightly congested. The intestines were empty throughout, and appeared but moderately inflamed in the region of the duodenum and jejenum. The rumen contained a large quantity of undigested food and was in a normal condition. The brain and spinal cord presented an equally healthful appearance. Search for animal parasites was without result, although the visceral organs were carefully scrutinized.

Positive cultures were obtained from the pericardial and peritoneal fluids and from the liver and lungs.

BACTERIOLOGY.

During the visit to the affected flock, several goats were slaughtered in various stages of the disease and tubes of agar media (on account of their ease of transportation) were inoculated from the various organs and heart's blood as well as cover-glass preparations obtained from the juices of these tissues. Subsequent examination of the cultures and slides showed the presence of a micrococcus, usually arranged in the form of a diplococcus, which was found to be in pure cultures from the heart's blood, spleen, kidneys, and pericardial fluid, and essentially so in the tubes inoculated from the other organs. Inoculations made from the spinal cord were negative. Identical organisms have since been obtained from Angora goats affected with the disease from several