The equine diseases of India / by Richard W. Burke.

  • Burke, R. W. (Richard W.)
Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The equine diseases of India / by Richard W. Burke. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Among the most important diseases in medicine are the so-called constitutional blood disorders: Anaemia, Chlorosis, Leukaemia and Pseudo-leukaemia—which are so little understood. Also Pernicious Anaemia, the etiology of which is still obscure. Since its discovery by Addison in 1835, and the early observations, of Biermers in 1868—1872, a very great deul of information regarding its general features has been made out, chiefly through the observations of Qninke, Eichhorst, Zenker, Immermann, Ponfick and others. We may explain, very briefly, our present amount of knowledge with respect to its etiology, symptomatology and post mortem appearances considered generally and specially. We recognise, in the human subject, principally two forms of pernicious anaemia—idiopathic or essential, and symptomatic. The causes of the first form, which is the essential disease, are altogether unknown. In general, bad feeding and stabling, and non- hygienic conditions are the usually received causes, in the case of the lower animals; and owing to this, we consider it an ‘infectious disease’; or, it may be regarded as a constitutional disease of the blood, and of the red bone-marrow. All the cases which have come under observation have hitherto proved incurable. The causes of the second form are better known. This form is caused by a certain blood-sucking intestinal worm, principally the Ankylostomum (Dochmius) duodenale and Bothriocephalus lattis. This was first pointed out by Perrcncito, in 1880, to be the cause of progressive pernicious anaemia among workmen and others. This form of anaemia is to an extent curable. The disease was first described in India under the name of “Surra,” as occurring commonly in horses, mules and camels, by Inspecting Veterinary Surgeon G. Evans, M. D., of the Army Veterinary Department, who noted the presence of a parasite in all the diseased animals examined, and iu others subjected to experi- mental inoculutions. Tho nature of the parasite, and its exact patho- logioal significance arc points which Dr. Evans did not satisfactorily