Report on Steppe Murrain or Rinderpest. 257 



is down and is more depressed than in the early part of the day. 

 Diarrhoea has set in and some tenesmus is present. The tvvitch- 

 in2;s of the muscles are more violent and frequent. The cough 

 is increased, as is the discharge from the nostrils ; the pulse, 

 however, remains the same. 



May 1th. — There is no great change in the general character 

 of the symptoms this morning. The diarrhoea is, however, more 

 copious. The pulse is weaker, but its number is not increased. 

 The breathing is but little altered. The cough is of the same 

 mucous character. The nasal discharge is thicker and contains 

 shreds of lymph. The eyes are heavy. The animal keeps laid 

 a good deal, and when down appears sleepy. Tlie spasmodic 

 contractions of the abdominal muscles, which at times are con- 

 siderable, give a peculiar tremor to the whole body and interrupt 

 the rhythmical action of inspiration and expiration. Pressure on 

 the spine augments these spasms as well as those of the muscles 

 of the neck and limbs. He refuses all food, but takes a little 

 water. 



(3 p,M. — Except that the animal is weaker and the alvine 

 evacuations more fluid, there is no change which needs to be 

 specially reported. 



May Stk. — The spasmodic twitchings are less diffused than yes- 

 terday and not so severe. The pulse is, on the contrary, more 

 rapid and so weak as to be felt with very great difficulty except at 

 the heart. The respiration is also increased and now numbers 

 twenty-six in the minute; it is not, however, laboured. The cough 

 although frequent is scarcely audible : it has the same mucous 

 character. The muzzle is moist but cold, as are the extremities and 

 horns ; while the surface of the body is yet warm. The diarrhoea 

 has passed into dysentery. The evacuations are now of a dirty- 

 yellow colour, and remarkably fluid ; they contain flocculi of 

 lymph and are occasionally streaked with blood, but are not 

 particularly offensive. A sickly smell attends the patient. The 

 eyelids are drooping, and a thick jelly-like mass of a pale straw 

 colour has accumulated at the inner angle of the eyes. This is 

 evidently composed chiefly of fibrine ; yet the vessels of the 

 conjunctiva are not turgid with blood. The animal has a greater 

 disposition to keep laid, and often while recumbent turns the 

 head to the side as if suffering slight abdominal pain. 



Ma// dth. — The spasmodic twitchings and the tremors are no 

 longer to be recognized, having entirely passed away. The 

 prostration of strength is very great. The dysenteric purging 

 continues unabated in severity. Tenesmus is present and the 

 evacuations are now very offensive. The abdomen is much 

 pinched in. The respiration remains the same in number, and 

 is occasionally accompanied with a nasal blowing-like sound. 



