238 The Cattle-Plague. 



drooping head, reddened eyes, with a discharge from them, and 

 also from the nostrils, of a mucous nature, raw-looking places on 

 the inner side of the lips and roof of the mouth, diarrhoea, or 

 dysenteric purging." 



Dr. Andrew Smart's minute observations of the phases 

 through which organisms smitten with the plague usually pass, 

 having been gathered from a wide field, are of unusual import- 

 ance. I extract from his Second Interiin Report to the Provost 

 and Magistrates of Edinburgh : — 



1. Period of Incuhation. — All my observations lead me to conclude that it 

 terminates on the seventh day, by the outward manifestations of distinctly 

 recognisable indications. These are : — 



2. The Earliest Becognisalle Symptoms. — They are enumerated as nearly as 

 ])ossible in the order in which they api^ear. 1. Loss of appetite. This shows 

 itself (1) by an aversion to all sorts of "green food." The nest day, or the 

 following, there is (2) indifference to food of any kind. The animal still eats, 

 but languidly ; does not lick out the pail, or leaves a portion of the meal, and 

 soon after refuses food altogether. It now ceases to chew the cud, and from 

 this time there is commencing constipation, Avith progressive diminution 

 of milk. The animal looks depressed, stands much in the same posture, \vith 

 drooping head and reclining ears. The ears, horns, and other extremities are 

 now sensibly under their natural temperature. The breathing is yet but 

 slightly accelerated, and the expiration perceptibly prolonged, and the pulse 

 rises a few beats in frequencj-. It is at this period the orifice of the vagina 

 reddens, and the colour deepens as the disease advances. This appearance of 

 the vulva is the most characteristic and reliable mark of the disease at this 

 stage. A faint-red or pui-ple line about the same time appears on the under 

 gum, and along the roots of the teeth. All these sj'mptoms occur within a 

 day or two'of the incubation period. Tlic diseased condition of the internal 

 organs after death clearly points to this and the preceding period of the disease 

 as the proper time for successful treatment, before destructive changes have too 

 far advanced. 



3. More advanced Symptoms. — The breathing is now more accelerated, 

 oppressed, sighing, and laborious. The number of respirations varies generally 

 from 36 to 70 per minute. The pulse is more rapid (from 60 to 110 pulsations 

 per minute), and weaker. There is continued loss of appetite, constipation, 

 and thirst. The superficial membrane of the mouth, especially ^of the inner 

 side of the under lip, roughens, and a viscid discharge appears in the vagina. 

 A similar eruptive, or roughened appearance, is seen on the membrane of the 

 vagina, where it joins the skin. The milk is scanty, and entirely changed to 

 cream, or there is none at all. All the other symptoms are more decidedly 

 pronounced. 



4. Most advanced sympitoms. — They are those which shortly precede death, 

 and are imattended by any very marked outward signs of pain. The breathing 

 is- now slow, very lalwrious, and moaning or grunting. Pulse slow and small. 

 Where purgatives have not been given, there is great distension of the 

 abdomen, and obstinate constipation. The fluid, and sometimes sanguineous 

 discharges from the bowels, which occur in some cases, are the results 

 generally of the too frequent nse of irritant drugs. The superficial membrane 

 of the mouth peels off from the gums and lips, leaving the surface raw ; and 

 frequently, but not invariably, there is a viscid discharge from the eyes, 

 nostrils, and vagina. 



In pure and uncomplicated examples of rinderpest there is no cough. 



