424 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
sometimes as low as 60° I’.; seeks the sunshine or a covering of litter, 
and speedily dies. imaciation is arapidly progressive symptom through- 
out the entire course of the disease. 
DURATION OF THE DISEASE. 
The disorder is by no means uniform in its duration, varying from a 
few hours to many days and even weeks. When death occurs only a 
few hours after the attack a complication of heart disease is usually the 
eause of the rapid termination of the case. Early fatality may occur 
also from rapid congestion of the lungs, producing hepatization of a 
large portion of that organ. The average duration of the disease can 
be, therefore, scarcely approximated. Perhaps five days would include 
the length of time consumed in most fatal cases, whereas a much greater 
length of time is required in cases that recover. In its most violent 
epidemic form a much less time than five days would include the course 
of the disease in all fatal cases. 
PATHOLOGY OF THE DISEASE. 
As before stated, all dead animals not too far advanced in decomposi- 
tion were examined, and one or more sick animals were selected from 
each diseased herd, and after a careful study of their symptoms, as com- 
pared with the other sick stock of the herd, were slaughtered for exam- 
ination. 
Memoranda from thirty dissections made from fifteen separate and 
distinct herds fairly representing the disease as observed under all the 
varied circumstances as to food, soil, water, and general management, 
show the following results: 
In every case, without exception, disease of the lungs was present, 
varying in degree from slight congestion to complete softening from 
suppuration and inflammation. In two cases the lung disease was 
tuberculous in character. In eight cases adhesion occurred between 
the costal pleura and lung. In six eases circumscribed spots of inflam- 
mation were found on the walls of the heart and its investment, with 
an effusion in the pericardial sack. In six cases were small patches of 
ulceration of mucous lining of large intestine. In six cases were conges- 
tion of mucous lining of the stomach. In all cases the liver presented a 
darker hue than natural, in four cases slightly, and in one greatly en- 
larged; but in all other cases in size and general appearance would 
compare favorably with that organ as usually observed in animals re- 
garded sound and healthy. The spleen was in all cases discolored, as 
in case of the liver. In few cases there was slight congestion of the 
kidneys. In one ease there was evidence of fatty degeneration, and in 
all others the organ indicated a healthy condition. The blood was 
always dark-colored, the muscles pale and relaxed. 
The disease of the lungs was in all cases the leading pathological con- 
dition, to which all other diseased appearances were secondary in im- 
portance, constituting complications only. ; 
A section of the lung of an animal slaughtered during the active 
inflammatory state of the disease shows, under the microscope, a Com- 
plete solidification of lung-tissue, the air-cells being filled with epithelial 
exudation, no extravasated blood appearing. A section of the liver of the 
same animal shows a thickening of the sept acini by a proliferation of 
epithetial cells, tending to or constituting fatty degeneration; other 
acini in the same section exhibit a perfectly healthy condition: <A sec- 
x 
SS —————— 
