THE SPLENIC FEVER. 89 



II. The period of invasion. My examination of animals in apparent health, picked 

 out of a diseased herd, indicates that the invasion of the malady is characterized by an 

 elevation of temperature. Here we have some similarity to rinderpest ; but since there 

 is not the same uniformity in the length of the incubative stage in splenic fever that there 

 is in the Russian murrain, it is probably more common to find steers with a normal tem 

 perature in a herd infected with the former than when infected with the latter disease. 



The first opportunity I had of testing this matter was on the 31st of July, at Tolono, 

 where we saw the first animal of a herd, a yearling, lying dead. I began by examining a 

 well-bred short-horn cow in blooming condition, and found her temperature to be 106 

 Fahrenheit; second was 106.5 P.; third 106.7 F. ; fourth 106.7 F. ; fifth 106.1 P.; 

 sixth 107.2 F. ; seventh 106.7 P. ; eighth 107.2 P. ; ninth 104.2 F. ; tenth 106.7 F. 



At Junction City I examined the healthiest-looking animals of an infected herd, and 

 noted the following temperatures with one of Cassella s self-registering thermometers : 

 First 104.6 P.; second 106.6 F. ; third 102.8 F. ; fourth 107.7 P.; fifth 103 F. ; 

 sixth 102.4 F. ; seventh 105.8 F ; eighth 103.4 F. ; ninth 107.2 F. ; tenth 102.2 F. ; 

 eleventh 107.8 F. ; twelfth 102.6 F. ; thirteenth 103 F. ; fourteenth 102.4 F. ; fif 

 teenth 102.6 F. ; sixteenth 102.8 F. ; seventeenth 102.6 F. 



I examined three sick steers in this herd, and found their temperature to be respect 

 ively 104 F , 107.2 F., and 105.8 P. Of the apparently healthy ones no less than six 

 indicated a temperature as high as or higher than that of the undoubtedly diseased animals, 

 and in all the temperature was greo.tly exalted. 



On Smoky Hill we inspected cattle in blooming health, so far as external appearances 

 would indicate. We had found a case of splenic fever there, and determined to have some 

 steers caught with the lasso and examined, with the following result : First 103.4 F. ; 

 second 102 F. ; third 103 F. ; fourth 104.2 F. ; fifth 103 F. 



The last temperature was that of a work ox, one which could be handled quietly, and 

 it afforded me an opportunity of noticing that the use of the lasso did not sensibly affect 

 the temperature. I infer, from a considerable range of observation, that animals are from 

 four to six or seven days in the process of sickening, from the earliest indication of fever 

 heat to the manifestations of decided symptoms of disease. 



III. The bleeding or congestive stage. The acute or active stage of the disease is 

 characterized by a series of well-defined symptoms which last for two, three, four, and even 

 six days. 



GENERAL APPEARANCE. 



The ears of the animal droop, the gait is sluggish, and secretions are somewhat checked. 

 In cows yielding milk there is a sudden diminution in the amount by one-half, more or less. 

 At first the animal eats, ruminates occasionally, and its paunch appears full ; but soon 

 there is a disposition to lie down ; and, wherever pools exist, the sick cattle are apt to lie 

 in the water. It has been said that one of the surest premonitory symptoms is a cough. This 

 does not accord with my experience. The depressed head, drooping ears, arched back, 

 hollow flanks, tendency to draw the hind legs under the belly, and knuckling over at the 

 fetlocks behind, are early and very marked symptoms. The skin is dry and rigid ; the 

 fa?ces not materially affected except in a few cases, which show early slight hemor- 

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