266 Veterinary Elements. 



the following symptoms: Inability to open the mouth as 

 wide as normal, the nose poked out, the head slightly 

 elevated, the tail may be raised, the animal is very stiff 

 in its movements; if the head is suddenly lifted or the 

 animal frightened the haw will be seen to fly over the 

 eye, a safe indication of this disease; the nostrils are 

 dilated, breathing quickened and the belly tacked up. 

 The animal gets constipated and often its mouth gets foul, 

 due to retention of food in it. Death usually occurs from 

 spasms of the chest muscles or those of the larynx. The 

 period of incubation (time elapsing between the attack 

 by the germ and symptoms of the disease) is usually 

 from three to ten days; recovery is rare before the third 

 week, often five to six weeks are necessary before con- 

 valescence begins; the sooner symptoms are shown the 

 more fatal the disease. The germ of this disease is found 

 in earth and decaying matter, hence as this disease is 

 one of ivound infection, it is readily seen how* important 

 cleanliness and the use of antiseptics are in the treatment 

 of all wounds. The treatment of this disease calls for 

 the most skilled veterinary attention, the stockman doing 

 his part by keeping the animal perfectly quiet and free 

 from annoyance by visitors, the stall well bedded, a sup- 

 ply of nourishing food on hand and watching to see that 

 the animal does not get down and struggle. This dis- 

 ease may follow castration, docking, wounds of the feet, 

 even such as overreaches, etc., and the use of unclean 

 instruments. The anti-tetanic serum is being used in this 

 disease; so far it shows greater value as a preventive than 

 as a curative agent. 



Texas fever is a disease of the Southern states affecting 

 cattle, the poison (virus) of the disease being carried 



