254 CLINICAL VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



In the great majority of cases this failure of motor power, whether or 

 neuropathic or myopathic origin, is accompanied by multiple localised 

 inflammation of muscle, evidenced by circumscribed or diffuse swellings. 

 In some a large portion of the muscular system is affected ; in most the 

 myositis is local, affecting either superficial or deep-seated muscles. 

 No region is exempt, though change is most frequent in the muscular 

 tissues of the croup, quarters, buttocks, lumbar region, back, shoulders, 

 neck, and chest. The appearances are as follows : — Swelling of variable 

 extent and size, produced by tumefaction of the muscles, which are felt 

 to be dense, hard, painful, tense, and sometimes a little oedematous ; the 

 skin covering them is warm, sensitive, and adherent ; sensation gradu- 

 ally diminishes, but complete anaesthesia is rare. These localised in- 

 flammations may persist and become accentuated, may gradually 

 diminish and disappear without leaving traces, or may be followed by 

 degenerative changes, producing atrophy of certain of the affected 

 muscles. 



The second chief symptom of hsemoglobinuria is melanuria — 

 blackish or very deep coloration of the urine, — a change due to the 

 presence of a certain quantity of haemoglobin and of methaemoglobin. 

 This symptom, which is almost always constant, corresponds in 

 intensity with that of the disease itself. The urine may exhibit an 

 entire series of intermediate tints between light red and black. Most 

 frequently the first urine passed is brownish or black, like liquid manure, 

 and in fatal cases remains in this condition ; in others it gradually 

 becomes lighter. This urine contains a varying quantity of haemo- 

 globin, and an excess of urea and various other metabolic products. 

 It also shows a considerable proportion of albumen (as high as three 

 drachms to the pint), desquamated epithelial cells, leucocytes, red 

 blood-corpuscles, cylindrical casts, and sometimes a little glucose. It 

 retains the normal alkaline reaction, though this becomes less when 

 the kidneys are diseased. As long as the patient can stand, micturition 

 occurs easily, but when the patient is lying helpless it is generally 

 suppressed. 



The changes occurring in other bodily organs are less important. 

 I have mentioned colic, with or without the passage of soft faeces, 

 which occurs at the outset ; at a later stage the peristaltic action of 

 the bowel diminishes in frequence and power ; constipation may exist ; 

 defecation is suspended ; the appetite is usually moderate, but thirst 

 excessive. The respiration, which is more or less accelerated during 

 the first minutes of the attack, soon becomes rapid, panting, and in 

 most cases oppressed ; in animals which struggle violently it may rise 

 to 60 or 80 per minute. The circulation is sometimes comparatively 



