154 Veterinary Medicine. 



This malady presents phenomena very similar to those found 

 in the horse, and shows itself in mild and severe types. It has 

 been noted by writers on diseases of cattle from Vegetius down, 

 though under quite a variety of names. 



Causes. These are uncertain, though much seems to point to 

 microbian invasion or intoxication by microbial! poisons. In 

 France, it has been seen mainly in mature and robust working 

 oxen after a hard day's work, when the animal has had time to cool 

 off. Also in cows used in the yoke and milked at the same time. 

 Poor food, starvation and low condition have also been cited as 

 causes. In other cases, high feeding and plethora have been in- 

 criminated. It shows itself most commonly in summer and 

 autumn, so that cold or chill must be looked on as a cause sec- 

 ondary to another — probably microbian or toxic. Again, it is 

 by far the most common in the adult animal. What is more sug- 

 gestive is its relative frequency in localities characterized by 

 swamps, springy fields, hollow basins, damp hill-foots, bottom 

 lands, and damp, impermeable or undrained soils. Again, on 

 heavy clays where the water is preserved through summer in open 

 ponds and often in a very corrupt condition. This at once ac- 

 counts for its common appearance in summer and autumn when 

 the offensive products of fermentation are most abundant, and 

 corroborates the doctrine of a toxic ferment. But its origin has 

 not been definitely traced to such products as yet. This, not- 

 withstanding that Kolb attributes it to bacillus hcvmorrhagicus, 

 and Robert, Fabert, and Dinter found the exudates swarming 

 with diplococci. This may assimilate it to septicemia hgemorrhagica. 



Lesions. In cattle killed during the early stages, circum- 

 scribed haemorrhages and petechiae are found in the nose, trachea, 

 bronchia, gastric and intestinal mucosae, cerebral membranes, 

 pleurae, peritoneum, bladder, and skin. In many cases these are 

 accompanied by congestion and thickening of the walls of the 

 lymphatics, and effusion in and under the skin in different parts 

 of the body, but especially along its lower aspect — (belly, sternum, 

 dewlap, limbs, lower jaw, tongue) — of a gelatinoid exudate, 

 which raises the skin abruptly in the form of a thick cushion. At 

 first this is soft and tremulous, but later it may have coagulated 

 giving a great degree of resistance to the structure. Extensive 

 cracks, fissures, and sloughs, and unhealthy sores form on these 



