Braxy, Bradsot, Gastro-mycosis Ovis. 511 



Symptoms. The more obvious manifestations of braxy bear a 

 resemblance to those of black quarter, so that the two affections 

 have been often confounded. In both the attack is sudden, the 

 course rapid and fatal, the back arched, the step short, especially 

 with the hind limbs, and there are swellings which crepitate on 

 pressure on the hind quarters or some other part of the body. 

 Symptoms of colic soon appear, the sheep lying down and rising 

 frequently and moving the hind limbs uneasily, and the abdomen 

 becomes distended, tympanitic and tender. Rumination and 

 feeding are promptly suspended, and as a rule defecation as well. 

 Urine may be passed frequently in small amounts and of a high 

 color. The pulse is rapid and often irregular and the breathing 

 hurried and labored. In some cases the abdominal pain is less 

 acute, the animal standing apart with drooping head, ears and 

 eyelids and froth} 7 lips, or lying by itself at a distance from the 

 flock. Sooner or later emphysematous swellings appear on some 

 part of the body, but most commonly on the hind quarter, which 

 have a soft, doughy feeling and crackle or gurgle on pressure. 

 In the great majority of cases, however, the disease runs a rapid 

 course and ends in death in a few hours, and as the attacks are 

 mostly in the cold of the night, the victim, which appeared well 

 at night, is found dead in the morning. Cowan has often noticed 

 that those that stepped short at night were dead next morning. 

 In certain cases the sheep stood obstinately to the end and fell 

 dead as if shot. When death was deferred for several days a 

 common result was shedding of the wool. 



Pathological Anatomy. A marked feature of braxy is the early 

 putrefaction of the carcass. The rigor mortis quickly passes and 

 the carcass bloats up and exhales a putrid odor. On removing 

 the skin one sees extensive sero-sanguineous exudations, mixed 

 with bubbles of gas of an offensive odor. The abdomen is tense 

 and tympanitic and the anus protrudes. Visceral lesions are 

 especially marked in the fourth stomach, the walls of which are 

 thickened in patches or throughout by a haemorrhagic or sero- 

 haeinorrhagic exudation of a dark purplish color. If killed in the 

 early stages this may be very restricted in area, but becomes gen- 

 eral in animals that have died of the disease. Similar exudations 

 are found on the walls of the first three stomachs, or on the small 

 or large intestines. The fourth stomach and duodenum are, as a 



