8 DISEASES OF SWINE AND OTHER ANIMALS. 



Byin])toiiis of tlie diseaso, ^vliicli were found to be almost identical in 

 all the widely-separated localities in wliicli examinations were made, 

 were a dullness of tlie eyes, the lids of which are kept nearer closed thau 

 in health, with an accumulation of secretion in the corners. There is 

 hanging- of the head, with lopped ears, and an inclination to hide in the 

 litter and to lie on the belly and keep quiet. As the disease advances, 

 the animal manifests more or less thirst, some cough, and a i)ink blush 

 or rose-colored spots, and papular eruption appears on the skin, particu- 

 larly along the belly, inside of the thighs and fore legs, and about the 

 ears. There is accelerated respiration and circulation, increased action 

 of the flanks in breathing, tucked-up abdomen, arched back, swelling of 

 the Yidva in the female as in heat 5 occasionally, also, of the sheath of 

 the male, loss of appetite, and tenderness of the abdomen, sometimes 

 persistent diarrhea, but generally obstinate constipation. In some 

 cases large abraded spots are observed at the i)rojecting points of the 

 body, caused by separation and loss of the epidermis. In such cases 

 a slight blow or friction on the skin is sufficient to produce such 

 abrasions. In many cases the eruption, blush, and spots are entirely 

 absent ; petechise are formed in only about one-third of the cases. In 

 some cases there is considerable inflammation of and discharge from 

 the eyes. Some animals emit a very offensive odor even before death. 

 In large herds, where the disease prevails extensively, this offensive 

 effluvia can be detected for a great distance to windward. In nearly all 

 cases there is a weakness or partial paralysis of the i)osterior extremi- 

 ties, and occasionally this paralysis is so complete in the first stages of 

 the disease as to x>revent walking or standing. 



As symptoms of special diagnostic value, which are scarcely ever ab- 

 sent in any case, the following are mentioned : Drooping of the ears and 

 of the head; more or less coughing; dull look of the eyes; staring ap- 

 pearance of the coat of hair; i^artial or total want of appetite for food; 

 vitiated appetite for excrements; rapid emaciation; great debility; 

 weak and undecided, and frequently staggering, gait ; great indifference 

 to surroundings; tendency to lie down in a dark corner, and to hide the 

 nose and even the whole head in the bedding; the specific offensive 

 smell, and the peculiar color of the excrements. This last symptom is 

 always jwesent, at least in an advanced stage of the disease, no matter 

 whether constipation or diarrhea is exisiting. Among other character- 

 istic s.'^^nptoms, which are not present in every animal, may be mentioned 

 frequent sneezing; bleeding from the nose; swelling of the eyelids; ac- 

 cumulation of mucus in the imier canthi of the eyes; attempts to vomit, 

 or real vomiting; accelerated and difficult breathing; thumping or 

 spasmodic contraction of the abdominal muscles (flanks), and a pecu- 

 liar, faint, and hoarse voice in the last stages of the disease. 



The duration of the disease varies according to the violence and seat 

 of the attack and the age and constitution of the patient. Where the 

 attack is violent, and its princijjal seat is located in one of the vital 



