THE ALIMENTARY CANAL AS A SOURCE OF CONTAGION 9 



The following case will give an idea of the most striking clinical 

 features during the first and second stages. The animal, a Cheviot ewe 

 hogg, was procured from "clean" land in the year 1902, and took the 

 disease accidentally on being transferred to our observation pens at 

 Kielder. The first symptoms showed themselves on May 14th. On 

 that day she was noticed to be a little dull, and was seen standing 

 isolated on three or four occasions during the day. 



On the morning of the 15th she was found to be duller than 

 yesterday, and was the last sheep to rise this morning when fresh fodder 

 was taken into the pen. She now stood completely isolated from her 

 mates, and was not inclined to move with them. She turned round 

 occasionally, slowly, and with restricted movements. The head was 

 depressed, the ears failed to be pricked, and the eyelids were half closed. 

 When standing, the animal's hind legs were somewhat flexed as if she 

 were weak upon them, and when lying down all the limbs were gathered 

 up towards the centre of the body. The rump was drooped, the back 

 arched, and the front of the chest thrown forwards. She had not been 

 seen to feed or ruminate to-day. 



After standing for a few minutes, it was also observed that the 

 animal became unsteady, and swayed a little from side to side, but 

 quickly, and, as if conscious of the abnormal condition, she moved a few 

 steps forwards to take up a fresh position. This, apparently, she did in 

 order to prevent herself from falling forw^ards, and in the intervals stood 

 in a drowsy, almost sleeping, attitude, the head gradually falling down- 

 wards with half-nodding movements, and inclined to the right side. A 

 little rocking of the body from before backwards was evident, and in 

 order to avoid pitching forwards she took a step or two. The animal, 

 indeed, presented very much the appearance of being intoxicated. The 

 whole body seemed to be in a slight quivering or shaking condition. 

 The rectal temperature was 106'' F., the pulse 80 per minute, and the 

 respirations 80 and panting in character. 



The animal was visited between 11 and 12 o'clock midnight, and was 

 found evidently worse than during the day. She was lying against the wall 

 of the pen, isolated, and did not rise when disturbed, nor did she offer 

 any resistance when manipulated unless on two occasions, and at these 

 times the body exhibited quivering or trembling movements. She could 

 just manage to stand, and only for a short length of time ; the gait was 



(9) 



