10 QUATERCENTENARY STUDIES IN PATHOLOGY 



very unsteady ; the free movements of the limbs were restricted, as if 

 she was in fear of falling ; and the hind legs were occasionally snatched 

 up spasmodically. When last seen on this night she was lying down 

 quietly and looking the picture of dejection. 



By the following morning (May i6th) the symptoms were more 

 pronounced even than on the previous night. The sheep was now 

 (between 8 and 9 o'clock) down on her side, and the most striking feature 

 of the case was the occurrence of continuous violent convulsive spasms 

 which persisted up till the time of death. The limbs were flexed and 

 extended alternately, especially the posterior ones, which lay in a direct 

 line behind the body. The movements of the fore limbs had a galloping 

 character and were so continuous and violent that the underlying ground 

 was worn out in a semi-circle from the friction caused by the excursion 

 of the hoofs. The muscles were firm and rigid, and the contraction 

 almost tetanic in character, although the tension was intermittent, not 

 continuous as in tetanus. The head was thrown violently back and 

 bent down on the dorsal spine ; it had also an inclination to the right 

 side. The muscles of the neck were very tense during this action. The 

 breathing was laboured, the animal gasping for breath during the height 

 of an attack of convulsions, and, when there was a period of relaxation, 

 it panted. Frequent and continuous nibbling or snapping movements 

 of the mouth were noticed, and tufts of grass, or the soil, were occasion- 

 ally clenched between the incisor teeth and the pad. There did not, 

 however, appear to be any trismus. A puffing or choking noise was 

 emitted through the nostrils, and frothy saliva began to accumulate in 

 increasing bulk round the lips. During expiration the frothy saliva was 

 projected in front of the animal for several inches to a foot. 



The nostrils were widely dilated, but the breathing, although to a 

 limited degree nasal, took place chiefly through the mouth, and was 

 accompanied by guttural sounds. The muscles of the face, lips, and 

 ears were in a tremulous condition, and during a lull between the crises 

 of spasmodic attacks, the whole body was more or less tremulous. The 

 eyelids were widely separated, and the pupils, if anything, somewhat 

 contracted. The conjunctivae were of a brick-red colour from injection 

 of their blood-vessels, and the corneae had now a dull appearance. The 

 sphincter ani was contracted, and the perineal region was hot, wet, and 

 clammy. The thermometer was inserted into the rectum with a good 



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