42 HORSE, SWINE AND POULTRY DISEASES 



itself. It may become more violent, and rear and plunge. If dis- 

 turbed by the entrance of the attendant or any loud noise or bright 

 light, it will stamp with its fore feet and strike with its hind feet, 

 but is not definite in fixing the object which it is resisting, which is a 

 diagnostic point between meningitis and rabies and which renders 

 the animal with the former disease less dangerous to handle. If 

 fastened by a rope to a stake or post, the animal will wander in a 

 circle at the end of the rope. It wanders almost invariably in one 

 direction. The pupils may be dilated or contracted, or we may find 

 one condition in one eve and the opposite in the other. 



The period of excitement is followed by one of profound coma, 

 in which the animal is immobile, the head hanging and placed 

 against the corner of the stall, the body limp, and the motion, if de- 

 manded of the animal, unsteady. Little or no attention will be paid 

 to the surrounding noises, the crack of a whip, or even a blow on the 

 surface of the body. The respiration becomes slower, the pulsations 

 are diminished, the coma lasts for variable time, to be followed by 

 excesses of violence, after which the two alternate, but if severe the 

 period of coma becomes longer and longer until the animal dies of 

 spasms of the lungs or of heart failure. It may die from injuries 

 which occur in the ungovernable attacks of violence. 



Complication of the Feet. The feet are the organs which are 

 next in frequency predisposed to congestion. This congestion takes 

 place in the lamina} of the feet. The stupefied animal is roused from 

 its condition by excessive pain in the feet, and assumes the position 

 of a foundered horse ; that is, if the fore feet alone are affected they 

 are carried forward until they rest on the heels, and if the hind feet 

 are affected all of the feet are carried forward, resting on their heels, 

 the hind ones as near the center of gravity as possible. In some cases 

 the stupor of the animal is so great that the pain is not felt, and little 

 or no alternation of the position of the animal is noticeable. The 

 foot is found hot to the touch, and after a given time the depressed 

 convex sole of typical founder is recognized. 



Pleurisy. This is a rare complication, but when it does occur 

 it is ushered in by the usual symptoms of depression, rapid pulse, 

 small respiration, elevation of the temperature, subcutaneous edema 

 of the legs and under surface of the belly, and we find a line of dull- 

 ness on either side of the chest and an absence of raspiratory murmur 

 at the lower part. If it is severe there may be an effusion filling one- 

 fourth to one-third of the thoracic cavity in from thirty-six to forty- 

 eight hours. 



Pericarditis. This is an occasional complication of influenza. 

 It is ushered in by chills, elevation of the temperature ; the pulse be- 

 comes rapid, thready, and imperceptible. The heart murmurs be- 

 come indistinct or can not be heard. A venous pulse is seen on the 

 line of the jugular veins along the neck. Respiration becomes more 

 difficult and rapid. If the animal is moved the symptoms become 

 more marked, or it may drop suddenly dead from heart failure. 



Peritonitis.-^ This is inflammation of the membranes lining the 

 belly and covering the organs contained in it. The general symp- 



