DISEASES OF CATTLE 297 



it may appear as an epizootic attacking a large number at about the 

 same time. 



Symptoms. The symptoms in cattle vary considerably, ac- 

 cording as the disease begins in the skin^ in the lungs, or in tne in- 

 testines. They depend also on the severity of the attack. Thus we 

 may have what is called anthrax peracutus or apoplectiform, when 

 the animal dies very suddenly as if from apoplexy. Such cases usu- 

 ally occur in the beginning of an outbreak. The animal, without 

 having shown any signs of disease, suddenly drops down in the 

 pasture and dies in convulsions, or an animal apparently well at 

 night is found dead in the morning. 



The second type (anthrax acutus), without any external swell- 

 ings, is the one most commonly observed in cattle. The disease 

 begins with a high fever. The temperature may reach 106 to 107 

 F. The pulse beats from 80 to 100 per minute. Feeding and ru- 

 mination are suspended. Chills and muscular tremors may appear 

 and the skin shows uneven temperature. The ears and base of the 

 horns are cold, the coat staring. The animals are dull and stupid 

 and manifest great weakness. 



To these symptoms others are added in the course of the dis- 

 ease. The dullness may give way to great uneasiness, champing of 

 the jaws, spasms of the limbs, kicking and pawing the ground. 

 The breathing may become labored. The nostrils then dilate, the 

 mouth is open, the head raised, and all muscles of the chest are 

 strained during breathing, while the visible mucous membranes 

 (nose, mouth, rectum, and vagina) become bluish. If the disease 

 has started in the bowels, there is much pain, as shown by the moan- 

 ing of the animal; the discharges, at first firm, become softer and 

 covered with serum, mucus, and blood. 



As the disease approaches the fatal termination the weakness 

 of the animal increases. It leans against supports or lies down. 

 Blood vessels may rupture and give rise to spots of blood on the 

 various mucous membranes and bloody discharges from nose, 

 mouth, rectum, and vagina. The urine not infrequently contains 

 blood (red-water) . Death ensues within one or two days. 



A third type of the disease (anthrax subacutus) includes those 

 cases in which the disease is more prolonged. It may last from three 

 to seven days and terminate fatally or end in recovery. In this 

 type, which is rarely observed, the symptoms are practically as 

 described in the acute form, only less marked. 



In connection with these types of intestinal anthrax, swellings 

 may appear under the skin in different parts of the body, or the 

 disease may start from such a swelling, caused by the inoculation of 

 anthrax spores in one of the several different ways already described. 

 If the disease begins in the skin it agrees in general with the sub- 

 acute form in prolonged duration, and it may occasionally terminate 

 in recovery if the swellings are thoroughly incised and treated. 



Lesions. These swellings appear as edemas and carbuncles. 

 The former are doughy tumors of a more or less flattish form pass- 

 ing gradually into the surrounding healthy tissue. They are sit- 



