Symptoms. 117 



lapses, whereupon death ensues in a few minutes under mani- 

 festations of asphyxiation and convulsive movements. 



There are occasionally deviations from the described 

 symptoms. Thus the swelling of the throat region may be 

 absent, and the autopsy may show only very slight changes 

 in the mucous membrane of pharynx and larynx, in spite of 

 the fact that the animal died with symptoms of asphyxiation 

 (Biro). In less acute affections symptoms of a malignant 

 catarrhal fever develop sometimes (Makoldy). 



In localities where rinderpest prevails, as for instance in Eastern 

 Asia, buffalo disease has been frequently mistaken for the former, 

 especially in cases of severe catarrhal symptoms of the nasal and 

 intestinal mucous membrane as well as in the cases of somewhat more 

 chronic forms. However, the noncontagious character of the buffalo 

 disease and the great susceptibility of rabbits for its virus offer suffi- 

 cient differential signs. 



In cattle which in rare cases become affected simultaneously with 

 buffaloes similar clinical manifestations are observed, especially high 

 fever, extension of the head, protrusion of the swollen tongue, rattling 

 respiration, cyanosis of the mucous membranes, further an edematous 

 swelling of the region of the throat and cheeks. 



In hogs, which sonietimes also become affected on premises where 

 buffaloes are sick, the disease runs a course of severe pharyngitis with 

 marked swelling of the region of the throat, which sometimes extends 

 also over the neck, when the debilitated animal suffers from difficult 

 and rapid respiration. 



Course and Prognosis. In rare cases the disease lasts only 

 six to eight hours, but as a rule death results on the second 

 day. Exceptionally the course may extend up to eight days, and 

 such protracted cases sometimes terminate in recovery, espe- 

 cially if no swelling of the throat develops in the meantime. 



According to Italian authors the percentage of mortality 

 amounts to from 50 to 60 per cent. According to the observa- 

 tions made in Hungary it varies from 87 to 98 per cent and 

 averages 94.2 per cent. 



Treatment and Prevention. The treatment of affected 

 animals promises little success. The scarification of the swell- 

 ings in the region of the throat followed by washing of the 

 wounds with a disinfectant, for instance three per cent carbolic 

 acid solution or turpentine, appears most appropriate. Re- 

 peated injections of the first solution into various parts of the 

 swelling without previous scarification may also be beneficial. 

 Beside cold applications to the region of the throat, cold 

 showers and laxatives (salines in large doses) as well as inter- 

 nal administration of disinfectants (creolin, lysol) are 

 indicated. 



The most effective method against the spreading of the 

 disease is the removal of the healthy animals from the infected 

 pastures, or at least the abandonment of low-lying, marshy 



