Croup of Cattle. 417 



Croup of Cattle. Gruntli describes uuder this name a disease which 

 in addition to disturbances of the general condition is associated with 

 croupous inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane, in which the 

 local alfeetions do not result from local irritation, neither do they belong 

 to the clinical manifestations of rinderpest, malignant catarrh, or to 

 croupous inflammation of the intestines. Bang however considers the 

 affection as closely related to the malignant catarrh of cattle. 



The disease appears to prevail chiefly in Denmark, and especially 

 in Copenhagen and vicinity, where it was first observed by Sand, later 

 by Hansen, Kaufmann, Olsen, Bang and Jensen. Grunth made a care- 

 ful study of it. Tlie fibrinous rhinitis observed by Berndt in Germany 

 may also belong here. 



Etiology. According to Grunth the disease is produced by an un- 

 known infectious substance, which weakens the resistance of the body, 

 thereby rendering the mucous membrane susceptible to secondary in- 

 fections. Accordingly all complications, and probably also the croupous 

 inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane should be considered as 

 secondary manifestations. 



Cows which have recently calved are especially susceptible, but in 

 rare cases the disease may appear shortly before or several months after 

 parturition, if the animals have meanwhile been otherwise weakened. 

 Other cattle than cows are only exceptionally affected by the disease in 

 infected herds. 



Symptoms. As a rule the animals become affected suddenly by high 

 fever intermittent in character. The pulse and respiration are acceler- 

 ated, appetite and rumination are disturbed, the milk secretion ceases. 



By sufficiently illuminating the nose the nasal mucous membrane 

 appears more or less reddened, and sometimes covered with petechiae. 

 On the nasal septum or on the nostrils, more rarely in the other parts 

 of the nasal cavity, white or yellowish, loosely adherent croupous mem- 

 branes of various extension may be observed attached to the mucous 

 membrane. Only exceptionally do they attain the thickness of several 

 millimeters, sometimes however they may even be diphtheritic in nature, 

 in which case even perforations of the nasal septum may result. There 

 is always a nasal discharge, flrst serous, later becoming muco-purulent 

 and containing croupous membranes, sometimes also streaks of blood. 

 Here and there snuffling or wheezing respiration may be observed with 

 head extended and the mouth wide open. 



Complications occur very fre<[uently (according to Grunth in 70% 

 of the cases). Very often a broncho-pneumonia sets in (Grunth ob- 

 served it in 42% of the cases) which sometimes may also give rise to 

 an interstitial lung emphysema, in which the air may pass under the 

 skin, or into the subperitoneal connective tissue. Simultaneously with 

 the broncho-pneumonia a croupous inflammation of the larynx, trachea 

 and the bronchi fre((uently develops. 



The genital passages are also affected in some cases (according to 

 Grunth in 27%). These affections take the form of a croupous, diph- 

 theritic or hemorrhagic inflammation of the mucous membranes of 

 vagina and uterus, and in some cases a parametritis and peritonitis, or 

 an affection of the mucous membrane of the urinary organs is asso- 

 ciated with it. 



Likewise a profuse, fetid diarrhea is frequently observed, in which 

 the feces may be mixed with coagulated blood or croupous membranes. 

 In conjunctivitis, which is by no means rare, the eyelids swell, and there 

 is usuallv serous lachrymation, which may become purulent. Anaccumu- 



Vol. 1—27 



