Symptoms, Complications, Course. §95 



in somewhat more severe cases, even later. The proportion 

 of blood corpuscles and the hemoglobin content of the blood 

 are subject to very great variation, as the diminished water 

 content of the body is manifested in varying degrees from 

 case to case. The observations of Marek, which were made 

 after the cessation of the very frequent general perspiration 

 and regular watering, showed a normal specific gravity of the 

 blood (1.052-1.0544), a slight diminution of red blood corpuscles, 

 and as a rule also a slight reduction of the hemoglobin content 

 (under 70' of Fleischl's or Gowers' scale). In contrast to this 

 Schindelka, Hofling and Konig found an increase of one-half 

 above the normal in the quantity of hemoglobin, especially 

 Konig in those cases in which the percentage of the blood 

 corpuscles appeared quite normal. Strangely enough the 

 quantity of hemoglobin, although gradually diminishing, re- 

 mained increased for days, even after the disappearance of the 

 SAHiiptoms, and a considerable increase of red blood corpuscles 

 is frequently also present, especially in severe cases (Konig 

 found in one case 21,328,000 blood corpuscles), probably owing 

 to the reduction of water in the body (see p. 847). 



The appetite remains good at the onset and in mild cases 

 to the end of the disease. Consciousness appears at first un- 

 disturbed; the animals try to relieve themselves from the un- 

 comfortable position, and make repeated efforts to rise until 

 completely exhausted. Later however they lie exhausted on 

 the ground. Sometimes s^anptoms indicative of uremia may 

 be observed, such as loss of consciousness and muscular con- 

 vulsions. 



Complications appear very frequently in severe cases. 

 Among these gangrene of the skin from pressure should be men- 

 tioned in the first place, which appears on the prominent parts 

 of the body after lying for two or three days and may develop 

 under rapid extension into severe gangrene, resulting in a 

 general infection. Similar complications may develop from 

 deep tears or bruises of the skin. In other cases the continuous 

 lying on one side may cause a hypostatic hyperemia or later 

 even inflammation of the lungs. Now and then uremia develops, 

 which manifests itself especially by deep coma and convulsions. 

 When collapsing the animals ma^^ also fracture bones, especially 

 in the pelvis or thigh. 



Course. The disease is characterized by a very variable 

 course. First of all there are cases where only a certain stiff- 

 ness in locomotion is noted, which disappears within a few 

 hours, or at the most after one-half to one day. In the great 

 majority of cases how^ever pronounced symptoms of paralysis 

 appear, which persist for 2 or 3 days, sometimes even for a 

 Aveek, and then change either into a rapid or slower return to 

 the normal condition, or on the contrary may lead to death under 



