DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 73 



an incubatory period, varying from two to six weeks, or even longer, 

 and perhaps the first thing that will be noticed is an increased tem- 

 perature of the body to 103, 104 or even 105 degrees. Often before 

 any other signs are developed, there may be slight rigours or shiv- 

 ering, but so slight as to be overlooked. After this, the system becomes 

 impaired. If in milch cow, the secretion of milk is impaired, and there 

 is a slight cough, noticed more in the morning, especially if the animal 

 was kept up all night. The disease gradually grows worse, and the cough 

 increases ; this may be the only symptom for some time. The animal 

 was thought to be only suffering from a slight cold. After a while the 

 lungs become affected, giving signs of quickened breathing. Animal 

 gradually loses condition ; becomes emaciated ; hide bound condition of 

 the skin ; a discharge from the nostrils of a whitish, or even a fetid 

 character. In the first stages, you can, by ausculation, detect a grating 

 sound, due to plural surfaces rubbing together. Concussion reveals a 

 dull, dead sound. In the second stage the pulse is very quick ; usually 

 symptoms of fever, dryness in the muzzle. The horns may be either 

 cold or hot, and the temperature and cough increased. Cattle, when 

 suffering, lie upon the sterum, in order to relieve the pressure. If likely 

 to end fatally, the discharge becomes fetid ; may have slight diarrhoea, 

 followed by constipation ; a particular gritting of the teeth ; moaning or 

 grunting ; the eye has a glassy appearance ; debility, and death. 



Post mortem appearances. — After those changes have taken place 

 in the lungs, the blood becomes affected, and then the inter-lobular 

 tissue of the lungs, and exudation takes place ; the air cells become 

 gradually obliterated, and you have a solidified or hepatized condi- 

 tion, but the animal may die before hepatization sets in. The lung 

 is increased much in weight. The lungs present a marbled appear- 

 ance, but this is characteristic of inflammation of the lungs as well. 

 The pleura is also affected, and covered with a slight fibrinous exudation ; 

 there is also effusion of serum or hydrothorax, mixed with fibrinous clots. 

 In this disease, there is sometimes suppuration. Parts of the lungs may 

 become encysted, and the animal live, even after this, for years. The 

 sporadic form is usaally quickly developed, while the contagious forrn is 

 more of a fever at first, and then progresses afterwards. The contagium 

 is said to be iu both a fixed and volatile form, and the virus more power- 

 ful during the first or febrile stage It is most likely to be conveyed by 

 means of the breath, and the virus will retain its activity for several 

 months. There is some difference of opinion as to how it may be con- 

 veyed, but it is supposed to find its way into the system through the 

 respiratory organs. Blood has been given to healthy animals without 

 producing it, and diseased lung has been tried with like effect However, 

 it may be taken in by other ways, but most likely through the respiratory 

 organs ; and it may exist without showing well-marked symptoms. It 

 spreads rapidly over a great scope of territory. It may be carried on the 

 cars, and it is said that it has been carried on the clothes of people. It 

 may be possible, but it is said that animals must come in contact, as a 

 general thing. The per cent, of loss from this is much greater when it 

 first appears — the loss varying from thirty to eighty per cent. This 

 disease has inflicted great loss in some countries, but it is not so fatal as 

 rinderpest. America has suffered some loss, and I do not suppose has 

 ever been entirely rid of it since its outbreak. 



Treatment has been attended with much success; but febrifuge and 

 judicious counter irritation have been used. The disease should be 

 stamped out without trying to treat it, and that would be more successful 

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