22 RINDERPEST. 



The period of incubation varies according to the mode of the intro- 

 duction of the poison ; where the disease is inoculated, I believe it is 

 four or five days ; but where it is caught in the usual manner, from 

 eight to ten days. (J. Simon.) 



In the inoculation cases which I have had, it has usually averaged 

 from six to eight days, and not beyond that. It cannot be longer 

 than ten days, if ever so long. (J. Gamgee.) 



It is seldom less than seven days, and it may be extended to four- 

 teen or fifteen days, or perhaps to a longer period than that. (Simonds, 

 1st Rep., p. 16.) 



The period of incubation is generally from five to seven days, 

 though in rare cases it may be more. (Gerlach, from personal observ- 

 ation, 1st Rep., p. 20.) 



The evidence as to the internal development of this dis- 

 ejise in its primary stage, is drawn principally from post- 

 mortem observations of animals slaughtered soon after 

 exposure to the contagion, and attests the fearful rapidity 

 with which it is absorbed. And first it is stated that within 

 thirty-six or forty-eight hours after inoculation, the blood is 

 so thoroughly contaminated that a single drop is sufficient 

 to develop the disease in all its malignity when employed 

 as an inoculative medium, though Gerlach states that 

 blood is rarely, if ever used, as the secretions of the eyes, 

 nose and mouth are, in the remedial agency of inoculation. 

 (1st Rep., p. 20.) 



Invariably, in the early stage, even before the vulva and mouth 

 have become affected, the lining membrane of the fourth stomach, 

 and of the whole intestinal canal from that stomach downwards, 

 shows appearance of disease. This is indicated by what is at first a 

 mere blush of redness on the surface of the lining membrane, quite 

 appreciable, however, when compared with the pale, fawn-colored 

 appearance found in the healthy state. (Wood.) 



The other stomachs soon sympathize with the condition of 

 the fourth ; the rumen or paunch, and second stomach or reti- 

 culum, are loaded with undigested food, and the third or 

 many-plies is impacted with a mass which assumes the form 

 of a large, round ball, and becomes, as the disease advances, 

 a hard, dry mass. 



