GENEEAIi PATHOLOGY. 77 



nervous demonstrations, pointing to cerebellar or spinal irrita- 

 tion. But if they do not shortly subside, if with the cough 

 the head is kept depressed and protruded, and a spasmodic 

 action of the nostrils and flanks sets in, serious pulmonary 

 paralytic action, if not lesion, must be apprehended. Gam- 

 gee, combatting the observations and authority of Smart, 

 insists that emphysema occurred in many cases under his 

 eye, usually beginning in the anterior lobes; the modus 

 operandi of the peculiar respiration induced, being explained 

 by Dr. Weber, who says that the anterior intercostal spaces 

 become somewhat fixed, while the jjosterior true ribs are 

 raised with an effort and sink rapidly.* The signs which 

 attend this forceful outbreath on percussion have been given 

 (p. 41 and note). Auscultation reveals rMes of various 

 pitches, either accompanying the vesicular murmur or super- 

 seding it. The sounds of the heart are inaudible and impulse 

 imperceptible on the left side.* But these furnish indications 

 of a fatal resolution, and are not to be regarded as among 

 the earlier symptoms. 



The cutaneous eruption which frequently occurs on the 

 neck, back and teats, justifies a favorable prognosis, if occur- 

 ring in the earlier stages ; but if, instead of drying up and 

 scaling off, the papules remain or multiply, and the color of 

 the skin becomes a dirty yellow, desquamation of the epider- 

 mis becoming general, and the surface of the neck and of the 

 integuments extending over the crops becomes greasy from a 

 sebaceous secretion (see p. 39 and note, &c.), then coma 

 and death may be speedily anticipated. In the first issue 

 the relief that is afforded to the perspiratory energies, with- 

 out serious impairment of the subcuticular structures, is 

 communicated to the nervous centres, and a rallying of the 

 sustaining power is soon manifest. But if, as in the second 

 issue, the destruction of the epithelial cells of the skin pro- 

 ceeds far enough to involve to any great extent the nervous 

 periphery; the ganglia, cord and brain labor with the barest 

 possibility of recuperation of energy. 



* Gamgee^s Cattle Plague, p. 49. 



