146 CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. 



leaving small roundish pits. About the same period of the 

 disease, nodules similar to those above described were observed 

 on the lower lip. 



" As the disease advances the animal becomes exceedingly 

 restless, lying down and rising again, and otherwise denoting 

 abdominal and colicky pains. Whilst lying down, the head is 

 generally turned upon the upper flank. The voluntary muscles 

 are, in most cases, affected with clonic spasm, and constant 

 twitchings of them occur, more particularly about the neck, 

 shoulders, and hind quarters. Diarrhoea sets in, and the animal 

 becomes in some cases very thirsty ; in others, there is loathing 

 both of food and drink. The intestinal discharges, at first black, 

 become of a pale greenish-brown colour, and are very fcetid ; and 

 as these are voided they cause much straining (tenesmus) by irri- 

 tating the rectum. The urine is rather scanty, dark coloured, 

 and sometimes albuminous." The pulse now becomes much 

 accelerated and very feeble — as high as 120 to 140 per minute; 

 the surface of the body deathly cold; the general weakness 

 increases rapidly, the animal standing with difiiculty, and 

 lying most of the time ; the cough is weak and soft ; the sub- 

 cutaneous areolar tissue becomes, but not invariably, emphy- 

 sematus; the buccal membrane and gums are covered with 

 masses of bran-like epithelial scales ; the angles of the mouth 

 ulcerated ; the vagina of the cow and the preputial orifice of 

 the male present a dark, deep redness. The animal is drowsy 

 and unconscious ; the breathing is performed with a spasmodic 

 jerk ; the alae of the nostrils spasmodically open and shut ; and as 

 death approaches, the mucous membranes acquire a leaden hue ; 

 whilst dark coloured spots of erosion and ecchymosis stud their 

 surfaces. Tympanitis sets in, and the discharges from the 

 bowels are involuntarily excreted, whilst muscular twitchings 

 denote the approach of death. 



Some cases of cattle plague recover, and in these cases it is 

 observed that the skin over the neck, withers, &c. becomes 

 covered with a yellowish sebaceous secretion, but there are no 

 vesicles or pustules. In some of the fatal cases it is said that 

 there is an eruption : the disease in this respect must, however, 

 differ in different localities. 



I have seen recovery take place where subcutaneous em- 

 physema was present over the greater part of the body. 



