VAllIOLA OVIN.E. 217 



latter stages ; yellowish spots may likewise be seen scattered 

 here and there on the pituitary membrane; the pulse early 

 gives evidence of febrile excitement; at first it is quickened 

 and somewhat increased in force, numbering about ninety- 

 five beats in a minute; later on it becomes tremulous and 

 indistinct, even over the region of the heart; rumination is 

 suspended, and all food refused ; but the patients show a great 

 disposition to take water, and also to lick earth, which, mingling 

 with the mucus of the nose, assists in clogging the nasal open- 

 ings, and renders the respiration more difficult. The alvine 

 evacuations are but little changed in the majority of cases ; in 

 some, however, diarrhoea succeeds to a torpid condition of the 

 bowels, and hastens the fatal termination ; the temperature of 

 the body is unetxual, the feet and ears being generally cold, 

 while the skin elsewhere is hot. 



" These symptoms, more or less modified, are present from the 

 commencement of the eruption, and seldom abate until the papular 

 stage gives place to the vesicular, when the animals usually 

 experience a relief. In all natural cases, the constitutional 

 disturbance is great, and makes the probable termination of the 

 attack doubtful, which is also rendered more uncertain when 

 the confluent form of variola prevails ; for the type of the 

 disease, as elsewhere stated, governs to a considerable extent 

 the amount of the fatality. 



" Not only is the prognosis unfavourable in confluent variola, 

 but it is equally so if the fever continues unabated, which is 

 certain to be associated with an augmentation of the patient's 

 sufferings. The breathing now becomes rapid and painful ; the 

 inspirations frequently, but more often the expirations, are 

 accompanied with a moan ; frothy saliva is discharged from the 

 mouth ; the exhalations are foetid ; the wool separates from the 

 skin on the application of the slightest force ; ulcerations of 

 the conjunctival membrane occasionally result ; and sometimes 

 the internal structures of the eye give evidence of disorganisa- 

 tion ; the animal shrinks from the touch ; the pulse gets more 

 and more indistinct; great prostration of all the vital powers 

 succeeds, and death closes the painful scene." 



The per-centage of mortality arising from variola ovinge varies 

 considerably ; very often half the sheep which are attacked suc- 

 cumb to the disease, and it is not unusual for nearly the whole 



