290 CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. 



prevalent in India, where it is said to attack ihe elephant as 

 well as other animals. 



Symptoms. — The animal may appear dull, walking with a 

 lieavy, feeble step, then falls prostrate in a state of somnolence ; 

 if it be standing, the head hangs down, resting on the manger 

 or other solid body. It sometimes stands back in the stall, 

 resting the body on the side, and finally becomes restive, stamps 

 with the feet, looks to the sides and flanks, and shows other 

 signs of colic. 



If the disease comes on whilst the animal is at work, added 

 to the above symptoms there is extreme lassitude, great weak- 

 ness of the lumbar muscles and posterior extremities, with stag- 

 gering gait. The skin has lost its suppleness, is hot, and slightly 

 crepitates on the back, over the kidneys, and sides ; the coat 

 is rough and bristly in some parts; and there are partial or 

 general tremblings of the muscles, and How of saliva from the 

 mouth. There are sweats, alternating from hot to cold. At the 

 base of the ears, and behind the elbows, the veins become 

 augmented in volume. Above all, the lymphatic ganglia of the 

 groin are swollen ; and if the horse be entire, the testicles move 

 rapidly up and down. Great excitement now sets in, the 

 animal is irritable and timorous, and afterwards becomes uncon- 

 scious of all around. The conjunctivse are yellow or reddish- 

 yellow ; and sometimes petechial spots are present on the visible 

 mucous membranes. 



The pulse is small and thready ; the beatings of the heart are, 

 however, strong, and are accompanied by a metallic tinkle. The 

 respiration is often irregular, and often associated with roaring. 



These symptoms may insensibly disappear, or may be suc- 

 ceeded by a critical eruption. At other times, even after the 

 animal has seemed to rally, aggravation of the symptoms takes 

 place. The animal grinds its teeth, has violent colic, rolls 

 about, carrying its head to its flanks ; the muscles of the head 

 and neck are agitated by convulsive movements ; the eyes are 

 haggard and wandering ; the mucous membrane injected, and of 

 a brow^n or red tinge ; the heart beats with extreme violence, 

 very irregularly, and accompanied by a strong metallic sound ; 

 the pulse is trembling or double, and very small ; the respira- 

 tions tumultuous and agitated ; the nostrils dilated, and clots 

 of yellow (almost sulphur coloured) serosity and blood escape 



