QUARTEK-ILL. 307 



As the disease progresses, the tumour or tumours enlarge, 

 gases are evolved beneath the tissues, the animal evinces great 

 distress, the breathing becomes greatly hurried, the tempera- 

 ture rises to a great height, the pulse beats at 120 to 130 per 

 minute, feebly and intermittently ; the expression of the face 

 becomes haggard, tympanites (hoven) ensues, fteces are passed 

 involuntarily, the animal falls, becomes unable to rise, is attacked 

 by fits, and either dies during one of these, or immediately after 

 its cessation. 



In the last stages the temperature falls below the normal, 

 and decomposition sets in even before death. 



There are, however, cases which do not exhibit the ordinary 

 symptoms to commence with. In some the disease begins 

 as colic, or some digestive derangement; and in others there 

 may be lameness and stiffness, but no appearance of a tumour 

 anywhere. On. post mortem examination, the animal is found to 

 be enormously swollen, due to the evolution of gases into the 

 stomachs, intestines, and in the tissues under the skin. Bloody 

 froth is seen issuing from the mouth, nostrils, and anus. On 

 cutting into the carcase, gases of a sour odour escape, and are 

 often accompanied by spurts of dark blood or yellow serosity. 



The tumours are found to be black in their centres, and the 

 muscles in their immediate neighbourhood to have the same 

 colour. The further we proceed from the centre of the tumour 

 the lighter the colour becomes, till, instead of being black, it 

 is black and yellow streaked, then pinkish, and then surrounded 

 by a citron-coloured portion. 



In some cases the tumour is found in the muscles under the 

 shoulder — in others in the diaphragm and in many varied 

 situations, but these are rare compared to those found in the 

 loins and withers. 



Disposal of carcase. — It is the practice in some parts of 

 England to slaughter cattle affected with the disease, to prepare 

 them for human food by carefully removing the discoloured 

 portions, and sending the rest of the carcase to market. We 

 are opposed to this, and consider that this disease should be 

 dealt with by the authorities, under the " Anthrax Order of 

 the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act," as the skinning and 

 dressing the carcase is dangerous to human life. 



The blood of an animal affected coagulates readily, and hence 

 is quite different from that of anthrax (splenic fever). 



