384 ERUPTIVE OE PETECHIAL FEVERS. 



discharge an unliealtliy, foetid sanies. The pnlse is feeble, often 

 fluttering, dicrotonous — double, and there is great prostration 

 of the vital powers. The bowels are at first generally con- 

 stipated, but purgation is easily excited. Sometimes the faeces 

 are mixed with blood, and abdominal pains are often present. 

 In some instances there is soreness of the throat ; but in purpura 

 it is an accidental complication, and absent in the majority 

 of cases. There is very often a hoarse or hollow cough, and a 

 discharge of coffee- coloured fluid from the air passages. The 

 petechial spots on the nose frequently slough, and leave a raw 

 surface, from which issues an abundance of dark-coloured sanies, 

 causing a snuffling sound in the nasal passages ; and in some 

 instances the tongue has been found swollen, with large, dark- 

 coloured vesicles on its surface, containing much foetid material. 



Some cases will commence to improve under proper treat- 

 ment on the third or fourth day. Others take a much longer 

 period, the fever being of a remittent character, and at all times 

 the animal is liable to exacerbations from very trivial causes. 



It is with difficulty that the animal can be made to move, 

 owing to the stiff and painful condition of the limbs ; it vdll 

 often stand rooted to one spot for hours or even days together. 



The urine is generally high, often dark-coloured, and emits a 

 strong odour of ammonia ; it contains much solid matter, and 

 if kept in a vessel very soon undergoes decomposition. 



In many instances the enteric complications are very grave 

 and important, and in every case there is a danger of sudden 

 extravasation into the intestinal mucous membrane and alimen- 

 tary canal, the extravasations being so excessive as to cause 

 rapid death from internal haemorrhage. 



Causes. — In the great majority of instances purpura occurs as a 

 sequel to some debilitating disease, more particularly catarrhal 

 fever, and its origin can in most instances be traced to bad ventila- 

 tion or drainage. "When an animal suffeiing from catarrhal fever is 

 kept in a well-ventilated, well-drained stable, and otherwise 

 properly cared for, purpura is scarcely ever seen ; but if such an 

 animal is housed in a badly drained, ill-lighted, and defectively 

 ventilated stable, in fact, when it is compelled to inhale the 

 products of decomposing urine, faeces, and of its own breath for 

 several days together, the blood becomes so empoisoned with 

 effete products that it loses its integrity, accumulates in the 



