C06 SPORADIC DISEASES. 



in connection with tliese cases was that it appearcil only after 

 rough and stormy passages ; when the weather was fine no cases 

 were observed. It also arises from the absorption of septic 

 matters, as seen in post-parturient septic broncho-pneumonia, 

 particularly when the foetal membranes are retained, and in the 

 so-called corn-stalk disease in American cattle described by 

 Billings (see p. 177), and as a result of drinking water tainted 

 with the putrefactive products of animal matters. A similar 

 condition is described by I'oels, Holland, and Professor E. 

 Lienaux, Brussels, as septic pleuro-pneumonia in calves, and in 

 which they have demonstrated a mobile ovoid microbe • 001 mm. 

 to • 0015 long by • 000.5 mm. in breadth, identical in appearance to 

 the one observed by Nocard, Billings, and myself (see Plate Vl^). 



Bronchitis, like laryngitis, may be caused by the inhalation 

 of irritant matters, and by the accidental entrance of foreign 

 materials, as medicines or food, into the bronchial tubes. In- 

 flammation of the bronchial tubes arising from the latter cause 

 usually occurs in horned cattle, often as a sequel to parturient 

 apoplexy, in which affection the power of deglutition is in a 

 great measure lost, and where the sensibility of the glottis is, 

 during the comatose stage, greatly diminished or entirely absent. 

 In such cases fluid medicines incautiously administered enter 

 the trachea and bronchi, and these may cause immediate death 

 by suffocation, or if not immediately fatal, induce a severe and 

 perhaps fatal inflammation. 



Again, during the state of coma, semi-fluid ingesta are apt to 

 flow into the mouth through the flaccid oesophagus, particularly 

 if the cow lies with its head and anterior extremities lower 

 than the posterior ones. In parturient apoplexy there is also 

 very often during the earlier stages some extent of antiperistaltic 

 action of the oesophagus, with eructations of gases from the 

 rumen ; along with such gases semi-fluid ingesta gain entrance 

 into the fauces, and owing to the paralyzed state of the glottis 

 fall into the larynx and trachea. 



Catarrh or bronchitis, from other than mechanical causes, 

 may, particularly in cattle, if the accompanying cough be long 

 and powerful, cause some degree of vomition. The food thus 

 vomited, or in other words coughed up, sometimes gains entrance 

 into the trachea, and causes a i'atal issue. 



Along with Mr. Borthwick, Kirkliston, I saw cases of this 

 in a herd of Irish cattle brought to Scotland, which were suffering 

 from bronchitis and gastric irritation from neglect and exposure. 



