402 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



Symptojns. — The period between the infection and the appearance 

 of symptoms is somewhat variable. It is usually given as thre.e to 

 six days. It may be briefer or much longer. In cows the mucous 

 membrane of the vagina and the vulva become swollen, inflamed, 

 very tender, and covered with dark-red spots. The secretion is very 

 abundant and consists at first largely of serum and mucus resem- 

 bling the white of an egg. Small vesicles then appear, which rapidly 

 burst and are converted into excoriations or deeper ulcerations. 

 The secretion becomes more purulent and is apt to dry in crusts 

 about the root of the tail. The eruption is accompanied w^ith much 

 itching and difficulty in urinating. The walk may be stiff and awk- 

 ward. In l)ulls the eruption is situated on the prepuce and the end 

 of the penis, and consists of pimples, vesicles, and ulcers, as in 

 cows. It is accompanied Avith a little purulent discharge from the 

 prepuce, itching, and difficulty in urinating. In severe cases the 

 inflammation and swelling may extend backward to the scrotum and 

 forward upon the abdomen. 



The disease lasts from one to four weeks and always terminates in 

 recovery. The acute stage lasts only four or five days, while the 

 complete healing of the inflammation is slow. The eruption is usu- 

 ally accompanied with very little general disturbance. If the pain 

 and irritation are severe, there may be some light loss of appetite and 

 diminished milk secretion in cows. The disease rarel}'^ causes abor- 

 tion. Chronic catarrh of the vagina and permanent sterility fre- 

 quently follow as sequelae. 



Treatnieiit need not be resorted to excepting in severe cases. The 

 secretion and exudation should be washed off and a mild antiseptic 

 applied, such as a 1 per cent solution .of carbolic acid (1 ounce to 3 

 quarts of water) or 2 per cent solution of cresol compound in water. 

 Care must be taken not to carry the disease from the sick to the well 

 by sponges, etc., which have come in contact with the affected organs. 

 These should be destroyed. To prevent the spread of the disease the 

 infected animals should be kept isolated until they have recovered. 



RABIES OF CATTLE. 



Rabies is a disease preeminently affecting the canine race, although 

 all warm-blooded animals, including man, are susceptible to the mal- 

 ady, which is always communicated through bites from a preceding 

 case. It has required many years of patient, scientific research to 

 lead the ablest investigators to a clear comprehension of the cause, 

 nature, and characteristics of this affection. It was knoAvn and de- 

 scribed several centuries prior to the beginning of the Christian era, 

 and from the earliest dawn of history it has been feared and dreaded. 

 Its terrible manifestations have always been surrounded with an 



