PSEUDO-MEMBRANOtrS PHARYNGITIS IN CATTLE. 141 



antimony) in electuary, according to the animal's size. Medicated 

 inhalations diminish local irritation, render swelling less j^ainful, and 

 facilitate the separation of false membranes and the discharge of 

 adherent mucous secretions. 



The ordinary food should be replaced by cooked roots, lukewarm 

 drinks and gruels, all rough fodder being prohibited. 



If difficulty in swallowing alone continues, the operator should 

 examine the mucous membrane of the pharyngeal cavity with the hand, 

 in order to discover and remove any foreign body which may have 

 become implanted there. 



PSEUDO-MEMBRANOUS PHARYNGITIS IN CATTLE. 



In addition to the above acute forms of pharyngitis, a pseudo-mem- 

 branous, croupal, or pseudo-diphtheritic pharyngitis has been described in 

 the ox. It is due to polymicrobic infection, and is characterised by the 

 formation of false membranes on the pharyngeal mucous membrane. 

 The condition seems to be a pharyngitis of exceptional intensity, vary- 

 ing markedly from the classic type and being most nearly related to 

 severe sore throat, laryngitis, gangrenous coryza, etc. 



It rarely attacks aged cattle, but is readily transmissible to calves and 

 young stock. Cadeac failed to inoculate it on guinea-pigs and rabbits. 

 Damman succeeded with sheep and with rabbits, the latter dying in 

 twenty-four hours after inoculation with haemorrhage at the seat of 

 puncture. Loffler hypodermically infected mice and produced extensive 

 infiltration of the abdominal w^alls, and often of the peritoneum, surface 

 of the liver, kidneys and intestine, on which formed a thick yellowish 

 exudate containing the organism. 



Causes. Loffler found filaments of a long delicate bacillus about half 

 the thickness of the bacillus of malignant oedema. The bacillus did not 

 grow in nutrient gelatine or in sheep's blood serum, but readily grew in 

 blood serum of the calf. Cadeac gives as predisposing causes : sudden 

 chills, rapid alterations of temperature, inhalation of irritant vapours, sup- 

 pression of cutaneous secretion, swallowing irritant liquids, and injuries. 



Symptoms. The nasal membrane is reddened, thickened and covered 

 in patches with false membrane, causing snuffling and wheezing breathing. 

 The throat is tender and swollen, cough is frequent, gurgling, and followed 

 by expulsion of false membrane, muco-pus and some blood. Shreds of 

 false membrane adhere to the nose and lips. Other symptoms are : fever, 

 accelerated pulse, dark mucous membranes, haggard countenance, mouth 

 open, hanging tongue, stringy salivation, and constipation or diarrhoea. 



The disease runs a rapid course, and death may occur in twenty-four 

 hours. Kecovery may be equally rapid, but often convalescence is 

 protracted. 



