256 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



afflicted animals are made to move, they progress without any 

 elasticity of step. The appetite fails, the animals lose flesh, 

 they are very thirsty, and they manifest febrile symptoms. The 

 temperature rises, the pulse is irregular and weak, and perhaps 

 full, and it numbers about 95 or even 120 per minute in the ox. 

 The respirations are very quick, the countenance is much dis- 

 turbed, the head is protruded, the white parts of the eyes are 

 bloodshot, the mouth is hot, and the animal utters a low moan- 

 ing. The animal is stiff and rarely moves, and if pushed 

 forward it progresses in a laboured manner, staggers, and drops 

 helplessly to the ground. Rumination is not performed. In 

 the first instance the bowels are constipated, but afterwards the 

 feces become soft and tinged with blood. The skin becomes 

 dry and rough. The urine, at first very high-coloured, after- 

 wards becomes deeply blood-stained. The loins, back, and ribs 

 are tender, and if they are pressed pain is occasioned. Swelling 

 of a painful nature begins, and the swollen part may quickly 

 mortify, either at a fetlock, knee-joint, or hock-joint, or as 

 high up as the stifle, elbow, or shoulder. 



It is most generally a hind limb which is thus affected. 

 Sometimes, however, though more rarely, the swelling occurs 

 on a fore-leg, whereas at other times a fore-leg and a hind one 

 may be simultaneously attacked. The swelling spreads quickly, 

 gives rise at first to a considerable amount of pain, and when it 

 is touched, it is found to be hot and tender. The inflammatory 

 action proceeds quickly, and soon gangrene sets in. The 

 swelling becomes insensible to the touch and to cold, and when 

 it is pressed upon, it crepitates, owing to the presence of gases 

 in the tissues. This crackling is very significant. The skin 

 over the swelling sloughs, a discharge flows from the wound 

 thus resulting, and foul ulcers remain. 



In protracted cases small ulcers also break out on the mucous 

 membranes, especially those of the tongue and cheeks. The 

 emphysema increases, the extremities and surface of the body 

 become cold, the pulse is small, and stupor comes on. At an 

 early period, generally about twelve hours after the first appear- 

 ance of the swelling, the sufi'ering animal falls to the ground, 

 and soon becomes comatose, and quickly weaker and still weaker, 

 until, after a day or a little more, death closes the scene. Rarely 

 the tumours burst, and large ulcerated surfaces remain, and in 



