40 



The s3'mptonis exhibited by the affected animals, according to the 

 ■statement of the physician, were evidence of severe abdominal pain, 

 throwing the head from side to side, continual stepping, whisking of 

 the tail, later twitching of the muscles followed by paralysis of the 

 posterior parts of the body, falling, inability to rise when down, 

 resting of the head upon the sides and occasionally pressure of the 

 nose upon the ground. In nearly all of the cases the anus and vulva 

 became swollen and dark in color. In some, purgation existed wiih 

 frequent straining ; faeces tliin but not colored with blood were passed. 

 In none was diuresis a marked symptom. Shortly before death the 

 respiration was hurried and labored, especially so in some. In gen- 

 eral the symptoms indicated intense abdominal pain, dyspnoea and 

 paralysis, particularly of the posterior extremities. 



On the day following the eating of the salt, the three living cows 

 that had during the night shown the same sj'mptoms as those which 

 had died did not appear to be suffering to any great extent. An 

 examination showed the temperature to be only slightly elevated, the 

 pulse nearly normal, the mucous membrane but little injected. Food 

 was refused by all. While the faeces passed were thin and watery 

 they were not abnormally abundant, neither were the functions of 

 the kidneys disturbed to any extent. Slight muscular weakness or 

 paralysis existed in the posterior extremities. So far as known the 

 recovery of tiiese animals was complete. 



Autopsies made the following afternoon, (eighteen hours after 

 death) upon two of the cows which had died first and had not been 

 .given drugs revealed the following condition. Parts of the mucous 

 membrane of the rectum and of the vagina were everted and swollen 

 and of a bluish black color. Upon opening the abdominal cavity 

 numerous ecehymotic spots were found on the peritoneum and viscera. 

 The mucous membrane of the first and second stomachs near the 

 •cesophagus was thickened and red in color, and in these parts it was 

 «asily detached from the tissues beneath. 



The lungs were semi-solid, dark in color and the blood-vessels 

 filled with dark blood. Scrapings from a cut section showed the pres- 

 ence of air in the air cells. The left side of the heart contained but 

 little blood, while in the cavities of the right large, black semi-fluid 

 clots were found. All other organs of the body were normal. 



The condition of the heart and lungs found upon post-mortem 

 examination would indicate that death resulted from asphyxia. 



