XXVII. 



GENERAL SYMPTOMS OF DISEASE. 



In addition to what has been said regarding special symptoms, 

 other and general symptoms will here be given in order to give 

 assistance in the diagnosis of disease. The general appearance of 

 the visible mucous membranes is of great assistance to the veteri- 

 narian in the diagnosis of disease. The natural color of the 

 Schneiderian membrane, conjunctiva, and mucous membrane of 

 the mouth is a pale red, or carnation. Any deviation from this 

 is indicative of some disorder. A heightened color of the mem- 

 brane is indicative of an over-excitement of the circulatory sys- 

 tem. 



The appearance of the mouth offers the greatest aid to diag- 

 nosis. If the mouth is red, it indicates an irritable and con- 

 gested state of the digestive organs or forms of eczema. If 

 yellow colored, with desquamation of its epithelium, it indicates 

 Rinderpest. When the gums and lips become pale, it indicates 

 the approach of death. Usually about two hours before death 

 the membrane becomes pale; at intervals the normal redness par- 

 tially returns, and finally the membrane is void of all circulation 

 and color. Yellowness of the membrane indicates disease of the 

 liver; a slate-colored appearance, a condition of the blood due to 

 the poison of glanders; rusty color, some form of epizootic dis- 

 ease; pink, or pink-eye, e[)izootic cellnlitis; lividity, a carbonized 

 or non-oxygenated condition of the blood, as in bronchitis and 

 pulmonary congestion. 



A foul appearance of the tongue, so valuable an aid to diag- 

 nosis in the dog, is rarely observed in the ox and horse. How- 

 ever, in dyspepsia a foul condition of the membrane is seen in 

 the horse and ox. An acid condition of the salivary secretion 

 gives off a sour and fetid smell. Drsaiess of the mouth is indica- 

 tive of inflammatory disease. 



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