CONTAGIONS DISEASES OF CATTLE. 447 



respirations are panting; the abdomen tympanitic; the lung blush 

 red; the mouth is filled with mucous, and there is an escape of 

 blood from the nose; the eyes are sunk, and tears flow over the 

 cheeks. Death may take place in a few minutes or in twenty 

 hours. In cattle above two years old, particularly milch cows, 

 the spleen is greatly congested. This gave rise to the name, 

 splenic fever. In true splenic apoplexy, the spleen is enlarged 

 and its capsules distended with a mass of tar-like blood. In an- 

 other form of anthrax, without external tumors, the most promi- 

 nent sign is a passage from the bowels of a quantity of dark 

 colored blood. 



Death from splenic fever is very sudden. An animal, a few 

 hours before in good health, may be found dead, having died 

 apparently without a struggle, though some cases may linger 

 several days. The disease is seldom seen in this country. 



For treatment in cattle, see the treatment of anthrax in the 

 hoi-se. Food from diseased animals should be strictly for'bidden. 

 Milk from cows afi"ected with anthrax is unfit for the use of man 

 or other animals. All incurable animals should be destroyed and 

 buried deeply, and all alimentary matter buried witli them. 

 Those that are curable should be isolated from the herd and the 

 place disinfected thoroughly. 



QUARTER ILL, OR BLACK LEG. 



This disease, under numerous names, is well known to stock- 

 raisers. It is frequently seen in this country. Tlie disease 

 affects cattle and sheep only, and is due to the presence of an 

 organism. It occurs much more frequently in young animals 

 than in old ones. Animals affected under two yeai*s old almost 

 invariably die, but animals over that age frequently recover. It 

 is seldom seen in calves under six months old, unless fed exclu- 

 sively on a diet other than a milk one. The disease occurs most 

 frequently when animals are changed from one pasture to an- 

 other, especially when changed from poor feeding to rich pas- 

 tures. The disease is also most prevalent in low-lying lands. 



