286 DISEASES OF TRUE INFECTION 



rare instances it rises above that and in cases of a fatal termination it is 

 invariably subnormal. The mouth is frequently kept tightly shut by 

 the animal and efforts made to open it cause the animal great pain. The 

 mouth and breath have a particularly fcetid odor, particularly when the 

 disease is well developed, and we find the gums and jaws and cheeks covered 

 with deep ulcerous patches. The tongue varies; it may be brownish- 

 red, bluish-gray, or extremely pale and on the upper surface of the tongue 

 it is coated by dirty brownish-red mucus. Frequently the tongue lies 

 on the floor of the mouth apparently paralyzed. In some cases the 

 mouth, throat, and mucous membrane of the tongue are covered by sticky 

 moist, purulent mucus and occasionally we find necrosis of the tip of the 

 tongue. In some fatal cases we find little change in the mouth and 

 pharynx other than deep redness of the mucous membranes. 



When the disease goes on rapidly to a fatal termination, the animal 

 becomes emaciated very rapidly, lies motionless in one position and dies 

 within a week. In rare instances the animal may have convulsions before 

 death. Mettel found pneumonia and haematuria and Richta found hem- 

 orrhage in the anterior chamber of the eye. If the disease lasts over ten 

 days without fatal results, the mouth commences to clear up, the ulcers 

 become covered with a brownish scab, the vomiting ceases, the appetite 

 returns, and in two or three weeks the animal has fully recovered. Par- 

 alysis of the body and extremities may result, and deafness may occui- as 

 an after-result of this disease. In milder cases there are generally all the 

 symptoms of acute gastric catarrh with pharyngitis. It is rather difficult 

 in sporadic cases to diagnose between this disease and simple attacks of 

 gastric catarrh and pharyngitis, but when we find a number of cases and 

 where the odor from the mouth is particularly offensive and also the faeces, 

 the chances are it is hemorrhagic gastro-enteritis. 



The prognosis is very unfavorable. The mortality is from 50 to 70 

 per cent., and even the milder forms of the disease seem extremely 

 hard to treat and frequently terminate fatally; young animals seem to be 

 able to throw off the disease better than older animals, and young animals 

 are much more apt to have a milder attack. 



Therapeutics. — Treatment in well-developed cases is generally hope- 

 less. As a rule it is well to give the animals easily digested food, keep 

 the animal in a warm place free from draughts, and if there is abdominal 

 pain apply the Priessnitz compress. In case of persistent vomiting, use 

 hot applications to the region of the stomach, or wash out the stomach 

 with weak solution of creolin, alum, borated water or .8 per cent, sodium 

 chloride. Small quantities of broken up ice frequently administered may 

 check the vomiting, also morphia (-Klett), tincture of iodine and chloform, 

 aa5.0 in 3 to 10 drop doses in water or milk (Cadiot). Creasote solution, 

 (one drop in ess. of pepsin). For stomach and intestinal irritation, salicylic 



