197 



of which at the onset is congested with small raised red spots, seen 

 above the surface. As the disease advances, these spots turn dirty white, 

 and ultimately become ulcers of various sizes, in some cases running 

 one into another, that is becoming confluent, more particularly 

 round the ileo-caecal valve, where the small intestine joins the large 

 one. As the case progresses, the ulcers change in character, and have a 

 characteristic centre of a dirty grey or dark appearance, surrounded 

 by well-defined 3'ellowish-red rings. In some of the cases, there is 

 a deposit of an exudate on the mucous coat of the stomach and 

 bowels, of a bran-like appearance, called the diphtheritic form of the 

 disease. The cases, however, differ greatly ; some attacks are mild, 

 while others are very severe, in which case other organs become 

 implicated, such as the lungs, heart, liver, &c. But the lesions in the 

 alimentary tract are most to be depended upon in the diagnosis of the 

 disease. 



469. Symptoms : The first to be noticed is the listless, languid 

 condition of the animal, and the extreme pallor and coldness of the skin. 

 This latter symptom is a very characteristic one, yet it has not been 

 noticed by many writers. The animal persists in lying, and has no 

 inclination to stand up or walk about ; in fact, it is extremely pros- 

 trated, even from the very first, and if made to get up, it lies down 

 again immediately, pushing itself under the straw. In from 30 to 40 

 hours after an attack, the neck appears slightly swollen, and the skin 

 round it, under the belly and ears, turns red, after which dark blotches 

 make their appearance in different parts of the body, more particularly 

 in the soft portions. These in many cases turn purple, and finally black. 

 The breathing is quick, and at times laboured, accompanied with a 

 groan or grunt. In some cases, both food and water are persistently 

 refused, while in others there is a great thirst, and, as a rule, obstinate 

 constipation, followed by profuse diarrhcea. Tlie patient may struggle 

 on for from eight to twenty, or even more, days, and have all the 

 indications of recovery, when, on the slightest disturbance, the animal 

 will die suddenly from failure of the heart's action. 



470. Treatment is not allowed, as the disease is now scheduled 



