Bloody Murrain, 277 



not liable to anthrax), which had fed on the carcass of an ox 

 dead of murrain. Flies can carry the disease on their feet 

 and probosces. An ox yoke worn by an infected animal has 

 been known to carry the infection to a well one ; and even 

 grain and straw, grown on a soil where a diseased animal has 

 been buried, are said on good authority to communicate the 

 malady. Strong alcohol does not diminish its virulence. 

 Prof. Agnew tells of his own knowledge a case where a man 

 died of malignant pustule ; his face had been occasionally 

 wiped with a handkerchief saturated with alcohol ; six months 

 afterwards his widow used a little alcohol from the same 

 bottle to bathe her face, and was at once attacked with the 

 same terrible disease. 



Symptoms. — The animal becomes languid^ the ears drop, 

 the eyes are red, the mouth and nose hot and dry, and the 

 pulse rapid and feeble, from 80 to 120 beats per minute. 



In the course of a short time swellings appear about the 

 loins, back, head, neck, brisket or legs. They cause pain 

 and stiffness, which make the animal unwilling to move or 

 rise up if he is lying down. The appetite is entirely lost, he 

 does not chew the cud, the bowels are constipated, and the 

 urine scanty and dark in color. 



When the swellings mentioned are felt, they are found to 

 be cool or cold, not very tender or painful, and may give out 

 a crackling sound. They are dark or nearly black in color, 

 having the appearance of mortification. 



In a few hours or a few days the symptoms of exhaustion 

 deepen greatly ; the animal cannot rise from the ground, his 

 eye is fixed and staring, the breathing is shallow, and he dies 

 often in convulsions. 



When the disease attacks the tongue it is known as "black 

 tongue '' or " blain ; " and when in the throat, as " malignant 

 sore throat '' or " putrid sore throat." At times the tumors 

 form on the intestines, when the prominent sign is the pas- 



