54 SPECIAL CATTLE THERAPY 



maxilla. This swelling runs from the chin to the 

 throat and may hang downward three or four inches. 

 It has the feeling of being full of water, is loose and 

 squashy, and can be compressed and moved about in 

 all directions. If it is incised the contents are found 

 to be a thin fluid, colorless and clear as crystal, with 

 a sweetish acid odor. This odor is very faint, but is 

 easih' detected if some of the fluid is permitted to dry 

 and evaporate in the hand. 



At this time the cow refuses to eat heartily, and con- 

 stipation is present. Within two to four days, some- 

 times a week, the dropsical swelling extends down the 

 front of the trachea and an immense swelling locates 

 itself betw^een the forelegs. This slowly moves back- 

 ward along the under side of the abdomen, and later 

 the hind extremities are also swollen. Ascites usually 

 develops and a severe form of dysentery is now raging. 

 There is a severe dyspnea and the cow maintains 

 the standing position for days. If death does not 

 occur at this point the dropsical swellings slowly de- 

 crease in size, the cow begins to eat a little, the dys- 

 entery is checked and recovery comes at the end of 

 three weeks or so. As the dropsical sw^ellings leave, 

 the skin over them assumes a dry, tanned appearance 

 and peels off in rolls, somewhat of the nature of the 

 shedding of skin which follows some cases of purpura 

 hemorrhagica in horses. 



The cow emerges from an attack of this condition 

 greatly emaciated and rarely regains her former con- 

 dition of health and strength. 



AVhen proper treatment is instituted early in the 

 attack, however, the course of the disease can be 

 considerably shortened and the cow returned to rea- 

 sonably good condition. 



