INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF CATTLE. 425 



of a tumor or swelling under the skin of the affected animal a few hours 

 after the setting in of the constitutional symptoms described above. 

 In some cases it may appear first. This tumor may be located on the 

 thighs (hence " black-leg," " black-quarter "), the neck, the shoulder, 

 the breast, the flanks, or the ruinpj never below the carpal (or knee) 

 and the hock joint. It more rarely appears in the throat and at the 

 base of the tongue. The tumor, at first small and painful, spreads very 

 rapidly both in depth and extent. When it is stroked or handled a 

 l)eculiar crackling sound is heard under the skin. This is due to a col- 

 lection of gas formed by the bacilli as they multiply. At this stage the 

 skin becomes dry, parchment-like, and cool to the touch in the center of 

 the tumor. If the swelling is cut into, a frothy, dark red, rather disa- 

 greebly smelling fluid is discharged. The animal manifests little or no 

 pain during the operation. 



As it is frequently desirable to know whether the disease is anthrax 

 or black- quarter, a few of the most obvious post-mortem changes may 

 here be cited. The characteristic tumor with its crackling sound when 

 stroked has already been described. If, after the death of the animal, 

 it be more-thoroughly examined, it will be noted that the tissue under 

 the skin is infiltrated with blood and yellowish, jelly-like material and 

 -as bubbles. The muscular tissue beneath the swelling maybe brown- 

 ish or black, shading into dark red and dark yellow. It is soft and 

 easily torn and broken up. In the abdomen and the thorax blood- 

 stained fluid is not infrequently found, together with blood-staining of 

 the lining membrane of these cavities. Blood spots (or ecchymoses) 

 are also found on the heart and lungs. 



Among the features of this disease which distinguish it from anthrax 

 may l>c mentioned the unchanged spleen and the ready clotting of the 

 blood. It will be remembered that in anthrax the spleen (milt) is very 

 much enlarged/ the blood tarry, coagulating feebly. The anthrax car- 

 Imncles and swellings differ from the black quarter swellings in not con- 

 taining gas and in causing death less rapidly. Other means of diag- 

 nosis, which have reference to the specific bacilli, to the iuoculable 

 character of the virus upon small animals, and which are of decisive 

 and final importance, can be utilized only by the trained bacteriologist 

 and veterinarian. 



Treatment. In this disease remedies have thus far proved unavail- 

 ing. Some writers recommend that the swelling be opened by deep 

 and lon# incisions and a strong disinfectant applied to the exposed 

 p.uts. For such application a strong carbolic-acid solution (1 ounce 

 carbolic acid to a pint of water) is perhaps the most easily obtained. 

 Others recommend that if the tumor appears low down on a limb a 

 cord be lied around the limb just above the tumor and the latter opened 

 and treated as stated above. Since, nearly all those attacked die, there 

 is no harm in trying these rather heroic suggestions. 



I'rcvention. The various means suggested under anthrax to prevent 



