398 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



The diaphragm, heart sac, and heart walls show numerous hemor- 

 rhagic points and larger bloody extravasations. Sometimes there is 

 a serous pleurisy, with more or less fibrinous exudate. In the intes- 

 tinal form the submucous and subperitoneal tissues show alterations 

 from a few hemorrhagic spots to large bloody suffusions, or even 

 gelatinous infiltrations. This latter is seen about the region of the 

 pancreas and in the folds of the mesentery. There is a severe hemor- 

 rhagic inflammation of the intestines and a staining of the intestinal 

 contents with blood. The muscular system throughout shows hemor- 

 rhagic areas. The abdominal viscera, liver, spleen, and kidneys often 

 present hemorrhagic lesions. 



Differential diagnosis. — Anthrax, which presents superficial swell- 

 ings, like hemorrhagic septicemia, may be distinguished from that 

 affection on post-mortem examination by the enlargement and en- 

 gorgement of the spleen, the contents of which are soft and tarry. 

 The blood of anthrax animals is very dark, and does not become light 

 red on exposure to air, nor does it coagulate, while in hemorrhagic 

 septicemia the blood is normal in appearance and coagulates. The 

 detection of the anthrax bacillus in the blood would be final. 



In blackleg the animals affected are usually under 2 years of age. 

 The swellings are quite evident, and usually occur on the legs, above 

 the knees or hocks, and are distended with gas, which crackles, or 

 crepitates, when pressed upon. If one of these tumors is opened, 

 a bloody serum will exude, and the gas gives off the odor, of rancid 

 butter. The internal hemorrhages are not general, although they 

 may occur. A microscopic examination of the juices from the tume- 

 faction will show the blackleg bacillus. 



In cerebrospinal meningitis the causative agent is unknown, but 

 probably exists in the feed. It may occur in any locality and at any 

 season of the year. There are no local swellings, and cattle are not 

 frequently affected. 



Cornstalk disease may be differentiated from this affection from 

 the fact that it always occurs after the cattle are turned into a corn- 

 stalk field, by its sudden onset, the absence of any characteristic 

 symptoms or post-mortem lesions, and the failure to find the causative 

 agent in the blood. 



In making a post-mortem examination of animals affected with 

 hemorrhagic septicemia, it would be well to examine the articular 

 surfaces of the long bones, as it has been reported that they are fre- 

 quently ulcerated. This should apply especially to those cases that 

 have shown lameness. 



Treatment. — Treatment is absolutely useless, so far as we know at 

 present, and for all practical purposes prophylaxis alone should be 

 relied upon. The same sanitary precautions, such as isolation, dis- 

 infection, and burial or burning of all dead carcasses, should be 



