INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF CATTLE. 407 



The prognosis is decidedly unfavorable and 80 to 90 per cent of 

 the cases result fatally. 



Lesions. — The characteristic lesions of hemorrhagic septicemia con- 

 sist of hemorrhagic areas in the subcutaneous, subserous, and muscu- 

 lar tissues, the lymph glands, and the viscera ; in fact, they are 

 distributed more or less widely throughout the body and vary in size 

 from a mere speck to the diameter of a half dollar or even larger. 

 The superficial form presents itself first as a doughy tumefaction of 

 the skin about the region of the throat, neck, dewlap, or legs, which 

 pits on pressure. This tumefaction consists essentially of a cero- 

 gelatinous exudate into the subcutaneous and intermuscular tissues. 



Bloody extravasations may take place in subcutaneous tisues in 

 various localities, but they are usually seen about the lower portion 

 of the neck. The mucous membranes and submucous tissues of the 

 mouth, tongue, pharynx, and larynx become involved in the process 

 and are greatly thickened, inflamed, and infiltrated with serum. The 

 mucous membrane becomes reddish purple, and that of the nostrils 

 may in addition show hemorrhagic spots on its surface. The lym- 

 phatic glands in this region are also swollen and infiltrated with 

 bloody serum. The salivary glands are pale and dry. The pectoral 

 type, though at times existing alone, may coexist with the cutaneous 

 form. The inflammatory edema of the mouth extends to the mucous 

 membrane of the trachea and bronchi, producing an extensive thick- 

 ening and a yellowish infiltration. The lung shows interstitial tliick- 

 ening, due to the outpouring of serum into its meshes. It may be- 

 come pneumonic. 



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. 



