460 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



any signs of disease, suddenly drops down in the pasture and dies in 

 convulsions, or an animal apparently well at night is found dead in 

 the morning. 



The second type {anthrax acutis), without any external swellings, 

 is the one most commonly observed in cattle. The disease begins with 

 a high fever. The temperature may reach 106° to 107° F. The pulse 

 beats from 80 to 100 per minute. Feeding and rumination are sus- 

 pended. Chills and muscular tremors may appear and the skin 

 show uneven temperature. The ears and base of the horns are cold, 

 the coat staring. The animals are didl and stupid and manifest great 

 weakness. 



To these symptoms others are added in the course of the disease. 

 The dullness may give way to great uneasiness, champing of the 

 jaws, spasms of the limbs, kicking and pawing the ground. The 

 breathing may become labored. The nostrils then dilate, the mouth 

 is open, the head raised, and all muscles of the chest are strained 

 during breathing, while the visible mucous membranes (nose, mouth, 

 rectum, and vagina) become bluish. If the disease has started in 

 the bowels, there is much pain, as showm by the moaning of the 

 animal ; the discharges, at first firm, become softer and covered with 

 serum, mucus, and blood. 



As the disease approaches the fatal termination the weakness of 

 the animal increases. It leans against supports or lies down. Blood 

 vessels may rupture and give rise to spots of blood on the various 

 mucous membranes and bloody discharges from nose, mouth, rectum, 

 and vagina. The urine not infrequently contains blood (red water). 

 Death ensues within one or two days. 



A third type of the disease {anthrax subacutus) includes those 

 cases in which the disease is more prolonged. It may last from three 

 to seven days and terminate fatally or end in recovery. In this type, 

 which is rarely observed, the symptoms are practically as described 

 in the acute form, only less marked. 



In connection with these types of intestinal anthrax, swellings may 

 appear under the skin in different parts of the body, or the disease 

 wvAj start from such a swelling, caused by the inoculation of anthrax 

 spores in one of the several different w^ays already described. If the 

 disease begins in the skin it agrees in general with the subacute form 

 in prolonged duration, and it may occasionally terminate in recovery 

 if the swellings are thoroughly incised and treated. 



Lesions. — These swellings ai:)pear as edemas and carbuncles. The 

 former are doughy tumors of a more or less flattish form passing 

 gradually into the surrounding healthy tissue. They are situated as 

 a rule beneath the skin in the fatty layer, and the skin itself is at 

 first of healthy appearance, so that they are often overlooked, espe- 

 cially when covered with a good coat of hair. When they are cut 



