476 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



appearance in mild cases or a chalky whiteness in more severe affec- 

 tions. Cases of ulceration of the cornea followed by perforation and 

 subsequent escape of the aqueous humor, leading to slirinking of the 

 eyeball and pemianent loss of sight, have been recorded; but these 

 are relatively rare^ although slight inflammation of the deeper struc- 

 tures of the eye (iris) are more fi-equent. This inflammation may 

 undergo complete resolution in mild cases, but more frequently per- 

 manent cloudiness of the coraea either diffuse or in spots (leucoma) 

 is the result. The mucous membrane of the mouth, nose, sinuses of 

 the head, throat, and lower respiratory passages are also involved. 

 It is flrst catarrhal in character, but soon a false or diphtheritic mem- 

 brane is formed, with the production of shallow ulcers. There is 

 dribbling of saliva from the mouth and discharge from the nose, 

 which is at first Avateiy, becoming thicker and mixed with blood and 

 small masses of cast-off croupous membrane, causing a very fetid 

 odor. These croupous areas when they form in the throat, larynx, or 

 windpipe may lead to narrowing of these passages, with consequent 

 difficult breathing and even suffocation. Various respiratoi-y mur- 

 nnirs may also be heard, caused by the to-and-fro movement of mucus 

 and inflammatory deposits along the air passages. There is also 

 inflammation of the horn core with consequent loosening of the horn 

 shell, and the horns are thus readily knocked off by the uneasy, blind 

 sufferer. The animal may refuse all food fi'om the time of tlie initial 

 rise of temperature, or in less severe cases, and especially when tlie 

 lesions of the digestive tract are not so marked, the appetite may 

 remain until the disease is well advanced. Constipation is quite 

 common at the commencement of the attack, followed by diarrhea 

 and severe straining, the evacuations becoming very soft, fetid, and 

 streaked with blood. Cases have been reported of the evacuation of 

 desquamated patches of diphtheritic membrane from the intestinal 

 mucosa 6 to 9 feet in length. The kidneys and bladder are usually 

 inflamed, the urine being voided with difficulty and the animal 

 evincing signs of pain. Inflammatory elements, as albumen, casts, 

 etc., may be seen on examination of the urine. In cows the mucous 

 membrane of the vestibule is congestedj swollen, and may contain 

 ulcers and an excessive quantity of mucus. Abortion is not infre- 

 quent, following a severe attack during advanced pregnancy. In 

 connection with these various sysmptoms there may be much imeasi- 

 ness on the part of the animal, leading in some cases to madness and 

 furious delirium, in others to spasms and con\^ilsions or paralysis. 

 A vesicular eruption of the skin may occur, seen principally between 

 the toes and on the inside of the flank and in the armpits, with sub- 

 sequent loss of hair and epidermis. 



Like other infectious diseases, malignant catarrh pursues a longer 

 or shorter course in accordance with the severity of the attack. In 



