132 BOVINE PATHOLOGY. 



alimentary tract. Until quite recently tlie analogy of this 

 disorder with other specific diseases was a matter of 

 obscurity, but recent pathological researches, notably those 

 of Dr. Yeo, have thrown important light upon the subject. 

 An infected animal introduced into a pasture, or into a 

 cowshed, remains apparently well for a long enough time 

 to communicate the disease to others. If careful thermome- 

 tric examinations are made daily, the temperature of some 

 of these will be found to rise as high as 103° F.— 104^ F., 

 but 102° is suspicious (especially if accompanied by sudden 

 improvement in condition)-, and calls for prompt isolation 

 and disinfection. This rise in the temperature takes 

 place some days before the disease manifests itself. It 

 ushers itself in slowly and stealthily. There are visible the 

 ordinary signs of ill-health, separation from the herd, un- 

 thrif tiness, and staring condition of the coat, and an irregular 

 condition of the bowels, appetite, and rumination, together 

 with diminution of milk. Auscultation will enable us to 

 detect, often in only one lung, the mucous rale. The 

 respiratory efforts are slightly more frequent than in 

 health, and there is a cough which at first is only obser- 

 vable after drinking and in the morning and evening, or 

 when the patient is hustled, or pressure applied between 

 the ribs, disappearing during the middle of the day. The 

 second stage is marked by more decided fever, the cough 

 is more persistent, harsh, and frequent. The respirations 

 are quickened and laboured, and the expirations are 

 accompanied by a pathognomonic grunt; the animal 

 generally stands with muzzle protruded, dilated nostrils, 

 and heaving flanks. The breath also becomes foetid. 

 There is a watery discharge from the nose and eyes, which 

 later assumes a purulent character, and is of an unpleasant 

 odour. The skin, already dry, harsh, and tight, now 

 becomes yellow and dirty. The pulse at first beats firmly, 

 and is full though fast (70 or 80). Afterwards it becomes 

 very small and scarcely perceptible. The back is arched, 

 and pressure on the loins produces shrinking ; percussion 

 of the intercostal spaces is evidently very painful, for it 

 causes the patient to moan, and the sound yielded is dull 



