182 SPECIAL EQUINE THERAPY 



and the visible membranes appear cyanotic. In various 

 parts of the body edematous swellings begin to form rap- 

 idly, convulsions set in, and death comes in the second 

 or third hour. In some cases death occurs before any 

 swellings are formed. The dead animal begins to bloat 

 almost immediately after death. Rigor mortis does not 

 become fully established in carcasses of animals dead 

 from anthrax. 



Ordinary, or subacute forms. In this form the disease 

 begins with a very high temperature which reaches 106° 

 or 107° F. within an hour or two. The horse appears 

 at first slightly excited, but soon shows symptoms of great 

 depression. It stands fixedly in one spot until it either 

 lies down or falls in an attempt to change its position. 

 Labored respiration begins, the mucous membrances ap- 

 pear almost cyanotic, and stupor rapidly develops. Ede- 

 matous swellings now develop on various parts of the 

 body ; under the neck along the trachea, flank region and 

 parotid region. Colicky pains sometimes appear. There 

 may be bloody scours, with protrusion of the rectal mem- 

 branes ; the eyes, nostrils and the mouth discharge bloody 

 secretions. The urinary secretion is usually hemorrhagic. 

 Death comes in convulsions; the horse dies usually as 

 though he were being strangled. The entire course of 

 the disease in this form is from one to two days. Recovery 

 is very rare. 



Differentiation. Anthrax is not easily mistaken for 

 any other disease, but because of the high mortality rate 

 it is not difScult to obtain material for proving the diag- 

 nosis, and this should always be done. In the apoplectic 

 form an ante-mortem diagnosis is hardly ever made be- 

 cause the patient usually succumbs before the veterina- 

 rian is on the ground. In making a postmortem exam- 

 ination of carcasses in anthrax cases, every precaution 

 should be taken by the veterinarian against infection. 



