98 HEMORRHAGIC SEPTICEMIA 



cases also breathe very heavily. The animals show marked 

 disinclination to move and when incited to do so, exhibit stiff- 

 ness, and in some instances actual lameness. Animals have 

 been observed to drop to the ground and die in a short time, 

 apparently without pain. Other animals live for several hours 

 in great pain as indicated by groans and spasms of the muscles. 

 The paroxysms of pain are apparently intermittent. There is 

 extremely rapid loss of flesh in the animals that are sick for 

 any length of time. 



Reynolds has observed the symptoms in a few cases. He 

 describes three stages. First (24-36 hours) general dullness 

 and checking of milk secretion. Second, diarrheal discharge 

 dark in color, and of disagreeable odor. The breath was 

 noticed to be offensive. In some cases nervous symptoms 

 developed. The temperature remained about normal during 

 this period. Third, in this stage the eyes are wild, there is 

 grinding of the jaws, convulsions of the face and neck muscles 

 followed by a period of intense restlessness and activity. 



He also records the observation that the cases that ap- 

 peared to be the worst in the beginning lived longer than 

 those that appeared to be mild. 



Opportunities for the accurate determination of tempera- 

 ture at the beginning of the disease have been very few. An 

 initial temperature of 105.6° F. followed by a rapid decline 

 has been observed. Painful edematous swellings about the 

 legs, shoulders and under the throat are noted as early symp- 

 toms. The intestinal discharges are often streaked with 

 blood. In other cases the feces are black, tarry or of a bloody, 

 serous nature. Bloody urine and a bloody serous discharge 

 from the nose have been present in some cases. The vaginal 

 and rectal mucous membranes are intensely congested. 



The marked swelling of the face, stomatitis, glossitis, and 

 convulsive movements of the jaws in the pneumonic form of 

 the disease, described by European writers, more especially 

 Bollinger, were not observed by Wilson and Brimhall or by 

 Reynolds. 



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