DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS 287 



are present in the small intestine, where there is a good deal 

 of swelling and congestion of the mucous membrane with 

 insulated, scab-like caseous deposits and erosions. In very 

 severe cases these deposits form tube-like casts of the intestinal 

 canal. At the same time there ma}' be considerable infiltration 

 of the solitary glands and of Peyer's patches which are swollen 

 and either undergoing a purulent disintegration or becoming 

 covered with caseous or purulent deposits. 



In the large intestine the inflammatory changes are much 

 less pronounced. They are greatest in the caecum. 



The nasal mucous membrane is of a dark red color and 

 covered with greyish-yellow, soft scabs. After they are re- 

 moved, the true tissue of the mucous membrane lies bare. 

 Similar changes are found in the larynx and trachea, where 

 the deposited masses are frequently purulent and of a creamy 

 consistence. The lungs are sometimes hyperaemic, sometimes 

 oedematous, hepatised or emphysematous. Pneumothorax 

 and subcutaneous emphysema may be present. 



§ 217. Differential diagnosis. It is very difficult to 

 diagnose rinderpest from the first cases that occur especially if 

 there is no history of infection. The diagnosis is based upon 

 the symptoms, morbid anatomy, progress of the epizootic and 

 the history. The most characteristic diagnostic sj-mptoms are 

 the rise in temperature (which often occurs some da3rs before 

 other sj'mptoms), formation of red spots and a yellow coating 

 on the visible mucous membranes and later the development of 

 erosion ulcers. A mucous discharge from the mouth, nares, 

 eyes and vagina with symptoms of severe intestinal disturbances 

 and excessive emaciation are of differential value. 



Rinderpest is to be differentiated from " foot and mouth " 

 disease in which the foot lesions are absent or where it is com- 

 plicated with fever. Malignant catarrah if complicated with 

 emphysema of the lungs. Anthrax, Texas fever, and other 

 affections such as contagious pleuropneumonia and enteritis 

 may be mistaken for it. The differentiation must be made 

 from the specific nature of each disease. 



§ 218. Prevention. In this connection the proclama- 

 tion for the prevention of the spread of rinderpest in Cape 



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