DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 87 



extend to the alveoli of the jaws, the teeth be- , 

 come loose, and sequestra form in the bones of 

 the jaw. Emaciation is rapid and the semi- 

 comatose state merges into complete coma, the 

 patient dying unconscious. In the first stages 

 of the affection the temperature runs high, but 

 as tbxemia increases declines to normal and 

 then to subnormal as death approaches. The 

 visible mucous membranes are congested, and 

 often icteric. In some cases the necrotic 

 process extends to the posterior nares and there 

 is a slimy blood stained discharge from the nos- 

 trils which if not removed excoriates the nares 

 and lips. 



In cases less acute the symptoms are some- 

 what modified and are not so quickly developed 

 and the disease may assume a more or less 

 chronic form, gradually yielding to treatment. 



The absence of a catarrhal discharge from 

 the nose and eyes and the fact that all the cases 

 in an outbreak show the same type of affection, 

 viz., gastro-enteritis with necrotic stomatitis, 

 serve to differentiate this condition from feline 

 distemper in which disease the catarrhal and 

 pneumonic symptoms predominate, the gastro- 

 enteritic symptoms being subordinate when 

 present and in very many cases absent alto- 

 gether. 



It should be noted that the virulence in.d'^ 

 ferent outbreaks varies very considerably, the 



