PETECHIAL FEVER IN CATTI^E. 



Synonyms. Causes : microbes, maturity, hard work, chill, poor hygiene, 

 drying of damp lands in summer and autumn, impermeable soils, corrupt 

 water, bacillus, diplococcus ; resemblance to hsemorrhagic septicaemia. 

 Lesions : petechias and haemorrhages on mucosae, serosae and skin ; gelati- 

 noid exudates gravitating to the lowest parts of face, chest, belly and legs ; 

 chaps, oozing, sloughs, depilation, exudate in tongue, bloody diarrhcea, du- 

 ration 14 to 40 days, mortality light ; indurations. Diagnosis : from an- 

 thrax, black quarter, malignant cedema and acute haemorrhagic septicaemia. 

 Prevention : avoid infecting soils in summer and autumn ; drainage, cultiva- 

 tion ; chills. Treatment : venesection :- laxatives, diuretics : intratracheal 

 injections of iodine : colloidal silver. lyocally : antiseptic astringents : re- 

 move eschars : facilitate breathing by surgical or mechanical means : good 

 hygiene. 



Synonyms. Purpura Hsemorrhagica. Anasarca. Inflamma- 

 tory (Edema. Yellow Water. Morbus Maculosus. 



This malady presents phenomena very similar to those found 

 in the horse, and shows itself in mild and severe types. It has 

 been noted by writers on diseases of cattle from Vegetius down, 

 though under quite a variety of names. 



Causes. These are uncertain, though much seems to point to 

 microbian invasion or intoxication by microbian poisons. In 

 France, it has been seen mainly in mature and robust working 

 oxen after a hard day's work, when the animal has had time to cool 

 off. Also in cows used in the yoke and milked at the same time. 

 Poor food, starvation and low condition have also been cited as 

 causes. In other cases, high feeding and plethora have been in- 

 criminated. It shows itself most commonly in summer and 

 autumn, so that cold or chill must be looked on as a cause sec- 

 ondary to another — probably microbian or toxic. Again, it is 

 by far the most common in the adult animal. What is more sug- 

 gestive is its relative frequency in localities characterized by 

 swamps, springy fields, hollow basins, damp hill-foots, bottom 

 lands, and damp, impermeable or undrained soils. Again, on 

 heavy clays where the water is preserved through summer in open 

 ponds and often in a very corrupt condition. This at once ac- 

 counts for its common appearance in summer and autumn when 

 the offensive products of fermentation are most abundant, and 

 corroborates the doctrine of a toxic ferment. But its origin has 

 not been definitely traced to such products as yet. This, not- 



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