374 Veterinary Medicine. 



Incubation is from 8 to [2 days, though it may be reduced to 

 two. (Beach). 



Symptoms. In the domestic animals the first indication of 

 illness is a lazy, tardy disposition. The subject stands apart 

 from the herd, with drooping head and ears, listless, indifferent 

 to all around him, and often without appetite ; or, in cattle or 

 sheep, rumination. There is usually extreme thirst, but without 

 correspondingly free urination or defecation. Peristalsis is vir- 

 tually abolished and nothing whatever passes from the bowels. 

 The patient is likely to be found lying down and it is difficult tO' 

 get him up, and when raised he moves stiffly and with reluctance. 



In milking cows there may be no symptoms until the animal is 

 excited or fatigued by violent or continued exercise, as a hard 

 run, or a drive of four or five miles. This develops the tremors- 

 alike in milch cows and in the mild cases in dry cattle or sheep. 

 The subject stands still and trembles in a striking way, the action 

 resembling the muscular contractions seen after the removal of 

 the hide in an animal newly killed. The head and ears are 

 drooped, movements are uncertain and stiff, and the animal may 

 even drop dead on the spot. 



As the disease advances the muscular debility becomes so great 

 that the animal lies down if possible, and if once down he seldom 

 rises again. The decubitus is extended, the head being stretched 

 on the ground. There is a most complete apathy, the subject 

 showing no fear, no apprehension, no disposition to escape or 

 resent injury. The wildest or most timid steer can be freely 

 handled, and there is no disposition to flight or retaliation. The 

 eyes are bloodshot and become fixed and glazed, winking ceases, 

 the breathing is slow, pulse infrequent, and temperature often- 

 sub-normal. The extremities and surface of the body are cool, 

 the muzzle dry, the coat usually stares, the apathy merges into- 

 a complete hebetude, torpor and coma, in which condition the 

 animal often dies on the eighth or tenth day. Violent exercise: 

 precipitates the death at once. Recoveries are infrequent and 

 attended by no critical discharge from bowels or kidneys, only by 

 a slow, at first almost imperceptible, resumption of natural action. 



The milder cases, those that show no appreciable symptoms- 

 when at rest, are seized with trembling or rigor when made to- 

 undergo the slightest exertion ; they appear haggard^ stupid and. 



