Course of Disease. 247 



whereas in the years 1861-1863 it was not observed in a single instaaefe^ 

 [Zlamal].) .; 



With the diminishing milk secretion the udder becomes 

 flabby, wrinkled and cold; the milk which is secreted in small 

 quantity is watery and of a pronounced yellow color. Pregnant 

 animals usually abort at the height of the disease. 



During the development of the described symptoms the 

 animals have no appetite and do not ruminate, become rapidly 

 emaciated and steadily lose in strength. The skin loses its 

 elasticity, becomes stifp and dry, the hair dull and lusterless. 

 The advanced stage of the disease appears characteristic in 

 the presence of a dull look from the deeply sunken eyes, purulent 

 secretions from the eyes, dirty nasal discharge, foamy ^^liva 

 in the corners of the mouth, grinding of the teeth, accelerated 

 and grunting respiration accompanied by shaking of the body, 

 muscular trembling, and the peculiar repulsive odor of the 

 excrements. Soon the animals are not capable of standing 

 up, they lie constantly on the ground with head extended or 

 turned on the shoulder, and finally they succumb, completely 

 exhausted, in convulsions or without struggle. 



Course. The described symptoms do not all develop in 

 every case of rinderpest. Furthermore according to Lorinser 

 the entire symptom complex is never present in one animal or 

 even in the herd, but from case to case the changes in the 

 respiratory organs, or those of the digestive tract predominate, 

 and in other instances symptoms of the genital organs ; in most 

 instances all the organs mentioned may be affected, at the same 

 time but in varying intensity. 



In the great majority of the severe cases the disease lasts 

 on an average of from 4-7 days. The affection of the mucous 

 membrane can usually be detected on the second day after 

 the appearance of the febrile symptoms. The clinical mani- 

 festations develop in their full intensity on the third or fourth 

 day; in exceptional cases the condition becomes very rapidly 

 aggravated, when death may result on the second or third day, 

 while in other cases the course may extend from 14-16 days. 

 The convalescence lasts from 2-3 weeks, and the symptoms, 

 especially those of the intestinal inflammation diminish very 

 gradually. 



In the milder cases, such as are usually observed among 

 range cattle, the symptoms do not develop to such a degree, and 

 usually commence to recede about the fourth or fifth day. Ac- 

 cording to the observations of Eussian authors and Eggebrecht, 

 the disease among theise breeds of cattle may be manifested 

 "only by a febrile condition lasting for a few days, and by a 

 mild catarrh of the mucous membranes of the respiratory 

 organs, as well as of the digestive tract. As a result of these 

 the disease may sometimes even pass unnoticed in the larger 

 herds. This mild form of rinderpest is observed in very 



