Symptoms. Complications. 341 



the eighth day on, but even after six weeks it amounted to only 350 liters. According 

 to Weber cows in the period of the highest milk production give during the course 

 of the disease 5-6 liters less milk daily. Born observed on a farm that the entire 

 quantity of milk eight days after the outbreak of the disease diminished from 

 750 to 280 liters; after the next eight days it rose to 400 liters, but failed to 

 reach its former height at any later period. The reduction amounted on a monthly 

 average, to 3.6 liters daily per cow. 



The milk of affected cows contains more salts (Lavena, Herberger) and 

 albumen (Kalantar), but less fat and sugar (Herberger; according to Kreis the 

 proportion of fat is increased), and in the fat the volatile fatty acids are greatly 

 diminished (Vbgler) ; under the microscope colostral bodies, mucous epithelial and 

 pus cells, and sometimes also red corpuscles may be found. 



Complications occur very frequently in the course of tlie 

 disease, and may greatly modify the otherwise mild and typical 

 course. 



The development of vesicles on other parts of the body 

 than those mentioned is of relatively slight importance. The 

 exanthema may sometimes be observed on any part of the body 

 which is not, or only slightly, covered by hair, especially on the 

 vulva, and on the mucous membrane of the entrance to the 

 vagina, also on the inner surface of the thigh, and on the skin 

 of the chest, or abdomen (Harns). 



More frequent and of greater importance are those com- 

 plications which develop as the result of an extension of the 

 inflammatory processes to the surrounding parts, or as a result 

 of an infection of the erosions, or those which develop as the 

 result of continuous mechanical interference. In this way in 

 the further course of the disease, catarrh of the larynx, tra- 

 chea, and bronchi may develop, besides pharyngitis, and fur- 

 ther^ owing to the difficulty in swallowing, saliva or food may 

 enter the air passages, and lead to a suppurative or gangrenous 

 pneumonia. 



The superficial erosions on the mucous membrane may 

 sometimes change to deeper ulcerations, which are covered with 

 purulent matter, or a thick deposit, , as a result of which the 

 surrounding part is greatly swollen, through inflammatory 

 edema. The suppuration increases, spreading not only side- 

 ways, butsalso in depth. The ulcers finally heal by cicatrization. 



Similar severe suppurating processes occur much more 

 frequently on the feet, and these are much more exposed to 

 a subsequent infection. The inflammation is greatly increased 

 by walking on hard, stony, rough roads, or on stubble. Of still 

 more unfavorable influence is the uncleanliness to which the 

 affected extremities are exposed in the stables, on dirty floors, 

 which are sometimes soaked with ichor or other filth, as well 

 as the mud to which they are exposed in rainy weather. As 

 the result of the mechanical irritation, in association with the 

 local inflammatory process, great swelling of the coronary cush- 

 ion and of the heels develops, as a result of which the hoofs 

 are spread apart. The swellings may extend upward to the 

 hock joint. The animals suffer very severe pain, and therefore 

 they favor the affected feet in every possible way, or they lie 



