Symptoms. yg'^ 



tion. In the severe cases, hemorrliages occur later in the con- 

 junctiva in varying number and extent. At the same time the 

 patients look dull, tears ooze from the half-closed eyelids, the 

 animals droop their heads, lie down frequently, and in general 

 show great dullness, which is very pronounced, especially in 

 cases with a chronic course, so that the disease greatly resembles 

 chronic encephalitis. During the fever the heart's action is 

 in the acute cases, greatly accelerated and weak, the respiration 

 is of the abdominal type and markedly labored. In some cases 

 urticaria, and exceptionally herpes labialis is observed in the 

 meantime. 



The appetite is depressed from the onset, while thirst is in- 

 creased ; at first or through the entire disease there is constipa- 

 tion, the feces are passed sparingly in small balls, which are 

 covered with a yellowish mucus; later diarrhea appears in some 

 of the eases, sometimes with colicky symptoms. The urine shows 

 icteric or reddish-brown coloration, and is passed in large quan- 

 tities. The animals rapidly emaciate, their legs swell, the tissue 

 at the same time showing a very slight resistance against trau- 

 matic influences, accidental injuries healing very slowly. 



Blood drawn from a vein coagulates rapidly; the coagulum 

 separates immediately in an upper intensely yellow, and a lower 

 red layer, while the serum appears brownish yellow. 



According to the physico-clieinical examinations of Frei in Pretoria, the blood 

 shows during the disease a continually diminishing volume of red blood corpuscles, 

 and a reduction of conductivity, as well as of viscosity, which correspond with the 

 progress of hemolysis; these changes set in very rapidly, sometimes 24-48 hours 

 after the infection, and therefore even before the rise of temperature. In the 

 urine a diminution of the osmotic concentration, of conductivity, and of specific 

 gravity may be shown, changes which appear to be dependent on the condition 

 of the serum, and on the polyuria which is usually present, and with which in some 

 cases an increase of the total quantity of the eliminated solids is associated. 



Stazzo found in one instance only ZV^ millions of red blood corpuscles per 

 cubic millimeter of blood. ' 



In some cases the course is very mild, inasmuch as the dis- 

 ease is manifested only by a slight icteric discoloration of the 

 mucous membranes, and by febrile manifestations, recovery fol- 

 lowing in a few days. In severe cases death ensues with a sharp 

 drop of the temperature, usually in 2 to 5 days, while in a pro- 

 tracted course the disease lasts from 2 to 4 weeks, and may even 

 extend over several months. 



In chronic cases the disease is manifested by the presence of an 

 almost continuous fever, in gradual emaciation, edematous swellings, 

 anemia and the discharge of a brownish urine (Stazzi). 



In the disease observed by Briekmann in Sweden ("Vesterbol- 

 tenslau"), which also usually followed a chronic course, the symptoms 

 consisted in fatigue and dullness, itching, nodular skin eruptions, per- 

 spiration and yellowish discoloration of the conjunctiva. The disease 

 rarely terminates in death. 



In mules icterus is rarely present, while discoloration of the urine 

 never occurs; on the other hand frequent urination is almost regularly 



