CATTLE PLAGUE— RINDERPEST 335 



emphysema. The blood is dark and coagulates feebly. In 

 some outbreaks a peculiar nodular and pustular eruption is 

 found on the skin. 



Symptoms. — The period of incubation is three to nine days. 

 The first symptom is that of fever, the temperature ranging 

 from 104.9° to 107° F., falling somewhat in the next few days 

 and becoming subnormal shortly before death. The affected 

 cattle are Very languid, the whole musculature relaxed, the 

 head held down, ears pendent, back arched, and a tendency 

 to knuckle in the hind fetlocks is noticeable. The hair coat is 

 roughened and involuntary twitching of the muscles of the 

 head, shoulders, and flanks is frequent. In some patients 

 there is a pronounced chill lasting several minutes. A com- 

 mon early symptom is a frequent, painful cough which disap- 

 pears as the severe gastro-enteritis develops. The patients 

 are usually dyspneic. From the nose flows a mucopurulent 

 (rarely bloody) discharge mixed with saliva, which excoriates 

 the skin of the nostrils. 



The conjunctiva is either anemic or, on the contrary, it may 

 be congested, the lids closed and swollen, tears flowing down 

 the cheeks. Later there develops a purulent discharge which 

 dries to form crusts about the eyelids. Keratitis may be 

 present. In the mouth the gums are swollen and dark blue 

 or dirty red in color. On the inner surface of the lips irregu- 

 lar, shallow erosions are noted. Commonly the mucous mem- 

 brane of the mandible and of the dental pad becomes covered 

 with yellow granules as if sprinkled with corn meal. These 

 areas later become confluent and slough, leaving behind 

 readily bleeding ulcers. In swine outbreaks the mouth 

 lesions are little developed. 



While in the initial stage the bowels are constipated, after 

 the second day a profuse diarrhea sets in, the liquid feces 

 are mixed with blood and fibrinous clots. The patients lose 

 flesh rapidly. In some outbreaks there appear in the skin of 

 the udder or scrotum, inner surface of the thighs, around the 

 vulva and nose a nodular and pustular exanthema. In milch 

 cows lactation stops, the udder becoming relaxed and smaller. 

 The pulse varies from 50 to 100. From the vulva in some 

 cases there is a dirty mucopurulent discharge from the 

 inflamed mucosa. 



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