138 



COMMON DISEASES. 



Summary. — We may summarize the symptoms as follows : 

 In acute cases the disease appears suddenly ; the case develops 

 very rapidly and terminates fatally. The antemortem symptoms 

 are very unsatisfactory from a diagnostic standpoint. The post 

 mortem symptoms are definite and as a rule easily recognized and 

 consist of more or less extensive haemorrhages which are sharply 

 defined when they appear upon the surfaces of the vicera and 

 serous membranes. 



MENINGEAL TYPE. 



History. — Cows which have given a normal flow of milk in 

 the morning may give prac- 

 tically none in the evening. 

 Otherwise they are apparently 

 normal. They may be noticed 

 to be slightly ailing the next 

 morning but showing little 

 aside from dullness. There 

 may be no rise of temperature ; 

 no evidence of pain or discom- 

 fort. When they attempt to 

 walk, the gait is more or less 

 irregular, resembling very 

 much the gait of milk fever in 

 its early stage. This is of 



course more marked in some FIG - 53 - haemorrhagic sep- 

 ticaemia. (.If. H. It.) 

 than in Others. Haemorrhages on endocardium 



(internal lining of the heart). 



Symptoms. — The symptoms* during the first 24 to 36 hours 

 are not marked except as to continued dullness, staggering gait 

 and cold extremities. The skin is harsh and lacking in sensation. 

 This loss of skin sensation begins at the posterior extremities and 

 gradually extends forward. The milk flow is checked. 



After 24 to 36 hours, diarrhea appears, the discharges being 

 dark and thin with very disagreeable odor. Nervous symptoms 

 gradually develop and are quite uniform. 



The symptoms during this second period are those which be- 



*In case of young calves, the cases may he characterized by profound 

 nervous disturbance very early in their histories. 



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