RINDERPEST. 323 
Second stage. — Fever runs high, the pulse fast and irregular, respiration 
increased, the surface temperature varies, the tenderness over spine is more marked, 
as also the muscular twitchings, and movement is difificult ; the animal may lie 
down. Thirst is intense, the appetite lost. A slight discharge from the eyes may 
be observed, the mucous membrane of mouth and along gums is very red and the 
tongue furred. The bowels are constipated, any dung passed is hard, covered with 
blood and mucus, and the act is accompanied by much straining. 
Third stage. — The animal is as a rule much prostrated and lies down. There 
is considerable discharge from the eyes, nostrils and mouth, the skin and 
extremities are cold, the animal moans and grunts. There is often a cough and 
difficulty in breathing, the breath is offensive and the mucous membrane of the 
mouth will be found excoriated and covered with a yellowish deposit, especially 
the corners of the mouth, along the gums, roof of mouth and, in very severe cases, 
even inside the nostrils and eyelids. The constipation is now succeeded by 
diarrhoea, at first the evacuations are covered with mucus and blood, later they 
become watery and finally they consist of liquid with a mixture of blood, and flakes 
of mucus. Towards the end the faeces — a liquid bloody discharge — are passed 
involuntarily. The pulse becomes imperceptible and the temperature drops 
considerably. Cows in calf generally abort. 
It is probable that the attention of Foresters will be drawn to cases somewhat 
advanced, so it will be well to remember the predominant symptoms : dejected 
state of animal, marked prostration, discharge from eyes, nostrils and mouth, 
offensive breath, soreness of the mouth, violent dysentery which is most offensive. 
Post-mortem appearances, — In acute and rapidly fatal cases the mucous 
membrane of the mouth and throat will be found swollen and congested, the 
mucous membrane of the fourth stomach particularly so. In the bowels patches of 
congestion will be noticed, and the membrane covered with a nasty blood-stained 
secretion. 
In less rapid cases more characteristic lesions are met with, the chief of which 
are seen in the fourth stomach and bowels. In the former the mucous membrane 
will be found deeply congested, often of a claret colour, with streaky patches of 
haemorrhage. Ulcers round about pyloric orifice and on the folds are often 
observed, also a sort of false membrane formed by the inflammatory exudate. This 
can readily be removed. For some distance the condition of the first portion of the 
small bowel is in a state similar to that of the fourth stomach. In the remaining 
portion patches of congestion will be met with, also the inflammatory exudate. 
The large intestines are more or less congested and haemorrhages are met with. 
In the rectum the congestion is a bright red, and in longitudinal streaks as a rule. 
In some cases it is almost black. 
The lungs are generally congested ; the liver is often soft and sometimes 
congested ; the gall bladder generally full, and the mucous membrane ulcerated 
with patches of yellowish deposit. 
