354 Report on the Health of Animals of tlie Farm. 
and died in a similarly short period. The duration of the 
malady did not in any case extend over twelve hours, and the 
symptoms evinced during life were reported to have been as fol- 
lows : — The first indication of disease w hich was observed was 
a sudden enlargement of the head and face, particularly about 
the lips — the under-part of the lower jaw, and around the throat. 
Tumefaction in these parts was soon followed by marked evi- 
dence of local irritation. The animal became restless, frequently 
shaking its head, and rubbing the swollen parts against any 
fixed object. The irritation gradually increased, and led to the 
greater portion of the hair being detached from the parts, and 
in some cases even to deep abrasions of the skin itself A 
copious discharge of saliva from the mouth, and an occasional 
cough, were also present. The eyes were blood-shot and suffused 
■with tears. The visible mucous membranes were congested ; 
the pulse quick and weak ; the respiration hurried, and the gait 
staggering ; the animal soon afterwards suddenly falling and 
dying. 
Mr. Axe made a post-mortem examination of the steer which 
died on the 25th of November, two days prior to his visit. 
The lesions observed were those of " blood-poisoning T The 
whole venous system was engorged with black blood, and 
many of the organs of the body exhibited either blood-extrava- 
sations or exudations of lymph. On inquiring into the general 
management of the herd, the following facts were elicited :— 
The young animals, among which the disease first appeared, 
and to which it was subsequently confined, were pastured 
during the summer-months on low-lying marsh-land. They 
were brought into the yards about the middle of October, at 
which time they were very low in condition. Three to four 
pounds of cake were now given to them daily, with a plentiful 
supply of oat and wheat-straw. Up to the 15th of November, 
tlie water-supply had been derived from an open dyke, but 
subsequently it was obtained from a stagnant pond immediately 
atljoining the yard. 
From these facts Mr. Axe was of opinion that the disease 
owed its origin to the sudden change from scanty herbage to 
an abundant and highly-stimulating artificial diet ; and that 
this cause of disease was probably added to by the water from 
the pond being charged with putrid animal and vegetable 
matter. 
The measures adopted for arresting the spread of the malady 
had reference, first, to the food. The allowance of cake was 
ordered to be reduced to one-half, and the animals -to be 
turned into a pasture for two or three hours in the day to seek 
a scanty supply of grass. Secondly, to tlie water-supply. The 
