GIB 
THE CATTLE EPIDEMIC. 
mostly in the hind limbs, in the rising up of the hair along the 
back, and the frequent alternation of heat and cold in the skin. 
The uneasiness of the sick animal increases, and is signified by 
stamping, lowing, great trembling of the limbs, and drawing 
the hind legs under the belly convulsively. The beasts, pre- 
viously strong and well fed, become furious, while the weaker, 
and calves, are more and more dull and languid. The eyes glisten 
and redden, and the nose is red, dry, and hot. 
The gums and muzzle are now covered with red spots, and foam 
drops from the mouth. The red spots soon change to white blisters, 
which, causing the skin to peel off, wounds, oozing blood, are dis- 
covered, and the skin at the corners of the mouth is puckered with 
an appearance of a tallow- white flesh. The respiration quickens, 
and is deeper ; the pulse is accelerated and weaker ; the cough re- 
turns frequently, and sounds lowly; all inclination to feed, as well 
as rumination and licking, entirely cease. Cows lose all their 
milk, and great thirst is manifested. The animal now attempts, in 
vain, to hold off its tail from the body during its evacuations ; and 
the faeces are in small quantity, dry and black, and almost burned. 
The urine is of a red colour, and clear ; the eyes and nose, till now 
dry, begin to discharge, at first, a watery, and later, a slimy matter, 
which is highly infectious. The loins are so irritated, that, on the 
touch of a hand, the animal winces convulsively. 
On the second or fourth day after the positive appearance of the 
disease, or on the ninth or eleventh day from the time of infection, 
all the symptoms above described rapidly increase. The pulse 
quickens, so as to be no longer counted — the heart throbs violently — 
the rigidity of the skin becomes greater — the animal falls off rapidly 
in flesh and strength, so that, in most cases, he lies down, or, if stand- 
ing, staggers from side to side. 
Spots already visible become pustules — the discharge from the 
eyes is more abundant and foul, forming in the corners and around 
a scaly substance. That from the nose is thicker, and the slime from 
the mouth more ropy — the tongue is surcharged, and the breath is 
most offensive. Finally, comes a diarrhoea, with great efforts : the 
faeces emitting a stench extraordinarily fetid, and very contagious, 
and dangerous to all the cattle within its reach. 
The last stage is signified, not only by its diarrhoea, in which the 
intestines are often protruded, but likewise by the increase in the 
quickness of the respiration, and the pulsations of the heart, as 
well as the several discharges. 
These final symptoms appear generally on the twelfth day after 
the time of infection, and are followed by dreadful convulsions 
and death. M. 
