167 
ON THE INFLAMMATORY FEVER OF CATTLE. 
ie urine becomes darker coloured, or bloody; the dung likewise 
as streaks of blood; and both are exceedingly foetid. In this 
Late the animal may continue one, two, or three days; when it 
ither becomes gradually exhausted, and dies a mass ot putridity, 
r the fcetor gradually ceases, the swellings diminish, and the 
jLrength returns. 
If the beast dies in the inflammatory stage, the post-mortem 
ppearances are, venous congestion in every part of the frame*, 
here is almost uniformly inflammation of the pleurae, intercostal 
nd pulmonary; and inflammation of, or congestion in, the sub- 
tance of the lungs; likewise peritoneal inflammation, and more 
-articularly of the mucous membrane of the intestines, and 
hiefly of the colon, with slight ulceration. 
When the disease has assumed a putrid type, there is conskler- 
ble foetid effusion in both the thoracic and abdominal cavities, 
vith flakes of coagulum on the mediastinum, and agglutination 
nd adhesion of the small intestines. Sometimes vomicae in the 
ungs; at others, not the slightest appearance of inflammation : 
he lobes of the lungs either epiphysematous or compressed, ac- 
ording to the quantity of fluid effused. Effusion in the pericar- 
iium, and that membrane, and the heart itself, intensely inflamed, 
vith spots of extravasation. Inflammation in all the compart- 
nentsof the stomach, with ulceration inthe fourth. The substance 
if the liver broken down and putrid. Inflammation of the mu¬ 
cous membrane of the intestines, with ulcerations generally in 
he jejunum and ileum, always in the colon and rectum. In 
.he cellular membrane, beneath the integuments, large patches 
jf extravasation, running fast into gangrene; and, where this is 
not found, a yellow or discoloured purulent discharge following 
the knife. 
Theory.—A gentleman fully competent to the subject will 
shortly address us on the existence and nature of fever in our pa¬ 
tients. I will not interfere with him; and will only remark, that 
tile excessive and general vascular action, which these symptoms 
display, warrant me in denominating the disease inflammatory 
fever. It is not mere febrile action, but that of the most intense 
nature, and consequently of short duration. It either terminates 
in sudden exhaustion of the powers of the frame, or, more proba¬ 
bly, effusion on the brain; or it speedily changes its character, 
and assumes a malignant form. 
I have spoken of the congested state of the veins in every part. 
1 am not sure that this existed in the living animal. In all our 
* A French author, in a late account of this disease, states, that neither the 
brain, nor its membranes, nor the spinal cord, presented any extraordinary 
lesion. 
