REPORT ON THE CATTLE PLAGUE. 
97 
coat staring 1 . She was remarkably dull, and greatly indisposed to 
move. Her appetite was impaired, but not lost, as at times she would 
pick a little fresh grass. Rumination was tardily performed; the 
action of the bowels unaffected ; the breathing natural, and the pulse 
almost undisturbed. Indeed, had the morning been a cold one—which 
it was not—nearly the whole of the symptoms that she exhibited might 
have been ascribed to an exposure to the bleak mountain air. 
Towards the after part of the day, the spasmodic contractions of the 
muscles were more diffuse. The jerking of those situated at the infero- 
lateral part of the neck was very peculiar, imparting a movement not 
very dissimilar to the so-called venous pulse. The skin was rather 
warmer than natural, but the coat was staring, as in the morning. The 
breathing still continued undisturbed, while a slight but “ thick cough” 
was occasionally heard. The pulse had risen to about 62. It was 
regular in its action, but beat with somewhat diminished force. There 
was no injection of the visible mucous membranes present, nor dryness 
of the muzzle, as seen in active febrile diseases. The Commissioners 
expressed their decided opinion that this was a true case of the pest, 
although an unusually mild one, and they therefore gave orders that 
the cow should be taken from the others, and placed in a separate shed, 
temporarily erected with the branches of pine trees for the purpose, so 
that we might watch the further progress of the disease. 
May 6th, 7 a.m.—The symptoms upon the whole have undergone 
but a slight change since last evening. The animal takes but little 
food, and is equally as dull and dispirited. She shows a disposition to 
drink freely of water, and would take even more than it is desirable to 
give her. 
8 p.m.—No alteration of importance. 
7th, 6 a.m.—A change for the worse has come on during the night. 
The prostration of strength is now considerable, and the animal is down, 
unable to rise. Neither the pulse nor the breathing has, however, un¬ 
dergone much change, the principal alteration being that the action of 
the heart is rather weaker. She refuses food. Rumination is sus¬ 
pended, and the bowels are rather irritable,—voiding large quantities of 
feces. The twitching of the muscles are yet present, but mostly con¬ 
fined to the shoulders and neck. The cough is more frequent, and a 
little mucous discharge likewise comes from the nostrils. The conjunctiva 
is uninjected, but the eyes are somewhat intolerant of light. The general 
surface of the body is chilly, as are also the legs, ears, and horns. 
On visiting the animal in the evening, we found that a slight diarrhoea 
had set in during the day ; that the pulse had risen to 70, and that 
the prostration of the vital forces was increased. There were, however, 
but few indications that the attack would terminate fatally, the other 
symptoms remaining about the same. 
8th.—The twitchings of the muscles are scarcely to be observed 
this morning, as is generally the case in the advanced stages of the 
malady. The diarrhoea is, however, more copious, but yet not alarm- 
