REPORT ON THE CATTLE PLAGUE. 329 
All desire for food had ceased; rumination was suspended, and the 
bowels were in a relaxed condition. 
6 p m.—The symptoms are somewhat aggravated. The animal is 
down, and is more depressed than in the early part of the day. Diar¬ 
rhoea has set in, and tenesmus is present. The twitching of the 
muscles is more violent and frequent. The cough is increased, as is 
the discharge from the nostrils; the pulse, however, remains the same. 
7th.—There is no great change in the general character of the 
symptoms this morning. The diarrhoea is, however, more copious. The 
pulse is weaker, hut its number is not further increased. The breathing 
is but little altered. The cough is of the same mucous character. The 
nasal discharge is thicker, and contains shreds of lymph. The eyes are 
heavy. The animal keeps laid a good deal, and when down appears 
sleepy. The spasmodic contractions of the abdominal muscles, which 
at times are considerable, give a peculiar tremor to the whole body, 
and interrupt the rhythmical action of inspiration and expiration. 
Pressure on the spine augments these spasms as well as those of the 
muscles of the neck and limbs. He refuses all food, but takes a little 
water. 
6 p.m.—Except that the animal is weaker, and the alvine evacuations 
more fluid, there is no change which needs to be specially reported. 
8th.—The spasmodic twitchings are less diffused than yesterday, 
and not so severe. The pulse is, on the contrary, more rapid and so 
weak as to be felt with very great difficulty, excepting at the heart. The 
respiration is also increased, and now numbers twenty-six in the 
minute; it is not, however, laboured. The cough, although frequent, 
is scarcely audible; it has the same mucous character. The muzzle is 
moist but cold, as are the extremities and horns, while the surface of 
the body is yet warm. The diarrhoea has passed into dysentery. The 
evacuations are now of a dirty-yellow colour, and remarkably fluid: 
they contain flocculi of lymph, and are occasionally streaked wkh 
blood, but are not particularly offensive. A sickly smell attends the 
patient. The eyelids are drooping, and a thick jelly-like mass of a pale 
straw colour has accumulated at the inner angle of each eye. This mass 
is evidently composed chiefly of fibrine, but the vessels of the conjunc¬ 
tiva are not turgid with blood. The animal has a greater disposition to 
keep laid, and often, while recumbent, turns the head to the side, as if 
suffering slight abdominal pain. 
9th.—The spasmodic twitchings and the diffused tremors are no 
longer to be recognised. The prostration of strength is very great. 
The dysenteric purging continues unabated in severity. Tenesmus is 
also present, and the evacuations are very offensive. The abdomen 
is much pinched in. The respiration remains the same in number, 
but is occasionally accompanied with a nasal blowing-like sound. 
The discharge from both the nostrils and eyes is augmented in 
quantity: the eyes, however, still retain their transparency, and the 
xxxn. 44 
