Brisket Disease. 
7 
The blood in all cases observed has shown an increase in 
hemoglobin and a rather decided increase in the number of red blood 
corpuscles, counts averaging near twelve million per cubic milli¬ 
meter for adult cattle and somewhat more for calves.* Counts 
made at an altitude of 9,000 feet on four normal cows, running 
in age from four to ten years, varied from 6,880,000 to 11,320,000. 
Those made on six calves from three to six months old at the same 
altitude ran from 11,960,000 to 21,200,000.** 
The urine has never in our observation shown the presence of 
either albumen or sugar, although we rather expected to find thy 
former. We have developed no suitable method for determining 
whether there is a greater or lesser quantity excreted in a given 
time. 
The usual course of the disease is from two weeks to three 
months, although a few animals have been known to apparently re¬ 
cover in the spring, only to be taken down again the following fall. 
We may say that most animals die within a month after symptoms 
are first noticed, the older cattle living longer than the younger. 
Death seems to be due either to suffocation, or exhaustion and 
paralysis of the heart. 
LESIONS. 
The carcass is usually emaciated. The subcutaneous tissues in 
the region of the brisket, lower side of the neck, and under the jaw 
are infiltrated with a clear serum. It does not flow freely when 
incised, but can be squeezed out. Sometimes the subcutaneous tis¬ 
sue of the limbs is similarly affected. 
When the abdomen is opened, a considerable quantity of straw 
colored fluid escapes, sometimes as much as six or eight gallons. 
The peritoneum may show a few hemorrhages and occasionally one 
is large enough to form a considerable mass of clotted blood (case 
2.) The membrane itself in all of its folds is much thickened with 
the fluid above mentioned which can be squeezed out. 
The walls of the stomach and intestines are thickened from the 
same cause. The mucous membrane of the fourth stomach and of 
the intestines may show small hemorrhages. 
The liver is always much enlarged and is tough, firm and leath¬ 
ery. On section it has a grayish mottled appearance, the cut veins 
being very large. The condition of the liver is very noticeable and 
seems to be constant. On microscopic examination the grayish ap¬ 
pearance is seen to be due to new fibrous tissue that entirely sur¬ 
rounds the lobules and has compressed the secreting cells until many 
* In nearly all cases the blood for counting was taken from the capillaries of the ear. 
** Counts made in November. 
