SOCIETY MEETINGS. 521 
standing with the head down, with trembling of the limbs and 
without ruminating. The owner said “ their poor condition 
was caused quite recently by his mistake of feeding them too 
much cotton seed.” 
One steer, about the size of a native yearling, had been sepa¬ 
rated and tagged as a “ downer.” It was in great distress, and 
was, indeed, an exceptionally acute and fatal case. This an¬ 
imal was lying on the side with head extended, and was making 
convulsive movements of the limbs, at intervals trying to rise. 
When approached he became very nervous and excited, making 
a great effort to gain his feet, but failing he immediately 
plunged forward and remained prostrate, being too weak to 
make a further struggle. With the head extended, mouth open, 
the tongue protruding and of a blue color ; the respiration being 
hurried and stertorous, this animal seemed in danger of suffocat¬ 
ing. It was noticed that in this steer there was a jugular ven¬ 
ous pulse, irregular in rate, but continuous, and varying in 
quantity. The eyes had small opaque areas in the cornea, and 
the temperature taken in the rectum was over 109 degrees 
Fahr. 
This animal was slaughtered a few hours later and the car¬ 
cass was condemned by a meat inspector because of extensive 
bruises, and unfortunately, as the animal had been previously 
rejected and tagged, a careful examination of the viscera was 
not made. Several others of this herd approximating the con¬ 
dition of this steer, were slaughtered immediately—and nearly 
all were condemned foi the same cause. 
The remainder of the herd were allowed to rest for five days, 
and they were fed on hay. In that time they again commenced 
to ruminate, the symptoms of weakness and nervous excitement 
or depression had disappeared. There remained only the lesions 
of the eyes—a permanent opacity of the cornea varying from a 
small ulcer to a bulging staphyloma, discharging pus. 
Post-mortein examination of the carcasses when made in 
the abattoir disclosed no pathological changes in the viscera. 
The liver, kidneys and spleen were apparently normal in size, 
color and consistency, but in some the fat adherent to the car¬ 
cass was disagreeable, a deep yellowish color, greasy to the 
touch, and in appearance resembling rancid butter. 
On inquiry, it was learned that many cattle are seen in the 
stock yards very weak and poor in condition, and these cattle 
have an opacity of the cornea and often a swelling of the legs. 
The history of these animals is always the same. While en 
