270 
JOHN MYERS, Sr. 
over, should one or more amongst a lot of these bovine emigrants prove 
indisposed, which is very likely the case when such dumb animals that 
have never been incarcerated before are doomed to a fortnight’s rail or 
sea journey, they would make their inspection with even more precision. 
As to what extent such sanitary precaution is necessary, the here depos¬ 
ited facts in reference to the disease may be taken into consideration. 
As incomplete as they are, I deem it justifiable to communicate frag¬ 
ments, expecting by these means to stir up scattered relative substance 
which might in the end serve as a foundation of trustworthy instruction 
as to how this evil might be prevented and cured. 
Symptomatology. —This disease compared with, or even taken 
for anthrax, is characterized by a painless evacuation of a reddish 
black, sometimes coffee-colored, turbid not always abnormal odored 
urine, which after standing for twenty-four hours forms a brick-colored 
precipitate, which is sometimes streaked with blood. At the same time 
the secretion of milk is suspended, which phenomena is the first to 
attract the owner’s attention. Rumination suspended, the food is re¬ 
jected, and the desire for water is moderate. The patient remains iso¬ 
lated from the herd, with head pending, ears drooping, a viscid, saliva 
discharge from the mouth, mixed with mucus from the nose, muzzle 
moist, running at the eyes, though not constant, conjunctiva pale, mak¬ 
ing the traversing vessels look prominent but not engorged. At the 
outset the temperature is heightened, then varies, and eventually lowers. 
In standing posture the limbs approach each other; in a recumbent 
position the limbs are flexed, the head extended with the inferior max¬ 
illary resting on the ground, and if an unsuccessful attempt is made to 
get up the animal recedes back upon its side. During the first stage the 
gait is dragging, gradually getting unsteady, and at last altogether im¬ 
possible, indicating a complete collapse of the nervous and physical 
force. The mucous membranes, particularly that of the buccal cavity, 
present a greyish hue; deglutition sometimes impaired; fecal matter at 
the outset soft and occasionally streaked with blood, the color depends 
upon the previously consumed food, and if the patient lingers any num¬ 
ber of days the consistency is changeable. Peristaltic movements slug¬ 
gish ; never observed colicce pains. The frequent respirations are some¬ 
times accompanied by a cough and groans, without any forcible assist¬ 
ance of the abdominal and thoracic muscles. In the majority of cases 
the circulation keeps pace with the respiratory acts numbering 80, 100 
to 120 per minute, and as the pulse increases it loses in tonicity. The 
action of the heart is, in general, scarcely perceptible. Specimens of 
