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watery, almost black in colour and has a very offensive smell. There is often a good deal of straining and as the disease progresses the anus becomes excoriated. The pain in the abdomen now appears to be constant and there is almost continuous grinding of the teeth. The animal lies the greater part of its time, when standing the head hangs down, the belly is tucked up and held rigid. The expirations are short and painful and frequently accompanied by a grunt. The eyes become sunken and the discharge from them and from the nose increases and becomes thinner with more of a muco purulent character. Rumination ceases. The animal refuses all food but continues to drink greedily. Muscular twitchings of the panniculus, muscles of the neck and shoulder and of the thighs are often seen. The twitchings of the muscles of the head and neck cause the animal to make peculiar short jerky nodding movements and the legs are frequently picked up as if they had been struck sharply. This black and highly offensive diarrhoea may persist for from 24 to 48 hours, and not infrequently death occurs at this stage. Emaciation proceeds rapidly and there is great weakness and prostration. The character of the diarrhoea again alters, and this marks the opening of the third stage of the disease.

(3.) The discharges become clear and straw coloured. The fluid frequently contains pale pink blood clots, shreds of a croupous or diphtheritic looking ex- udate resembling casts of the bowel and a great deal of mucous. This material is frequently passed involuntarily and trickles down soiling the hind quarters and tail. In stronger animals it is often ejected with considerable force and preceded and followed by painful straining. The rectum is often partially everted and the mucous membrane appears reddened and inflamed. In female animals there is a whitish glairy mucoid discharge from the vagina and the mucous membrane of the labia and vagina is reddened and shows a few hæmorrhagic looking spots. The animal becomes rapidly weaker and loses flesh fast. When standing it is very unwilling to move and when made to do so, moves very slowly and stiffly as if every movement caused pain. It lies the greater part of the time. When it lies down it usually makes one or two attempts to do so, stops and seems afraid and finally lies down all in a heap. Instead of resting on its sternum after the usual manner of

oxen, it more often rolls over on to its side and lies with legs extended and head and neck flat on the ground. The head is often held as far back as possible. The temperature often falls to normal and may remain so for 24 hours. death approaches the temperature becomes subnormal and death usually takes place without a struggle. The carcase in deaths from chronic cases presents an ex- tremely, dirty, emaciated, loathsome appearance. The natural orifices of the body are patent and soiled with their discharges.

*

As

Appended are four photographs, two of which give a fair idea of the appearance of healthy Chinese cattle, the other two present representations of cattle suffering from the disease. These photographs were inserted to bring out more forcibly the difference between healthy cattle and those suffering from this disease and to illustrate the description of the symptoms, viz., the degree of emaciation, "tucked up" ap- pearance and the discharges from eyes and nose.

*Not printed.

WILLIAM HUNTER.

ADAM GIBSON.