Sessional_Paper_1903 — Page 621

534

Appendix F.

SYMPTOMS AND POST-MORTEM APPEARANCES NOTED DURING THE EPIDEMIC AT POKFULUM IN 1902.

A notable rise in temprature 103-106.5° F. was at first the only notice- able symptom. For two or three days this high temperature was maintained without much alteration in the condition of the animal except that the secretion of milk in milch cows was arrested almost simultaneously with the onset of the fever. At the end of the 2nd or 3rd day diarrhoea set in. This came on gradually. The animal lost appetite, rumination was suspended; there was great dullness and weakness, staring coat, arched back, and the animal occasionally ground its teeth. As the diarrhoea progressed the pulse became weaker and respiration was more hurried. Occasionally colicky pains were present. The visible mucous membranes became reddened and congested and covered with a small amount of thick tenacious mucous. The eyes were swollen and watery. As the diarrhea became more marked the fæces became streaked with occasional tinges of blood and a thick mucus was often passed in small quantities.

Straining and tenesmus were usually slight. The animal often lay down a good deal and towards the end emaciation was very rapid. Death was usually pre- ceded by a marked fail in temperature.

In certain cases, the animal may appear to be recovering, becomes brighter for a day or two, shows some desire for food, diarrhoea becomes less acute and the temperature falls slowly when suddenly the temperature rises again, diarrhoea sets in accompanied by great prostration and the animal dies in a short time. There were no lesions in the visible mucous membranes, only congestion and there was no skin eruption. Death occurred at all stages of the disease.

Post-mortem Appearances.-The mouth, abomasum, large and small intestines were the only parts of the alimentary tract affected.

The mucous membrane of the mouth was reddened and congested but there were no ulcers or abrasions.

The abomasum was the seat of marked lesions. It was reddened throughout with inflamed patches here and there. Scattered over the folds of the mucous membrane were necrotic patches and ulcers. These were irregular in outline and varied in size from a pin's head to ten-cent piece. The ulcers had raised edges with hæmorrhagic floors and occasionally necrotic tissue in their cavities.

The small intestine was frequently congested throughout its entire length. Inflamed patches could be seen on the mucous membrane. Peyer's Patches were ulcerated. These ulcers were sometimes minute in size, at other times three to four inches in length with raised ragged edges and bleeding points in their depres- sions. Under the mucous membrane of the intestine petechial hæmorrhages were frequent and here and there all along the mucous membrane were small necrotic patches about the size of a pin's head.

The large intestine showed small petechial spots on both its serous and

mucous coats.

The liver was unchanged in the earlier stages, of the disease. Later on it became enlarged, congested, softened and fatty.

The respiratory tract was normal.

The heart showed the presence of petechial spots. The kidneys, bladder and muscular tissue were normal. The lymphatic glands throughout the body were found enlarged, softened and congested. On section they presented a mottled appearance. Petechial spots and what looked like areas of hæmorrhagic infraction and small necrotic spots about the size of a pin's head soft, friable, and resembling boiled rice were frequently met with. This appearance was well seen in the large body glands as the prescapular and popliteal and although the small intestine and abomasum may show marked lesions, the lymphatic glands of the mesentery may