The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-06-04

bania that rivers ran blood. An epizooti,
broke out among the domestic animals; anC
an epidemy in man. The accounts of som,
Roman authors lead TO the inference that tn,
symptoms of the malady correspondent will
those of the epizootic pleuro pneumonia o
| our own times" The ancient Romans ever
then used means to eradicate contagious dis
eases and slaughtered their animals as soor
as they showed signs of any such disease
The first authentic outbreak appeared in
France, in 1860, and it has since invaded diff
ferent parts of the world, 1--WE may safely say
all parts of the world; first showing itsel
in the United States at Brooklyn, in 1S47 OF
lS49, since when it has extended through all
the Eastern States, and few of the west and
now threatens the entire country
HOW 1T ORIGINATES.
This is contagious and infectious disease
which is to say it can be contracted by Its
virus, or special poisonous germs, coming
into contact with living tissue, as a sore or
raw spot or the membranes of the nose
mouth, &c., as in inhalation into tie lungs OF
the virus from the air. For instance, q
healthy COW could take the disease in run.
ming at pasture by licking or coming in con-
tact with the diseased one, or in the stable by
breathing the air expired from the sick cow
1t is caused always by these germs or poison
GUS seeds, and not from any swill slop feed
ing, damp hot stables, excessive milking, or
such attributed causes; however, these may
so predspose an animal by depicting the sys-
TEN, and ill-nourshment, that it takes the
disease more readily than one with better
hygienic surroundings. These germs can be
carried in the mir to distance of from so to
800 feet, according to the state of the atmos.
phere, which seems better vehicle at one
time than n annfhpr. thau ba ri al
from one animal to another, in the clothes of
an attendant, and if animals diseased are
driven along roads, housed in stables or cars,
or pastured in certain fields, and healthy ami
mails are taken into these parts even three
months afterward, they are liable to be in
fected The flesh of a dead animal can con-
Vey the disease to healthy ones by its etiluvia,
unless buried sufficiently deep or burned.
All the bovine race may be attacked by this
disease, but never horses or sheep; as in
Scotland they slaughter affected animals and
turn sheep on the pasture, thus finding q use
for otherwise useless ground An outbreak
OF pleuro pneumonia, not contagious how
ever, among horses came under my observa-
ton about year ago; it was caused by bad
surroundings and food and generally run
down condition of the stock.
The seat of the disease of contagious pleuro
pneumonia is the lungs and their outside COW
ering the pleura, that allows the lungs to
move freely in the act of breathing, acting by
its moist condition as oil on an axle in the
prevention of friction. This pleura also
winds around, after completely covering the
lungs and the outside OF the sac containing
the heart, and is spread over the walls of the
chest, covering thus the inner side of the
ribs. Contagious pleuro pneumonia is
pneumonia or inflammation of the lung tissue
or substance, in CONJUNCTION with pleurisy, or
Inflammation of the pleura il is characterized
by special symptoms, or signs visibly or
otherwise conveyed to us by the actions of
the animal. The description of the visible
symptoms will be taken up shortly This
disease leaves marks in the lungs that are
also characteristic, or especially peculiar to
it, and which enable an experienced person
to say at once, on seeing them exposed, that
the animal has been affected with the disease
1t generally attacks only one lung and part
OF that at first, and goes on there in its va
rlous stages, then commencing on another
part. Both lungs may be attacked at the
same time and there is no prediction for
either lung, as we find it as often in the
right as in the left. 1t is not hereditary and
an animal once recovered from an attack OBJ
tains immunity from another
TWO STAGES OF THE DISEASE.
The are two stages or periods in this dis.
ease, in which the symptoms differ The
hrst, the dormant or incubative stage, where
the disease lies latent, seemingly gathering
strength for its further attack ON the system
of the animal, and the second or irritatiye
stage, in which it eXelts its most violent eff
forts, and leaves the animal dead or in very
small per centum of cases. a wreck of its for
m ir,t nl,t., -,
one in which the symptoms are at first, very
obscure, and they may remain so for from 2
to weeks, or even more. The first notice
able thing may be slight falling off in the
appetite, or less relish of food they chew
the cud more slowly and give short, weak
and dry cough at long intervals; it is proba-
bly, first heard when the animal is first water
ed or leaves the stable. This cough may
run on for weeks and not attract any especial
attention. The milk then slackens up in
quantity, and the hair presents a dull ap-
pearance and stands up roughly; the breath
ing becomes little faster than usual and cs-
pecially so when exercise is given; the nos
trils may be noticed to dilate in breathing,
and sticky discharge appears on them the
animal begins to look emaciated and on feel
ing the horns they may vary in heat, now
hot and then cold; pressure along the loins
may cause tinching; the same tenderness may
also be noticed along the ribs and sides of
the chest. These symptoms are very slight,
and may not be noticed at all until suddenly
q change takes place, and then is commenced
THE SECOND OR TENTATIVE STAGE.
A violent fever commences and varies in
intensity, being higher at one time than
another; the animal has apparent chi!ls, which
we see by its shivering now and then, and on
feeling the body we find it now hot and then
cold; the horns likewise differ in the same way
rs to heat; again, one part OF the body may
feel warmer than another; the nose gets dry
and hot, the appetite ceases altogether, and
the animal does not ruminate, or, in other
words, loses it cud; constipation is noticed
and the droppings are rarely voided and are
hard and dark; the urine is also dark and
scant; drinking is a cause of pain, and but
little water is taken, as it excites much cough
ing; the secretion OF milk is nearly or entirely
The animal now stands with the
fore legs stretched wide apart thus endeavor-
ing TO relieve the pain and oppression of the
chest, and often changes the hind legs, seek
ing thus to rest them; the intervals between
the ribs are bulged out considerably; the
animal seldom lies down, and when it does it
rests on the breast bone with the legs drawn
up under the chest, or stretched in front of
them. 1t can move around only with great
difficulty, and is very averse 70 doing so; the
now is very fast, and the nostrils
are stretched wide at every breath; the entire
body moving at the same time; the TANKS can
be seen to beat at each breath, and a moan or
grunt is emitted. You can tell whether an
animal is in an advanced stage of the disease
by placing the hands on the rump; if the
body heaves at each breath of the ANIMAL it
proves that the disease has made great ad-
vances. We now perceive that the cough is
much more frequent and is husky
and painful, and by pressing on the sides of
the chest great pain is evinced by coughing
md granting.
These symptoms become aggravated as
death approaches; the cough seems almost
the breath becomes very fntid
and dirty matter is discharged from the
nostrils and eyes; the skin gets dry and sticks
tightly to the bones; the animal seems uncon-