Diseases of cattle, sheep, goats and swineMoussu, G. (Gustave)
Science
Diseases of cattle, sheep, goats and swine
Moussu, G. (Gustave)
Veterinary medicine
Gangrenous coryza is a grave disease of diphtheritic character, which at
first seems to be localised in the mucous membrane of the upper
respiratory passages, but which exhibits a tendency to affect all the
mucous membranes of the system.
The term “gangrenous coryza,” adopted in France, has been replaced in
other countries, especially in Germany, by such descriptions as
“contagious disease of the head,” and “malignant catarrhal fever of the
ox.” Old writers describe gangrenous coryza as a disease common in the
Jura, the eastern parts of France generally, and in the valley of the
Saône. In reality this disease occurs everywhere, both in the centre,
west and north of France, as well as in the eastern regions. Serious
outbreaks frequently occur in Germany and Italy.
=Symptoms.= Gangrenous coryza assumes three different forms, which,
however, only represent successive degrees of intensity of the attack.
In the peracute form death occurs in three to five days, even when the
characteristic signs are not all as yet apparent. In the acute, and by
far the most frequent form, the disease lasts from fifteen to twenty
days, and also ends in death in by far the greater number of cases.
Finally, in the form usually termed chronic, the disease lasts from four
to eight weeks, and most frequently ends in recovery.
_Acute and peracute forms._—The onset is marked by very striking
symptoms, which precede the local symptoms by some hours, or by a day or
more.
The temperature rises rapidly from the normal to 103° or 105° Fahr.
(39·5° to 41° C.), or even higher. Appetite and rumination are entirely
suspended; the respiration becomes rapid and difficult, while the heart
beats strongly and tumultuously; the muzzle is dry, the mouth hot, and
salivation so abundant as to suggest an attack of foot-and-mouth
disease. Fæces and urine are only passed at long intervals, and dysuria
is present.
At first everything seems to indicate the development of an acute
infectious disease; but soon afterwards appear local indications
affecting the respiratory, ocular, digestive, urinary, nervous and
cutaneous systems.
The respiratory symptoms are most important, and almost characteristic.
Respiration becomes difficult, rough as in acute coryza, but soon
assumes a snoring character, and is accompanied by a discharge,
containing false membranes, from both nostrils.
The serous and muco-purulent discharge becomes rusty or reddish-brown,
soon acquires a very fœtid smell, and is found to contain epithelial
_débris_ and yellowish-green false membranes. After the least effort to
cough or the slightest touch on the membranes themselves—sometimes
without any visible cause at all—epistaxis sets in, the blood being
mixed with the discharge or simply escaping in the form of reddish
strings, like that occasionally seen in glanders.
The mucous membrane of the nasal cavities is red, turgid, apt to bleed,
and painful to the touch.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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