the progress of the disease; it may be almost imperceptible at
times, and then again very rapid and irregular; the respirations
generally are quick and catching. In the next form in which this disease
may develop it first becomes manifest by a difficulty in swallowing and
slowness in mastication, and a weakness which may be first noticed in
the strength of the tail; the animal will be unable to switch it or to
offer resistance when we bend it up over the croup. The pulse is often a
little slower than normal. There is no evidence of pain; the
respirations are unchanged, and the temperature little less than normal;
the bowels may be somewhat constipated. These symptoms may remain
unchanged for two or three days and then gradual improvement may take
place, or the power to swallow may become entirely lost and the weakness
and uncertainty in gait more and more perceptible; then sleepiness or
coma may appear; the pulse becomes depressed, slow, and weak, the
breathing stertorous, and paroxysms of delirium develop, with inability
to stand, and some rigidity of the spinal muscles or partial cramp of
the neck and jaws. In such cases death may occur in from 6 to 10 days
from the commencement of the attack. In many cases there is no evidence
of pain, spasm, or fever at any time during the progress of the disease,
and finally profound coma develops and death follows, painless and
without a struggle.

In the last or mildest form the inability of voluntary control of the
limbs becomes but slightly marked, the power of swallowing never
entirely lost, and the animal has no fever, pain, or unconscious
movements. Generally the animal will begin to improve about the fourth
day and recovers.

In a few cases the spinal symptoms, manifested by paraplegia, may be the
most prominent symptoms; in others they may be altogether absent and the
main symptoms may be difficulty in mastication and swallowing; rarely it
may affect one limb only. In all cases in which coma remains absent for
six or seven days the animal is likely to recover. When changes toward
recovery take place, the symptoms usually leave in the reverse order to
that in which they developed, but local paralysis may remain for some
time, rarely persistent.

On post-mortem the number of lesions observable to the naked eye is in
marked contrast to the severity of the symptoms noted. The pharynx and
larynx are inflamed in many cases, and sometimes coated with a
yellowish-white glutino