In the intestinal form the submucous
and subperitoneal tissues show alterations from a few hemorrhagic spots to
large bloody suffusions, or even gelatinous infiltrations. This latter is
seen about the region of the pancreas and in the folds of the mesentery.
There is a severe hemorrhagic inflammation of the intestines and a staining
of the intestinal contents with blood. The muscular system throughout shows
hemorrhagic areas. The abdominal viscera, liver, spleen, and kidneys often
present hemorrhagic lesions.

_Differential diagnosis._--Anthrax, which presents superficial swellings,
like hemorrhagic septicemia, may be distinguished from that affection on
post-mortem examination by the enlargement and engorgement of the spleen,
the contents of which are soft and tarry. The blood of anthrax animals is
very dark, and does not become light red on exposure to air, nor does it
coagulate, while in hemorrhagic septicemia the blood is normal in
appearance and coagulates. The detection of the anthrax bacillus in the
blood would be final.

In blackleg the animals affected are usually under 2 years of age. The
swellings are quite evident, and usually occur on the legs, above the knees
or hocks, and are distended with gas, which crackles, or crepitates, when
pressed upon. If one of these tumors is opened, a bloody serum will exude,
and the gas gives off the odor of rancid butter. The internal hemorrhages
are not general, although they may occur. A microscopic examination of the
juices from the tumefaction will show the blackleg bacillus.

In cerebrospinal meningitis the causative agent is unknown, but probably
exists in the feed. It may occur in any locality and at any season of the
year. There are no local swellings, and cattle are not frequently affected.

Cornstalk disease may be differentiated from this affection from the fact
that it always occurs after the cattle are turned into a cornstalk field,
by its sudden onset, the absence of any characteristic symptoms or
post-mortem lesions, and the failure to find the causative agent in the
blood.

In making a post-mortem examination of animals affected with hemorrhagic
septicemia, it would be well to examine the articular surfaces of the long
bones, as it has been reported that they are frequently ulcerated. This
should apply especially to those cases that have shown lameness.

_Treatment._--Treatment is absolutely useless, so far as we know at
present, and for all practical pu