THREE-DAY SICKNESS OF CATTLE                     17

were only a few isolated outbreaks in Egypt, except for 215 cases in 1915 and
346 in 1919-20.

         Very little exact information is obtainable concerning the percentage of
incidence of the disease in India, but Meadows [1919] states that usually only a
small proportion—one-fifth or less—of the animals in a herd are affected, whilst
Parameswaran [1920], working at Negapatam, records 12 (epizootic) cases for
1916-17 and 4 cases for 1919, the return for 1918 being nil. It is of interest that
Venkatesa Ayyar [1920] found the disease raging, side by side, with hæmorrhagic
septicæmia, in the Kistna District.

         Observations in South and East Africa and also in India point to the fact that
the disease is most frequent during or after the rains. In Madras, cases have been
observed at Negapatam in September; in the Kistna District, in August and
September ; at Kamalapuram, from April to December ; and at Gudalur, from
August to November. Swaminatha Ayyar [1920], speaking for the whole of the
Madras Presidency, says that the majority of cases occur during the months from
July to December. In the Central Provinces, the disease mostly prevails during
the rains, but sporadic cases of the disease have been met with from October to
February [Misra, 1927], whilst, according to Gopal Krishnan [1928], " an occasional
outbreak, or case, in any month of the year is not rare". On the other hand,
Rabagliati [1924], speaking of Egypt, observes : " The assumption that the disease
is confined to cold and wet weather was certainly not borne out in Egypt, where
the severe outbreaks have been in summer when it is very hot, and rain is
unknown."

                           SYMPTOMS.

         As the name " stiff-sickness " suggests, the prevailing symptom of the disease
is stiffness, which may be noticed in one or more legs, the stiffness frequently
passing rapidly from one limb to another and involving the muscles of the neck,
back or the pharynx, and in the last event (which is regarded by Freer [1911] as
being very chracteristic of the disease), deglutition becomes difficult. Freer
graphically describes the appearance of an affected animal as being " very much
like that of a wooden cow ", with the characteristic look of " extreme hopelessness
unless assisted ", whilst Chambers [1911] characterizes it as being " stiff and
tucked up ". Meadows [1919] records cases of animals lying down obstinately and
refusing to rise and others standing with their backs arched and heads extended
whilst Ramanathan [1923] mentions having observed an animal which was " lame
on all its fours, with the back bent, as if suffering from rheumatism". The
temperature may rise up to 107° F. on the first day, but in normal cases it rapidly
declines and on the second day it is seldom above 104° F. [Bevan], and it regularly

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