In the Lungs.—­They also can be affected.  It is chronic here and there is cough, fever, wasting and an expectoration of mucus and pus, sometimes of a very bad odor (fetid).  It sometimes acts like miliary tuberculosis of the lungs, and this is quite frequent in oxen.  Other diseases of the lungs and bronchial affections occur and abscesses and cavities are formed that may be diagnosed during life.

Symptoms.—­If in the jaw there may be toothache, difficulty of swallowing and of opening the jaw.  The adjacent muscles may be hardened (indurated).  A swelling appears at the angle of the jaw and this quickly passes into suppuration; later it opens first outside, then inside—­into the mouth and discharges pus containing little yellow masses.  It will extend down even into the bowels unless it is properly treated.  Then there will be stomach disturbances and diarrhea.  It may ulcerate through the bowels and cause peritonitis.  The liver, spleen and ovaries may also become affected.

The Skin.—­There may be chronic suppurating ulcers of the skin and the “ray fungus” can be found in them.

Diagnosis.—­The “ray fungus” can be found.  There is a wooden hardness of the tissues beyond the borders of the ulcers; there are the little yellow granules in the pus.  The course is chronic.  Mild cases recover in six to nine months or earlier, the mouth form being the most favorable.

[Infectious diseases 235]

Treatment.—­Surgical.  Remove the parts involved.  Internally, iodide of potash in large doses is recommended.  The food should be plenty and nourishing.  In this case we must recommend you to a physician instead of the home treatments.

Gonorrhea (Urethritis).—­This can be called an infectious inflammation of the urethra, caused by the gonococcus, a microbe or germ, causing a specific inflammation of the mucous membrane of the urethra or vagina.

Incubation.—­The time that elapses between the exposure and development of the symptoms in the urethra is variable, extending from a few hours to twelve or fourteen days.  In the great majority of cases, however, the disease appears during the first week.  The patient notices a drop of milk-like fluid at the opening of the urethra, which is slight, red and puffed or turned out; a tickling sensation is often felt in this locality, and the next time urine is passed it is attended with a feeling of warmth at the end of the canal, or with actual scalding.  After this the symptoms increase rapidly in number and severity, so that within forty-eight hours, or even sooner, the disease may be described as having passed its first or increasing stage, the characteristic phenomena of which are as follows: 

Changes in the meatus (opening).  There are redness, eversion (turning out), ulceration and eating away and often erosion of the lips of the opening of urethra.  Sometimes, but rarely, so much swelling that the person can hardly pass the urine, which drops away.  The other symptoms are too well-known by those who have had this disease to need a description.