CATARRH OF THE FRONTAL SINUSES IN CATTLE. CATARRH FROM TRAUMATISM.
Extent of sinuses in cattle. Causes, blows, unequal teams, locking horns, fracture. Pathology. Congestion, exudation, suppuration, swelling and closure of outlet, prostration, fever, agalactia, septic infection, ulceration, exclusion of oxygen. Symptoms. Crimson hæmorrhage, disturbed breathing, appetite, rumination, position of head and eyelids, percussion and temperature of forehead, fever. Chronic form. Slow progress, emaciation, anorexia, facial expression, hide, discharge, breath heavy or fœtid. Duration. Prognosis. Lesions in sinuses and glands. Treatment. Cold irrigation, icebags, elevation of head, laxatives, diuretics, dehorning, trephining, injections, astringent, antiseptic, blister, tonics.
The gravity of this affection is a consequence of the great extent of the delicate mucous membrane which lines the frontal sinus. This cavity not only occupies the whole forehead from beneath the eyes up to the frontal crest, but extends, in the mature horned animal, into the tapering bony process which forms the basis of support for the horn. The mucosa is rendered all the more extensive by the numerous pillars and septa that pass from the outer bony plate to the inner, giving great strength to the part for purposes of offense and defence. Inflammation of this membrane is usually the result of blows on the horns, and these are much more common among working oxen than dairy cows. The immediate cause is violent contact with the yoke when the head is lowered at pasture, and from blows of a club in the hands of the driver. In countries where the yoke is a broad padded board hung from the horns and resting on the forehead traumatic injuries are much more common. The active and vigorous animal gets the greater part of the work, and the wrench and jar may induce hæmorrhage and catarrh. If the yoke is ill-made or badly fitted the case is worse. The blows sustained by horn or forehead in an ordinary fight, may also be the cause, and a partial or complete fracture of the bony support is especially hurtful when the detached horn is replaced so as to close in the cavity. Blows on the frontal crest are also dangerous.
The pathology of the disease consists in an inflammation of the mucosa of the sinus, and the filling of that cavity with blood or, later, with a muco-purulent fluid, the escape of which is prevented by the closure of the nasal outlet by swelling. This of itself produces violent headache and much nervous disorder as witnessed by the drooping head, closed eyelids, prostration, high fever, anorexia, and in cows suppression of the milk secretion. But there is reason to believe that this is aggravated by the septic germs, which inspired with the air, were already present in the sinus, and which in the comparative absence of oxygen, in a rich culture medium and in contact with injured and debilitated tissues, assume an enhanced pathogenic rôle. This may serve to explain the ulceration of the mucosa of the sinus found in subjects that have suffered for some time. It further explains the notorious fact that the free access of air (oxygen) to the inflamed sinus is one of the most helpful therapeutic measures.
Symptoms of the Acute Form. When the disease is traumatic the first symptom is usually a hæmorrhage from the nose, the blood being of a bright crimson. Respiration is hurried, and appetite diminished, yet rumination may be imperfectly performed. The bleeding may be repeated for days in succession, but the ox is still capable of work. On the fifth or sixth day there is complete anorexia, rumination ceases, the head sinks resting on the manger or soil, the ears droop forward and downward, and may be swollen. The head inclines to the affected side, the corresponding horn is intensely hot, and the eyes are closed. Light percussion of the forehead on the affected side gives pain, and the sound elicited is flat and dull as compared with that from the opposite side. The temperature of the body rises 2° or more, the pulse becomes frequent, full and hard and the impulse of the heart abnormally strong. Costiveness, partially suppressed and high colored urine, and dry hot muzzle betray the fever. Unless relieved the chronic form may supervene.
Symptoms of the chronic form. When this comes on slowly, working oxen get emaciated, lose appetite, have the eyes dull and sunken, and the lids drooping, the coat rough and staring and the skin harsh, dry, and lacking in pliancy, the head is carried low when out of the yoke and, after shaking the head and sneezing, a glairy, slightly fœtid matter escapes from the nostril. The breath is fœtid and appears to be offensive to adjacent cattle.
This may continue for months with no other change than a more constant nasal discharge, and increasing emaciation and weakness.
Prognosis. This is favorable for the acute disease at the outset. But if no relief is furnished it is liable to go on to a fatal issue. Even the chronic form is curable unless the subject has already become hopelessly weak and debilitated.
In fatal cases the sinuses are found to be filled with a glairy fluid and the mucosa thickened and raw or ulcerated. There may be enlargement of the pharyngeal lymphatic glands, and there may be attendant pharyngitis.
Treatment. The patient must have absolute rest and cold water irrigation or icebags applied to the head. The bowels may be opened by a saline, or a diuretic administered. If the head is persistently dropped it may be kept moderately elevated by a halter tied to a higher point. Should there be no relief at the end of twenty-four hours, no time should be lost in securing free admission of air to the cavity. Cruzel advises to saw off the horn at its base, as the one certain method of securing prompt improvement and speedy recovery. If a horn and its bony support have been broken off they should be at once removed and the head turned up to evacuate the accumulated glairy fluid from the sinus. From an apparently hopeless condition a few hours will suffice to restore an appearance of good health. If the horn has not been broken and it is desirable to save it, the bone may be trephined in front of the root of the horn and the liquid evacuated, or less effectively and more painfully the horn may be bored at its root by a large gimlet.
If no hæmorrhage has taken place and if active treatment has been adopted at the outset recovery may be complete in two or three days, but if the disease has been ushered in by a hæmorrhage which recurs several days in succession, amputation of the horn or trephining will be demanded. In chronic cases this should be followed by astringent and antiseptic injections and a blister may be applied to the throat or the side of the neck. In these cases too a course of mineral tonics is desirable.