In some cases the malady is complicated by other infections, leading to the formation of abscesses in the lungs, pleuræ, chest walls, bronchial glands, joints or elsewhere, or tuberculous deposits may complicate the lung plague, and there may be an early death or a long drawn out decline.
Diagnosis. So many different affections resemble lung plague closely during life, that a certain means of diagnosis is a great desideratum. Yet many points help one to reach a reasonably certain diagnosis:
1. Does lung plague exist in the country? If not the presumption is very strongly against it.
2. Have the suspected animals been recently imported from a lung plague infected country? or have they been in contact with animals recently imported from such a country?
3. Have they been fed on provender imported from such a country?
4. Have they been attended by a man recently from such a country and whose clothes have not been sterilized?
5. Have they been carried on any imperfectly disinfected car or ship which has carried the cattle of such country?
6. Has the affection attacked a considerable proportion of the herd at the same time? A rare thing with lung plague.
7. Has the attack come on slowly and insidiously? Very characteristic of lung plague.
8. Has hyperthermia been marked? Indicative of lung plague.