FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN CATTLE. 433 



successful, and to a degree which might not have been so readily 

 attained under conditions similar to those which prevail abroad. 



But I should be remiss in the discharge of my duty did I not 

 promptly advise the farmers of Maine of the fact of the introduc- 

 tion of this new cattle disease, and lay before them such informa- 

 tion regarding its character, symptoms and treatment as I have 

 been able to obtain, together with suggestions in regard to pre- 

 cautions and preventive measures. 



Character of the Disease. 



According to most foreign authorities the Foot and Mouth dis- 

 ease is constitutional in its nature, rather than local, although 

 manifesting itself locally in a peculiar manner. It is known to 

 veterinary practitioners as eczema epizootica, or epizootic aphtha. 

 In the human subject, aphthous patches upon the mucous mem- 

 brane of the mouth are indicative of great constitutional debility. 

 They are supposed to be accompanied by the growth of a micro- 

 scopic fungus, discernible in most cases under a good objective. 

 It is however, not strictly proper to speak of this appearance as a 

 disease ; it is the sign of a disease ; the accompaniment and not 

 the cause. 



According to the same authorities, the nature of the "Foot and 

 Mouth" disease is that of a low fever, often exhibiting typhoid 

 characteristics, great debility quickly supervening, together with, 

 at times, a tendency to putridity. Premising that, in this as in 

 other diseases, the appearances vary somewhat in different cases, 

 as for instance, that sometimes the feet and sometimes the mouth 

 is first or more seriously affected, etc., it may be said that the 

 earliest symptoms, generally, are a dull and listless appearance, 

 staring coat, cold extremities, and perhaps a shivering fit. Soon, 

 however, a reaction follows ; the skin, limbs and mouth become 

 hot ; in cows the secretion of milk diminishes and the udder be- 

 comes hot and tender, the pulse quickens and sometimes the tongue 

 SAvells. Very soon come shivering and frothing at the mouth, 

 which also becomes lined with watery blisters, and these also 

 appear on the. lips and tongue, and on the teats of cows. The food 

 is frequently dropped out unmasticated, as if chewing were too 

 painful to be endured. The little vesicles, or blisters, also appear 

 between the hoofs ; and the disease in the feet sometimes becomes 

 so bad that not only is great pain caused by the inflammation, but 



the hoofs exfoliate and drop off. 



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