434 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



After two or three days the blisters about the mouth gradually 

 become opaque and at length burst and discharge an irritating 

 watery fluid which increases the soreness ; the cuticle comes off, 

 leaving raw sores and shreds of loose skin. After some time 

 these sores scab over and a healthy appearance gradually returns. 

 Usually, during the first few days the malady increases in severity, 

 after which amendment generally commences, and the beast slowly 

 recovers. In mild cases it not unfrequently happens that the first 

 observed symptoms are a soreness of the feet, lameness, or a slav- 

 ering of the mouth, which, after some days, passes away without 

 serious prostration of strength or loss of flesh. It is more likely 

 to be severe with milch cows than with other stock, and somewhat 

 in proportion to the time which has elapsed since calving ; those 

 recently calved suffering most. Sometimes the complaint becomes 

 complicated with inflammation of some organ — as for instance, the 

 lungs, in which case the danger is much greater. In milch cows 

 the udder is often affected with tumors. or abcesses constituting 

 something very like what is commonly called garget. Those re- 

 ■cently calved usually suffer most. In no case should the milk from 

 cows lahoriny under this malady, however slight the attack, be used 

 for food, as serious consequences have ensued from its use. 



Treatment. 



The treatment which has been bestowed upon this disease has 

 varied with the opinions held concerning it ; some of it may be 

 fairly deemed barbarous ; in other cases it has been guided by a 

 more or less accurate knowledge of the pathology of the disease. 

 From the best information at command, there can be little doubt 

 that good nursing is of more avail than medicine, although 

 the latter may be judiciously used with advantage. The disease 

 is one which will run its course like small pox or measles 

 in man. If there be costiveness mild aperients, but not ac- 

 tive pur gaMves, may be given in the early stages, as for instance, 

 a moderate dose of epsom salts. Neither bleeding nor other 

 depl(;ting measures should be resorted to. Astringents may be 

 applied to the mouth. For an astringent and so-called healing ap- 

 application, a solution of tannin in glycerin, one part of the former 

 in six of the latter, would probably be found best ; a very little being 

 occasionally applied to the mouth with a feather or soft brush ; but 

 as this may not always be easily procured, a cheap substitute may 

 be found by dissolving alum in water at the rate of one pound in two 



