544 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



The first outbreak occurred in Hancock county, which was per- 

 sonally investigated by the State Veterinarian. A number of sheep 

 had been imported from an adjoining state. The diseased condi- 

 tion was at first supposed to have been caused by the use of too 

 strong a dip, but upon further investigation, typical symptoms of 

 necrobacillosis, or lip and leg ulceration, were discovered. 



The United States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal 

 Industry, Washington, D. C, has issued the following article on 

 lip and leg ulceration (necrobacillosis) of sheep : 



As a result of several investigations of the disease affecting the 

 mouths and legs of sheep which is more or less prevalent in certain 

 districts of Wyoming, a diagnosis of lip and leg ulceration (nec- 

 robacillosis) has been made. 



Insofar as the name applied to this affection is concerned it is 

 quite immaterial so long as such a name is distinctive and does 

 not confuse the disease with other affections of an entirely dif- 

 ferent nature. For instance, it is very important that the name, 

 "foot and mouth disease" should not be given to this affection, 

 because the two diseases are totally unlike in symptoms, are caused 

 by different specific agents and foot and mouth disease is so highly 

 infectious that every outbreak which has appeared on American 

 soil has been quickly stamped out before it became widespread. Fur- 

 thermore, the ulcerative condition which affects the lips and legs 

 of sheep does not spread from animal to animal in epizootic form 

 like foot and mouth disease, but certain sheds, feed lots, corrals, or 

 pastures become affected with the germs causing the disease, which 

 enter the tissues when the mouth or leg is injured by briars, stubble, 

 rough forage, etc., and set up disease. During the winter when 

 snow is on the ground and the weather so cold that the surface of 

 the snow becomes hard and crusted, thus making grazing very dif- 

 ficult, the disease may spread very rapidly and easily, owing to the 

 numerous scratches received* upon the nose and feet becoming in- 

 fected with the blood and bits of scab which drop from the af- 

 fected sheep. 



Lip and leg ulceration is caused by the necrosis bacillus, and as 

 the skin of the legs, muzzle and lips are involved in many cases, 

 the name of necrotic dermatitis (necrotic inflammation of the skin) 

 has been applied. It quite frequently happens that the ulcers and 

 sores on the outside of the lips extend into the mucous membrane, 

 lining the inside of the lips, as well as to other parts of the mouth, 

 or lesions of the mouth may occur through licking the ulcers on 



