ELEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 545 



the legs, which accounts for the disease heing also termed necrotic 

 stomatitis (necrotic inflammation of the mouth). The important 

 things to he recognized are the nature and cause of the disease, and 

 in this connection it may he stated that all the differing manifesta- 

 tions of the infection by the necrosis hacillus are often brought to- 

 gether under the teem neerobacillosis. Other names which have 

 been given this disease are acute dermatitis in New Zealand ; im- 

 petigo labialis in Canada; or. crusta labialis, and contagious pus- 

 tular dermatitis in England and Scotlnd, and teigmaul and maul- 

 grund in Germany. The disease also exists in the West Indies. New 

 .Mexico, Oregon, Kansas. Montana, Virginia. Maryland, and prob- 

 ably in other sections of the United States. 



The lesions in the early stage usually appear as an acute inflam- 

 mation of the skin on the outside of the lips. The pimple-like for- 

 mation is attended with much inflammatory swelling with a de- 

 cided tendency toward the formation of pustules. They dry and 

 form crusts of a dark grayish color and of a fungoid appearance. 

 The growths extend rapidly and become in the course of a few days 

 confluent, forming a large diffused scab, which when removed is 

 found to cover an ulcerative surface. Simultaneous with this the 

 lips become tumefied, swelling to two or three times their normal 

 thickness*. The appetite usually remains good, but the animals 

 feed with difficulty owing to the sensitiveness of the affected parts. 

 In some cases the scab extends from the lips up over the cheeks, 

 between the eyes, and at times a muco-purulent discharge appears, 

 which adheres to the nostrils and together with the swollen condi- 

 tion of the surrounding tissues causes a more or less complete oc- 

 clusion of the air passages, resulting in labored breathing upon 

 exercise. In some cases the lesions extend into the mouth, pro- 

 ducing erosions on the inside of the lips, on the gums, and on the 

 dental pad or the hard palate. These lesions, which are of a 

 spongy consistence and present a warty appearance, are espec- 

 ially noticed on the lambs. 



Lesions on the legs as a rule co-exist with those on the lips, hence 

 the origin of the term "lip and leg ulceration." The sheep at this 

 time will show some lameness, especially if the ulcers appear about 

 the coronet, in the fold of the fetlock, or in the vicinity of a joint. 

 The progress and appearance of the ulcers upon the legs are identi- 

 cal with those upon the lips, and they are soon covered by a thick, 

 i]vy crust which, when forcibly removed, exposes a granulating sur- 

 face covered with a creamy pus. 

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