VESICULAR EPIZOOTIC. 177 



Vesicular Epizootic. 



This is an epidemic disease, which has at times 

 invaded various sections of the country under some- 

 what varying forms, sometimes a lingering, and at 

 others a rapidly fatal disease. 



The symptoms are as follows. The premonitory 

 indications are : dullness ; impaired appetite ; star- 

 ing and harsh coat ; the muzzle, ears, horns, etc., 

 are cold at one time and hot at another ; the beast 

 shakes all over and feels uneasy, and does not 

 associate with the other cows; the cud is not 

 chewed as in health. Then the milk is found to be 

 lessened, yellowish and thick ; the bag is swollen, 

 hot, and painful when touched ; the back is arched, 

 and she seems uneasy on her feet, and unwilling to 

 move. This attracts attention to the feet, and they 

 are found hot and painful ; the hoof at the top is 

 swelled, and a discharge runs from the heels ; the 

 eyes look dim, and tears run from them ; the inside 

 of the nose and whites of the eyes look red ; the 

 mouth is dry, and the membrane covering has little 

 red spots in it, which rise into blisters upon it, over 

 the whole mouth ; they contain a fluid, and increase 

 in size, finally burst, and a sore is left behind, which 

 becomes a deep rugged ulcer. These blisters are 

 also found upon the bag and about the hoofs, 

 especially of the hind-legs ; the hoofs may even fall 

 off, the bones become diseased, and other grave re- 

 sults ensue. The appetite becomes more and more 

 impaired ; there is great weakness, wasting, dis- 



