COMMON ILLS OF CATTLE. 161 



forming. Persistent poulticing with linseed meal, and repeated 

 dressings of foot-rot liquid, will expedite the formation of the 

 abnormal growth, which in a few days' time will come out 

 with a little assistance as a spongy core, and the foot heals 

 quickly afterwards. 



" Foot-and-Mouth." This disease contagious eczema 

 is only too well known and disastrous. Its technical name 

 arises from the soreness which afflicts the mouth and the feet, 

 along with discharge from the sores. From the mouth, indeed, 

 there is a discharge of frothy saliva. It is not generally or 

 even commonly a fatal disease, save perhaps in some instances 

 when the weather is hot ; but it causes serious loss of flesh and 

 debility, and greatly interferes with the milk of dairy cows. 

 The sequel of it in these cases is commonly deranged udders, 

 shedded hoofs, and general emaciation. 



Cooling and aperient medicines and nourishing gruels are 

 beneficent, and the mouth and feet should be washed several 

 times a day with dilute " Condy's Fluid/' or some other mild 

 astringent and antiseptic lotion. Cattle afflicted with this 

 disease find comfort in standing up to the fetlocks in a stream 

 of water, but they should not be allowed to do this for fear of 

 infecting other cattle downstream. In any case their feet 

 should be washed repeatedly, and shelter from a hot sun 

 should always be afforded. 



Pleuro. Pleuro-pneumonia is generally fatal, and is also a 

 most contagious disease. Sometimes it sweeps with alarming 

 rapidity over a district, and at other times its progress is slow 

 and fitful. Sometimes it will remain inert for months in a cow's 

 system, and it is not easy to disinfect premises in which it has 

 appeared. Probably half of the animals attacked would die, 

 even under skilful professional treatment, and the lungs of 

 those which recover are and remain structurally imperfect if 

 the disease has once taken deep root in them. 



A friend of mine, an extensive grazier in county Tipperary, 

 affirms that he has cured scores and even hundreds of cases of 

 pleuro. He will not undertake an advanced case. His method 

 is effective only in the initial stages. He has failed to effect a 



M 



