FOOT AM) .MOUTH DISEASE 



309 



Nature of the disease. The causal organism is an ultra- 

 microscopic one. In from three 1 to six days after the animal 

 is exposed to the infection, the disease makes its appearance. 

 The onset of the trouble is marked by chills, followed by 

 fever which may cause the temperature to rise as high as 

 106 F. In one or two days blisters or vesicles about the 

 size of a hemp-seed or a pea are to be noted on the mucous 



!'!-. r>;. FMot-:incl-Mmth Disease 

 Ulcers between the toes are also characteristic of this disease 



membranes of tin- month, tongue, and ?_rums. The vesicles 

 are filled with a yellowish, watery liquid in which the causal 

 organism is present. Similar eruptions appear on the feet 

 between the dibits and above the coronet. They may also 

 appear on the udder and teats. The milking process rup- 

 t u res the vesicles, and the organism finds its way into the 

 milk, by which it spreads from one animal to another and 

 from farm to farm when mixed cheese factory or creamery 

 products are fed. The vesicles increase in size until they 



