820 CrCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



the spleen is much affected and enlarged. In a healthy animal the spleen 

 should weigh a pound or a pound and a half; in cattle dying of Texas fever 

 it has been known to reach a weight of eight pounds; hence, the specitic 

 name of splenic fever. 



What to do,— Treatment for this disease, like that for pleuro-pneumonia 

 and rinderpest, is not satisfactory in the majority of cases. There is this 

 point, however, in the treatment — since cattle infested from Texans do not 

 give it to others, and since isolation is a security against contagion, the 

 animals should at once be put into comfortable quarters and receive good 

 nursing. 



IV. ContagiouB Eczema, Foot and Mouth Disease, or Epizootic Aphtha. 



This disease is known in America, but it is very common in the older 

 countries. Owing to its very short period of incubation — twenty-four 

 hours to three or four days — there is very little danger of its importation; 

 and quarantining any affected herds before allowing them to land, will 

 effectually prevent its introduction. 



It is an eczematous or skin disease affecting the mouth, tongue, lips, feet, 

 legs and udder. The contagion lies in the discharges from the mouth and 

 feet, and the virus is strewn along the road 

 and over the pastures by the droppings from 

 the mouth, and the matter running from the 

 feet, and is conveyed from field to field by 

 small vermin, dogs, cats, etc. 



It is contagious to nearly all the lower 

 animals and to man. It is not often fatal, 



EPIZOOTIC APHTHA OR FOOT , i •. i i . ,1 . , 



_,,_.^^ but it causes much loss to the stock owner, 



AND MOUTH DISEASE. ' 



through the loss of flesh in cattle that are 

 being fattened, and the failure in milk, the supply being lessened by from 

 one to two-thirds of the usual yield. 



The milk is affected not only in quantity, but contains much of the 

 poison of the disease, and affects young animals to Avhich it is given warm, 

 causing cramps, violent diarrhcea, intestinal irritation, which often prove 

 fatal. It is considered by good authorities to be equally injurious to 

 infants. By the aid of the microscope vibrioues, bacteria and monads are 

 found, which appear to be more injurious to the consumer when the milk 

 )s drank warm, fresh from the cow. Some authorities say to boil it 

 before using, and others that this makes no difference, but it is certainly 

 'ess injiu'ious when it has stood a few hours and g(jt thoroughly cold. 



How to know it. — The usual symptoms are rough, staring coat; shiver- 

 ing fits, dry, hot mouth and muzzle; pulse and temperature raised; the 



