PREVENTION AND FIRST AID TREATMENT OF DISEASE. 315 



Symptoms. — The first thing noticed is usually that the animal is off Symp- 

 feed and slavering at the mouth, and when watched it may be noticed toms. 

 that the lips are " smacked " repeatedly. When the feet are attacked the 

 animal is lame, and examination of both feet and mouth will show the 

 characteristic bladders, which when broken leave a shallow sore. Under 

 good treatment these usually heal rapidly. 



Treatment. — Pay attention to the state of the bowels and give the Treat- 

 cases soft food which they can eat without causing pain, washing out the ment. 

 mouth occasionally with weak boric or alum lotion. Treat the sores 

 around the feet antiseptically. As a rule, the disease runs a mild course, 

 but if the feet are allowed to get dirty the hoofs sometimes slough off. As 

 this disease is very rapidly spread, the strictest isolation of any animal or 

 unit in which it occurs should be observed. If no case occurs for a fort- 

 night atter the last case has recovered, the outbreak may be considered 

 over. 



Cattle plague., rinderpest. — Affects all ruminants, and is most common Cattle 

 and fatal in India among oxen. It is a highly contagious disease, and plague, 

 the strictest precaution should be taken to try and prevent its spread. nnder- 



Syinptoms. — The disease is so general and widespread in India that Symp- 

 many of the cattle are naturally more or less inoculated against it and toms. 

 have a mild form. The prominent symptoms are want of appetite, cessation 

 of rumination and purging. On closer examination it will be found that 

 there is fever, a bran-like eruption on the inside of the lips and on the 

 gums ; the lining of the eye and mouth become purple or spotted ; there 

 is often a profuse discharge from the eyes and sometimes the nose, and 

 in many cases the motions are bloody. The animal separates itself from 

 the herd, the back is arched and there may be considerable straining to 

 pass the faeces. The case rapidly loses flesh and, as a rule, death ensues 

 in four to eight days. Mild cases recover slowly, but this is naturally a 

 rarer occurrence on service than elsewhere. 



Prevention. — Separate the diseased, in-contact, and healthy into Preven- 

 three herds. Among " in-contact " include all which have stood near the tion. 

 diseased. Disinfect all standings, mangers, &c., burn any line gear, 

 litter, fodder, and droppings which are found on the standings of 

 the diseased. If possible, burn carcases of dead. Among slaughter 

 cattle kill off the "in-contact" first, among working oxen keep them 

 separate and, if necessary, work ithem separately. It is often better 

 on service to kill off and burn or bury any diseased or doubtful cases as 

 soon as discovered. If there has been no case for three weeks the 

 outbreak may be considered over. 



