310 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



surmounted by several layers of this necrosed tissue. The floor of 

 the ulcer is formed by a grayish yellow, corroded surface, under 

 which the tissue is transformed into a dry friable or firm cheesy 

 mass. In the tongue this may progress to two fingers' thickness into 

 the muscular portion; in the cheek it may form an external open- 

 ing, permitting fluids to escape from the mouth ; upon the palate it 

 frequently reaches and includes the bone in its destructive course; 

 upon the gums it has produced necrosis of the tooth sockets, causing 

 loss of the teeth. In the advanced forms, caseous foci may be seen 

 in the lung and in the liver and necrotic patches observed on the 

 mucous membrane of the gastro-intestinal tract. 



Symptoms. Necrotic stomatitis is both a local and a systemic 

 affection. Primarily it is local. The local lesion is the caseo-necro- 

 tic patch or ulcer developed as a result of the multiplication of the 

 bacilli at the point of inoculation. The general affection is an in- 

 toxication, or poisoning, of the whole system produced by a soluble 

 toxin elaborated by the bacilli. 



The stage of incubation is from three to five days. The first 

 symptoms noted are a disinclination to take nourishment, some 

 drooling from the mouth, and an examination of the mouth will 

 show on some portion of its mucous membrane a circumscribed area 

 of infiltration and redness, possibly an erosion. The latter gradually 

 extends in size and depth, forming a sharply circumscribed area of 

 necrotic inflammation. It may measure anywhere from the size of 

 a five-cent piece to that of a dollar or even larger. It has the appear- 

 ance of a corroded surface, under which the mucous membrane or 

 muscular tissue seems transformed into a dry friable or firm cheesy 

 mass. It is grayish yellow in color and is bordered by a zone of 

 thickened tissue slightly reddened and somewhat granulated. The 

 necrotic tissue is very adherent and can be only partially peeled off. 

 It is homogeneous, cheesy, and may extend two fingers' depth into 

 the tissues beneath. The general symptoms are languor, weakness, 

 and slight fever. In spite of plenty of good food the calf is seen to 

 be failing. It stops sucking, or, if older, altogether refuses to eat. 

 The temperature at this time may be from 104 to 107 F. The 

 slabber becomes profuse, swallowing very difficult, opening the 

 mouth quite painful, and a most offensive odor is exhaled. The 

 tongue is swollen and its motion greatly impaired. Sometimes the 

 mouth is kept open, permitting the tumefied tongue to protrude. 

 One or more of the above symptoms direct the attention to the 

 mouth as the seat of disease; or, having noticed the debility and 

 disinclination to eat, an examination of the animal may show a 

 lump under the neck or swelling of the throat or head. The follow- 

 ing extract from a letter is characteristic : 



I noticed my calves beginning to fail about the first week in 

 December, but could not account for it, as they were getting plenty 

 of grain and hay. My attention was first attracted by a swelling 

 under the neck of one of the calves. I cast the animal and found it 

 was food that had collected and the animal couldn't swallow it. I 

 removed it, and in so doing noticed a large ulcer on the tongue and 



