CHAPTER IV. 

 WARTS IN OXEN. 



Warts are cutaneous tumours, real papillomata, which most com- 

 monly attack young animals such as heifers. As a rule they are 

 pedunculated, smooth, wrinkled or deeply cracked on the surface, but 

 in some cases they are sessile. 



Causation. The cause is difficult to ascertain. It has been referred 

 to the growth of bacteria (Bacterium jiorri) in the superficial layers 

 of the skin. It is at least certain that warts can be transmitted by 

 inoculation or through the medium of cutaneous injuries. 



Symptoms. On their first appearance warts consist in hypertrophy 

 of the cutaneous papillae, which become covered with layers of actively 

 growing epidermis and end by projecting above the general surface. 

 The lesions may remain isolated, or they may become confluent or 

 unite at their base. This form is fairly common, the warts attaining 

 the size of a man's fist or more. 



The disease attacks the most tender portions of the skin, such as 

 that covering the udder, internal surface of the thighs, lower abdo- 

 minal wall, region of the elbow, posterior surface of the ears, etc. 

 In rarer cases warts may be seen on the limbs. 



When they extend over a considerable surface they become in- 

 fected, suppurate and give rise to various complications, the most 

 serious being pyaemia. The patients lose condition and value. 



Diagnosis. The diagnosis is easy. It has been proved that warts 

 are contagious, not only as between animal and animal, but as 

 between animal and man. 



Prognosis. Warts are not dangerous to life, but they diminish 

 the value of the animals, particularly that of milch cows when the 

 teats are affected. 



Treatment. Leaving out of account internal medication with cal- 

 cined magnesia, many medicines that are still recommended are of 

 comparatively little value. 



Peuch and Cruzel recommend friction with oil of cade. Piepeated 

 cauterisation with nitric acid is declared to give good results by de- 

 stroying the new tissue. 



