Clover Disease. 875 



oil on the reddened skin, as well as a drying powder (such as 

 powdered zinc oxide and starch equal parts) do good service. 



Literature. Dammann, Gesundheitspfi. d. Haustiere, 1902, 322.— Heniiinger, 

 B. Mt., 18S6, 15.— Klein, A. f. Tk., 1891, X, 220.— Noack, S. B., 1897, 141.— 

 Ohmke, Z. f. Physiol., 1909, XXII, 685. — Schindelka, Hautkrankheiten, 1908, 376. 



(e) Clover Disease. 



Clover disease consists in a variable inflammation of the 

 white portions of the skin of the head and of the limbs, also 

 frequently affecting the mouth; general symptoms of illness 

 may sometimes be noticed. 



Etiology. Especially after generous or exclusive feeding 

 of Swedish or bastard clover (Trifolium hybridum), the disease 

 has repeatedly been observed in horses (Damman, Haubner, 

 Zipperlen, Michael, Heimann), Kovats saw it also after feed- 

 ing on red clover (Trifolium pratense). Enzootic outbreaks 

 have been noticed in cattle in consequence of pasturing in clover 

 meadows (Berndt, Nevermann) or after feeding with red clover 

 (Nissen). Sheep also have been thus affected (Berndt, Never- 

 mann). 



The actual cause of the disease is not yet known. Accord- 

 ing to Haubner it is due to fungi, but this view cannot be 

 considered to be proved. One might assume that the poisonous 

 effect of the clover is somewhat similar to that of buckwheat 

 in fagopyrism (see page 873). 



Symptoms. In mild cases there is merely a redness, per- 

 haps also a moderate swelling of the white parts of the skin 

 on head and limbs, which soon disappears and leaves behind a 

 somewhat prolonged desquamation. In cattle the skin of the 

 extremities, of the udder, and of the lower belly are favorite 

 localizations of the eruption, yet the front of the chest, the 

 lower part of the neck, and the parts around the mouth may 

 also be affected. 



In a severe attack the parts of the skin mentioned above 

 become dark red to bluish red in color, considerable swelling 

 and tenderness may be noted sometimes followed in places by 

 vesicles, and then a large quantity of yellow colored gummy 

 fluid exudes upon the skin which soon dries into ratlier thick 

 scabs. Collections of pus then form, whereupon it exudes 

 from fissures in the scabs which have in the meantime become 

 cracked, or a purulent layer is disclosed after falling away of 

 the scab, which generally takes place within 14 days. Itching 

 and inflammation of the hair bulbs were observed by Haubner, 

 and Kovats saw inflammation of the hnnphatic vessels with the 



