VARIOLA VACCINIA. 491 



greatest severity amongst cows that are kept housed up. 

 The contagium exists only in the fixed form. 



Symptoms. — Pyrexia is invariably present, and may, or 

 may not, be well marked. The flow of milk is arrested to 

 a greater or less extent. As a rule, the decrease of milk, 

 Avhile noticeable, is slight. The appetite is observed to be 

 impaired to a certain extent, and rumination may be 

 suspended. The thermometer indicates a slight rise in the 

 temperature of the animal. The skin of the udder and 

 teats presents a reddened or slightly inflamed appearance, 

 and, after awhile, red patches occur upon which appear 

 small, hard nodules, known as papulae. This stage is 

 known as the papular stage, and lasts three or four days. 

 The papulae gradually take on the character of vesicles, 

 becoming filled with serum or lymph, and, like the vesicles 

 in ' variola equina,' are depressed in the centre as though 

 bound down, and are surrounded by deep red areola?. This 

 stage is known as the vesicular or second stage of the 

 disease. The vesicles now gradually begin to take on the 

 character of pustules, the contents becoming purulent, and 

 the third or pustular stage of the disease is now reached. 

 Four or five of these pustules may be upon one teat, and 

 each the size of the end of a finger. 



Treatment. — Absolute cleanliness must be observed. A 

 simple ointment, as calamine ointment, may be applied 

 locally, and a few doses of febrifuge medicine should be ad- 

 ministered. A mild laxative may be given with beneficial 

 results. The animal should be fed upon good food of a 

 laxative character, and given in proper quantities. Great 

 care must be exercised to prevent exposure to draughts of 

 cold air, taking cold, etc. Any ointment that may be 

 applied locally may be improved by the addition of a small 

 quantity of carbolic acid. The animal should be carefully 

 isolated from other animals, and the milk should not be 



