390 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



may remain attached for a day or more, or disappear speedily and 

 leave deeply reddened, sensitive spots or erosions, both ^vithin the 

 mouth and upon the coronet and between the claws of the feet. 

 Similar erosions, which quickly form scabs, as a rule, may be noticed 

 in cases in which the teats of milk cows have become affected, and 

 instances are reported in which sloughing of the tegument imme- 

 diately around the lesions upon the udder has occurred. Owing to 

 the tough, fibrous nature of the bovine skin, it is exceedingly rare 

 for sloughing to occur upon any part of the body other than those 

 mentioned. 



The attack upon the feet of an animal is frequently manifested in 

 all four feet at once, but one or more of the feet may entirely escape 

 and remain unaffected throughout the course of the disease. The 

 ulceration of the interdigital tissue may extend to the ligaments 

 of the fetlock or produce disease of the joint or bone. As the feet 

 become sensitive and sore the animal persistently lies down, and it 

 has been found that bedsores develop with amazing rapidity in all 

 such cases and w^holly baffle all attempts at treatment until after the 

 patient has regained its feet. 



The disease may attack some of the internal organs before it ap- 

 pears upon any of the external tissues. These cases are very liable 

 to prove quickly fatal. The animal dies from paralysis of the heart, 

 due to the formation of poisonous principles within the system; it 

 may suffocate by reason of the action of these same poisons upon the 

 tissues of the lungs, or it may choke to death as a result of paralysis 

 of the throat. 



In cases of serious affection of the udder the erosions will often be 

 found within the passages of the teats, resulting in a " caked " udder, 

 and the same toxic poisoning which is the cause of death in the 

 apoplectiform types just mentioned may arise from this source. In 

 any event the milk from such cases is dangerous for use, causing 

 fatal diarrhea in sucking calves or young pigs and serious illness in 

 human consumers. The milk obtained from cows suffering with 

 foot-and-mouth disease is not readily converted into either butter or 

 cheese, but remains thick, slimy, and inert in spite of churning and 

 attempts at curdling. Pregnant animals may abort. In pigs, sheep, 

 and goats the lesions in the foot are most common, but both forms 

 may be observed or only the mouth lesions. 



When the disease has become fully established it w^ill be found that 

 the duration of the attack will vary greatly with different animals. 

 From 10 to 20 days are usually required for the recovery of the 

 normal appetite and spirits in mild outbreaks, while the return to a 

 full flow of milk, in the case of milk cows, seldom occurs before 

 the arrival of the following season. 



