392 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



changes to a croupous membrane which peels off, leaving a raw sur- 

 face, while the thin skin between the toes may also be inflamed. The 

 previous history of the case ; the failure of the blisters, if any appear, 

 to spread extensively; the absence of vesicular eruptions on other 

 portions of the body, notably the udder and teats, and, characteris- 

 tically, the hoof, together with the absence of rapid spread to prac- 

 tically all cattle in the herd and the complete negative character of 

 inoculation of calves, distinguish between the local disease named 

 and foot-and-mouth disease. Mycotic stomatitis occurs in only from 

 10 to 50 i^er cent of the animals in a herd, usually in the late smnmer 

 or early fall after a dry spell, and it does not run a regular course. 



The lesion resulting from ergotism may be distinguished from 

 those of foot-and-mouth disease by the lack of eruptions in the mouth 

 and by the location of the disease at the tips of the ears, end of the 

 tail, or upon the lower part of the legs, usually below the knees or 

 hocks. The lesion of ergotism does not take the form of pustules or 

 blisters, but manifests itself fii-st as a swelling about the ankle, w^hich 

 later may slough and circumscribe the limb, forming a deep crack, 

 extending entirely around the limb and forming a distinct line of 

 demarcation between the healthy skin above and the diseased below. 

 The absence of ulcerous sores on the coronet and between the claws, 

 lV)gether with the healthy condition of the membranes of the mouth 

 and the laiowledge that the lesion upon the limb in question extends 

 uninterruptedly around it, should point conclusively to a diagnosis of 

 ergotism and to the exclusion of all fears of foot-and-mouth disease. 



In foul foot or ground itch of cattle, the inflammation of the skin 

 and toes is general and not in certain spots, as in foot-and-mouth 

 disease. The mouth remains unaffected, and the presence of the dis- 

 ease may be traced to filth and poor drainage. 



The severer forms of the disease might be confounded with certain 

 general diseases. If gastrointestinal symptoms predominate, acute 

 gastric catarrh or inflammation of the intestines might be thought 

 of. Involvement of the lungs may lead to a diagnosis of acute con- 

 gestion of the lungs or pneumonia. The distinction is apparent in 

 these diseases by the lack of vesicular eruption on the mucous mem- 

 brane or skin, and also by lack of evidences of infection in the herd 

 or neighboring animals. 



Prevention and erctdication. — The measures to be adopted to pre- 

 vent the spread of the affection must take into consideration the 

 highly infectious nature of the disease, its ease of dissemination, 

 and the liability of the virus to live for long periods outside the body 

 of an animal. Great care should therefore be observed in keeping 

 healthy animals unexposed to the contagion. When an outbreak 

 occurs in a community the owner should make every effort to keep 

 other animals from coming in contact with his diseased cattle. This 



