MYCOTIC STOMATITIS OF CATTLE. 



Hy .loiiN U. Moiii.Ei:, V. M. ] >.. 

 Ch-Kl. UinrnH ufAnniinl Jnihistrn. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Xiiinerons letteis have been received by this bureau in recent years 

 rehitive to tlie existence of a disease atfectinir the mouths and feet of 

 cattle in certain Eastern and Central Western States. Later reports 

 indicate that the malady has made its appearance in the Southwest, 

 Avhere it has caused much alarm among the stockmen owing to its 

 similarity to the foot-and-mouth disease of Europe. The disease, 

 which is to be discussed under the name of mycotic stomatitis, has 

 been carefully investigated by this depai-tment <m various occasions, 

 and it is with the A'iew of giving the results of these clinical investi- 

 gations as well as to assert its noninfectiousness and to differentiate 

 it from the virulent foot-and-mouth disease, Avhich it so closely simu- 

 lates, that this article is prepared. 



NAME AND SYNONYMS. 



The iinnic stomatitis signifies that there is present in the affected 

 animals an inflannnation of the mucous membrane of the mouth. 

 This inflammation, which quickly develops into ulcers, is one of the 

 principal and most frequently observed lesicms. Mycotic stomatitis 

 refers to that form of stomatitis which results from eating food con- 

 taining in-itant fungi. Thus the name not only suggests the cause of 

 the disease, but also indicates the location of the earliest and most 

 prominent symptoms. Other names which have been applied to this 

 disease by diffei-ent writers are sporadic aphtha^: aphthous stoma- 

 titis: sore mouth of cattle: sore tongue: benign, simple, or noninfec- 

 tious foot-and-mouth disease: mycotic aphthous stomatitis; and 

 spoi-adic stomatitis nj^hthosa. 



CHARACTER OF THE DISEASE. 



Mycotic st<^matitis is a sporadic, or noninfectious, disease which 

 affects cattle of all ages that are on pasture, but more especially 

 milch cows. It is characterized by inflannnation and ulceration of 

 the mucous membrane of the mouth, producing salivation and in- 

 a]i])etence. and secondarily affecting the feet, which become sore and 

 swollen. Superficial erosions of the skin, ]-)articularly of the muzzle 

 O.V2 



