INFECTIOUS SORE MOUTH 513 



INFECTIOUS SORE MOUTH (NECROTIC STOMATITIS) 



In the section on Diseases of the Digestive Tract the causes, 

 symptoms, and treatment of the simple inflammations of the 

 mouth were given. There is sometimes seen in the hog, as well as 

 in other animals, a form of sore mouth which is due to a specific 

 germ, known as the necrosis bacillus. This type of the disease is 

 known as infectious stomatitis, or necrotic stomatitis, and is a 

 serious and often alarming disease. 



Causes. — This disease is seen almost exclusively in young 

 pigs under two months of age. The great predisposing factor in 

 the development of infectious sore mouth is filth. Dirty hog lots, 

 filthy feed troughs, mud-holes, large accumulations of manure in 

 the feed lots, poorly ventilated sleeping quarters, allowing hogs 

 to burrow under manure piles and straw stacks, and feeding of 

 decomposing garbage and filthy slop are the essential points 

 in opening the way for infection by the necrosis bacillus. This 

 germ is always found in the intestine of the hog, and is an important 

 factor in the development of the ulcers of hog-cholera. This is the 

 germ which was found in these lesions several years ago and was 

 believed by many to be the actual cause of hog-cholera. It has 

 since been shown that this was an error, and it is now known 

 that the necrosis organism merely enters after the cholera germ 

 has broken down the tissues and completes the work of forming 

 a slough and ulcer. 



Necrotic stomatitis may rapidly spread through an entire 

 litter of pigs by the teats of the sow becoming infected and scat- 

 tering the germs to every one of the sucking pigs. 



The necrosis germ does not seem able to get a hold on a normal 

 healthy membrane. It is necessary for some abrasion to already 

 exist before the germs are able to get the necessary start. This may 

 be caused by the eruption of the teeth, by injury from some sharp- 

 pointed object, or through a simple inflammation of the lining of 

 the mouth. 



Sjrmptoms. — At the onset the symptoms are much like those 

 of a simple sore mouth, but are much more severe. The pig re- 

 fuses to suck, or eat, if it be already weaned. There is some rise 

 in temperature and the pig acts dull and listless. If the mouth 

 be carefully examined at this time it will show a number of in- 



