DISEASES OF FARM ANIMALS 159 



spots the size of a hemp seed appear on the gums, 

 the lower surface of the tongue, lining of the mouth 

 and on the lips. These eventually attain the size 

 of a silver dollar. They run together, burst and 

 form painful, foul-smelling ulcers. At this stage 

 the saliva is more profuse and ropy and the animal 

 makes characteristic smacking noises with the 

 mouth. 



Infected animals lose flesh rapidly, in some cases 

 as much as 100 pounds in eight or ten days. The 

 milk is thick, yellowish-white, has a bad taste, and 

 is with difficulty made into cheese or butter. The 

 reduction in milk yield during the sickness and for 

 some time after recovery is 50 to 75 per cent. 



Usually, a jhort time after an appearance of the 

 disease in the mouth parts, there is a redness, heat 

 and swelling of the skin at its junction with the 

 hoof and especially between the toes and upon 

 the soles of the foot. Similar ulcers to those on the 

 mouth appear on the feet and soon burst. The 

 animal becomes lame and moves stiffly and lies 

 down a great deal. These ulcers ordinarily heal 

 up in one or two weeks. 



In some cases the animal dies suddenly, in others 

 lingers a few hours with difficult breathing and dis- 

 charge of blood from the nose, and finally dies of 

 paralysis of the heart and lungs. In still other 

 cases emaciation and reduction of milk flow is the 

 only bad result. Sometimes ulcers form at the root 

 of the horn and cause the horn to drop off. 



Owing to the nature of the disease, its contagion 

 and danger, treatment should be in line of preven- 

 tion and in destruction of infected animals. While 

 the disease yields to treatment, our best sugges- 

 tions when the disease is suspected is in notification 

 to the state officers and in securing the services of 



