394 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



tender. The healing, however, goes on quite rapidly. The milk is 

 said to be somewhat changed in appearance. It becomes viscid and 

 coagulates more quickly and is more or less unfit for making butter 

 and cheese. 



These are the main symptoms accompanying an uncomplicated case 

 of foot-and-mouth disease. In all such recovery is rapid and complete; 

 but occasionally complications arise which are not only very injurious 

 but may be fatal. Thus the mouth lesions may be accompanied by 

 nasal catarrh or pneumonia. The feet, especially, are liable to suffer 

 when neglected. They may become very much swollen, and the inflam- 

 mation and suppuration extend to the tendons and bones of the foot, 

 or the hoof may be shed. In such cases the animals rarely recover. 



As a result of the general affection young calves may succumb to a 

 secondary inflammation of the stomach and bowels, and older animals 

 may abort or suffer from inflammation of the udder. 



Treatment. As the disease is mild and tends to rapid recovery, no 

 general treatment, excepting that which tends to put the animals in the 

 best condition, is required. Since the secondary diseases and compli- 

 cations are the most injurious, and as they are. largely the result of 

 other bacteria, the greatest care should be exercised in keeping the 

 animals and their surroundings clean. The bedding should be light and 

 dry, and frequently changed to prevent further injury to the feet. The 

 animals should not stand upon hard or rough floors. 



To relieve the irritation in the mouth various solutions have been 

 recommended. Among these are borax, 1 ounce in 3 pints of water; 

 water containing vinegar and salt; alum 1 ounce in a quart of water. 

 These may be applied with a syringe or poured in from a bottle, or else 

 an irri gator may be improvised by attaching a funnel to a rubber tube. 

 The funnel is elevated and the liquor poured into it. The pressure 

 necessary may be increased or diminished by raising or lowering the 

 funnel. The injections may be practiced once or twice a day, and about 

 half a pint injected each time. The blisters should not be opened. 



For the feet in mild cases, in addition to cleanliness and proper bed- 

 ding, nothing is required. Some veterinarians, however, recommend 

 antiseptic and astringent applications to prevent further mischief. For 

 this purpose they may be gently bathed in water containing 1 ounce of 

 alum to the pint, or in Burow's solution (powdered alum 1 ounce, pow- 

 dered lead acetate 2 ounces, water 3 quarts). Carbolic acid, 1 ounce in 

 3 pints of water, or equal parts of wood tar and olive oil are recom- 

 mended. At the same time some veterinarians state that these sub 

 stances communicate unpleasant odors to the milk and therefore should 

 only be used for oxen and young animals. 



For the affection of the teats simple glycerine or glycerine contain- 

 ing one-fourth dram of boracic acid to the ounce may be applied several 

 times a day, or zinc ointment containing preferably 30 drops of the 

 tincture of opium to the ounce. Burow's solution given above may 



