MYCOTIC STOMATITIS OF CATTLE. 



By John R. Mohler, V. M. D., 

 Assistant Chief, Bureau of Animal Industry. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Niimeroiis letters have been received by this bureau in recent years 

 relative to the existence of a disease affecting 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, 

 where 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 department on various occasions, 

 and it is with the view 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, which it so closely simu- 

 lates, that this article is prepared. 



NAME AND SYNONYMS. 



The name stomatitis signifies that there is present in the affected 

 animals an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth. 

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

 principal and most frequently observed lesions. Mycotic stomatitis 

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

 taining irritant fungi. Thus the name hot 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 different writers are sporadic aphthae; aphthous stoma- 

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

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

 sporadic stomatitis aphthosa. 



CHARACTER OF THE DISEASE. 



Mycotic stomatitis 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 inflammation and ulceration of 

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

 appetence, and secondarily affecting the feet, which become sore and 

 swollen. Superficial erosions of the skin, particularly of the muzzle 



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