INFECTIOUS DISEASES OP CATTLE. 401 



uninterruptedly around it. should point conclusively to a diagnosis of 

 erofotism and to the exclusion of all fears of foot-and-mouth disease. 



In foul foot or ground iteh of cattle the inflammation of the skin 

 and toes is general and not in certain spots, as in foot-and-mouth 

 disease; the mouth remains unaffected, and the presence of the disease 

 may be traced to filth and poor drainage. 



The severer forms of the disease might be confounded with certain 

 general diseases. AMiere gastro-intestinal symptoms predominate 

 acute gastric catarrh or inflammation of the intestines might be 

 thought of. Involvement of the lungs might lead to a diagnosis of 

 acute congestion of the lungs, or pneumonia. The distinction is ap- 

 parent in these diseases by the lack of vesicular eruption on the 

 mucous membrane or skin, and also by lack of evidences of infection 

 in the herd or neighboring animals. 



Prophylaxis. — The measures to be adopted to prevent the spread 

 of the affection must take into consideration the highly infectious 

 nature of the disease, its ease of dissemination, and the liability of 

 the virus to live a saprophytic life for long periods. Great care 

 should therefore be observed in keeping healthy animals unexposed 

 to the contagion. When an outbreak occurs in a community the 

 owner should make every effort to keep other animals from coming 

 in contact with his diseased cattle. Tliis especially applies to dogs, 

 cats, goats, and poultry, which usually have access to the stables and 

 barnyartls and in this way furnish excellent means for disseminating 

 the infectious principle. He should be equally particular in prohib- 

 iting any pei'son from coming onto his premises, especially an at- 

 tendant or owner or other person in any way connected with cattle. 

 Such a herd may be placed under quarantine, with an inspector ap- 

 pointed to keep the premises under constant surveillance. 



This method of quarantine alone, while very satisfactory in many 

 instances, is rather tardy in obtaining the desired result. For this 

 reason when the disease breaks out in a country like the United 

 States, where the contagion is likely to spread rapidly by means of 

 infected cars, manure, hay and other feed, and where the loss attend- 

 ant upon its obtaining a finn foothold would result so disastrously, it 

 seems that this method of temporizing is rather tedious, and more 

 radical steps are required in order to suppress and eradicate com- 

 pletely the infection in the quickest and most thorough manner pos- 

 sible. 



It would therefore appear better to concentrate the exi3ense inci- 

 dent to the extermination of foot-and-mouth disease by purchasing 

 and slaughtering all affected and exposed cattle after judicious ap- 

 ]>raisement. The carcasses of these animals should be totally de- 

 stroyed, preferably by cremation, or otherwise by burying them in a 

 hole 6 feet deep and covering them with air-slaked lime. The infected 

 16923°— 12 26 



