INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF CATTLE. 409 



little or no general disturbance of health. The contagion, the nature 

 of which remains still unknown, is transmitted mainh' during copula- 

 tion. The bull may have the disease and convey it to all the cows 

 with which he comes in contact ; or he may become mfected by one 

 cow, and, although not showing the disease, he may transmit it for 

 several days after to all other cows during copulation. Simple 

 contact between one cow and another may convey the disease, or the 

 sponges used in cleaning the diseased may carry the virus to the 

 healthy. It has also been conveyed to healthy cows by these animals 

 lying with their hind quarters against infected wooden troughs. 



Symptoms. — The period elapsing between the infection and the 

 appearance of symptoms is someAvhat variable. It is usually given 

 as three to six days. It may be briefer or much longer. In cows 

 the mucous membrane of the vagina and the vulva become swollen, 

 inflamed, very tender, and covered with dark-red spots. The secre- 

 tion is very abundant and consists at first largely of serum and mucus 

 resembling the white of an egg. Small vesicles then appear, Avhich 

 rapidly burst and are converted into excoriations or deeper ulcera- 

 tions. The secretion becomes more purulent and is apt to dry in 

 crusts about the root of the tail. The eruption is accompanied witli 

 much itching and difficulty in urinating. The walk may be stiff and 

 awkward. In bulls the eruption is situated on the prepuce and the 

 end of the penis, and consists of pimples, vesicles, and ulcers, as in 

 cows. It is accompanied by a little purulent discharge from the 

 prepuce, itching, and difficulty in urinating. In severe cases the 

 inffammation and swelling may extend backward to the scrotum and 

 forward upon the abdomen. 



The disease lasts fi'oni one to four weeks and always terminates in 

 recovery. The acute stage lasts only four or five days, while the 

 complete healing of the inflammation is slow. The eruption is usu- 

 ally accompanied by very little general disturbance. If the pain and 

 irritation are severe, there may be some slight loss of appetite and 

 diminished milk secretion in cows. The disease rarely causes abor- 

 tion. Chronic catarrh of the vagina and permanent sterility fi-e- 

 quently follow as sequelae. 



Treatment need not be resorted to excepting in severe cases. The 

 secretion and exudation should be washed off and a mild antiseptic 

 applied, such as a 1 per cent solution of carbolic acid (1 ounce to 

 3 quarts of water) or 2 per cent solution of lysol or creolin in water. 

 Care must be taken not to carry the disease from. the sick to the well 

 by sponges, etc., which have come in contact with the affected organs. 

 These should be destroyed. To prevent the spread of the disease the 

 infected animals should be kept isolated until they have recovered. 



