472 DISEASES OF CATTUE. 



Ill the tongiie this may progress to tAvo fingers' thickness into the 

 muscuhir portion; in the cheek it may form an external opening, 

 permitting fluids to escape from the mouth; upon the pahite it fre- 

 quently reaches and includes the bone in its destructive coui-se; upon 

 the gums it has produced necrosis of the tooth sockets, causing loss 

 of the teeth. In the advanced forms, caseous foci may be. seen in the 

 lung and in the liver and necrotic patches observed on the mucous 

 membrane of the gastroint^estinal tract. 



Symptoms. — Necrotic stomatitis is both a local and a systemic 

 affection. Primarily it is local. The local lesion is the caseo-necrotic 

 patch or ulcer dcA'eloped as a result of the multiplication of the 

 bacilli at the point of inoculation. The general affection is an intoxi- 

 cation, or poisoning, of the Avhole system produced by a soluble toxin 

 elaborated by the bacilli. 



The stage of incubation is from three to five days. The first symp- 

 toms noted are a disinclination to take nourishment, some drooling 

 from the mouth, and an examination of the mouth Avill show on some 

 portion of its mucous membrane a circumscribed area of infiltration 

 and redness, po?;sibly an erosion. The latter gradually extends in 

 size and depth, forming a sharply circumscribed area of necrotic 

 inflammation. It may measure anywhere from the size of a a-cent 

 piece to that of a dollar or even larger. It has the appearance of a 

 corroded surface, under which the mucous membrane or muscular 

 tissue .seems transformed into a dry friable or firm cheesy mass. It 

 is gi'ayish yellow in color and is bordered by a zone of thickened 

 tissue slightly reddened and somewhat granulated. The necrotic 

 tissue is very adherent and can be only partially peeled off. It is 

 homogeneous, cheesy, and may extend two fingers' depth into the 

 tissues beneath. The general symptoms are languor, weakness, and 

 slight fever. In spite of plenty of good food the calf is seen to be 

 failing. It stops sucking, or, if older, altogether refuses to eat. The 

 temperature at this time may be from 104° to 107° F. The slobber 

 becomes profuse, swallowing very difficult, opening of the mouth 

 quite painful, and a most offensive odor is exhaled. The tongue is 

 swollen and its motion greatly impaired. Sometimes the mouth is 

 kept open, permitting the tumefied tongue to protrude. One or more 

 of the above symptoms direct the attention to the mouth as the seat 

 of disease; or. having noticed the debility and disinclination to eat, 

 an examination of the animal may show a lump under the neck or 

 swelling of the throat or head. The following extract from a letter 

 is characteristic: 



I noticed my calves beginning to fail about the first week in December, but 

 could not account for it, as they were getting plenty of grain and hay. My 

 attention was first- attracted by a swelling under the neck of one of the calves. 

 I cast the animal and found it was food that had collected and the animal 

 couldn't swallow it. I removed it, and in so doing noticed a large ulcer on the 



