544 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



time it will be found red and hot, and exceptionally small blisters 

 will be seen, which, however, quickly become eroded and develop 

 into active ulcei-s varying in size from one-eighth to 1 inch in 

 diameter. Where several ulcers have coalesced a large and inegu- 

 larly indented patch is formed. These erosions are most frecjuently 

 found on the gums around the incisor teeth, on the dental pad, inside 

 the lipSj and on the tip of the tongue, but they also occur on the 

 cheeks, interdental space, and dorsum of the tongue. The ulcers have 

 a hemorrhagic border, a depressed suppurating surface, and contain 

 a brownish or yellowish colored debris, which is soon replaced by 

 granulation tissue. As a result of this sloughing of the tissues and 

 the retention of food in the mouth, a very offensive odor is exhaled. 

 The muzzle becomes dry and parched in appearance, which condition 

 is shortly followed by erosions and exfoliations of the superficial 

 layer of the skin. Adherent brownish crusts and scabs form over 

 the parts, and similar lesions are seen around the nostrils and ex- 

 ternal surface of the lips. 



In some cases there are associated with these alterations a slight 

 swelling and painfulness in the region of the pasterns, at times affect- 

 ing the fore feet, at other times the hind feet, and occasionally all 

 four feet. In a few cases the swelling may extend above the fetlock, 

 but it has never been observed above the knee or hock. The skin 

 around the coronet may occasionally become fissured and the thin 

 skin in the cleft of the foot eroded and suppurated, but Avithout the 

 formation of vesicles. As a result of these feet lesions, the affected 

 animal may assume a position with its back arched and the limbs 

 i)ropped under the body as in a case of founder, and will numifest 

 much pain and lameness in walking. If it lies down, the animal 

 shoAvs reluctance in getting up, and although manifesting no incli- 

 nation to move about, when forced to do so there is more or less 

 stiffness and a tendency to kick or shake the foot as if to dislodge 

 a foreign body from between the claws. 



In some outbreaks the milch cows have slight superficial erosions 

 on the teats which at times extend to the udder. The cracks in the 

 skin are filled with serum and form brownish colored scabs. The 

 teats become tender and the milk secretion diminishes: in some cases 

 it disappears. A similar tendency toward the formation of fissures 

 and scabs on the skin of the neck and shoulder has manifested itself 

 in a recent outbreak in Texas, and this feature was likewise notice- 

 able in the disease when it occurred in Maryland and Virginia in 

 1889. 



In mild cases only the mouth lesions may be observed, or these 

 alterations may be associated with one or more of the other above- 

 described symptoms, but in severe cases, where there is a generalized 

 mycotic intoxication, one animal may show all these alterations. 



