10 BULLETIN 65, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 



humidity, which are the significant factors in the subsidence of the 

 disease, and after the first week in October the disease practically 

 disappeared. Since then many o^\Tiers have placed their horses back 

 on the same pastures used during the serious stages of the disease and 

 there has been no ill effect noted. This would indicate that there 

 are good reasons to beheve the forage is no longer in condition to 

 produce the disease and hence its use is safe, as in the case of the 

 Pennsylvania baled hay previously mentioned. 



Somewhat similar conditions of climate obtained in Nebraska dur- 

 mg Uie prevalence of the disease, but on September 25 a killmg frost 

 was recorded, followed by several light frosts and a reduction in the 

 relative humidity. After this time the disease rapidly subsided and 

 finally disappeared. There is not much question that some of this 

 infected forage has been baled and shipped to various points, and it is 

 therefore not unlikely that sporadic cases of the disease will appear 

 in these sections under favorable climatic conditions. 



In this connection, attention should be called to the marked preva- 

 lence last summer and fall of the disease of cattle known as mycotic 

 stomatitis, which simulates the foot-and-mouth disease of Europe 

 and is caused also by contaminated forage. This disease first 

 appeared in Florida and spread over Georgia, North and South Caro- 

 lina, Tennessee, Kentucky, -Virginia, Maryland, and into Pennsyl- 

 vania. The climatic conditions were evidently appropriate for the 

 development of the causative agent on forage, and as soon as the 

 animals were brought out of the pastures and stall fed, the disease 

 immediately subsided. 



SYMPTOMS AND LESIONS. 



In most of the cases disturbance of the appetite, depression, and 

 weakness are the first manifestations observed, although all the 

 symptoms vary within wide limits. 



Very soon the characteristic symptoms of the disease appear. 

 There is trouble in swallowing, drooping of the head and sleepiness, 

 which may give way to excitement and attacks of vertigo. An 

 impairment of vision is noted, with loss of coordination, resultmg in a 

 staggering gait or reeling while standing. There is muscular twitch- 

 ing, cramp of certain muscles, chiefly of the neck and flanks, and 

 grinding of the teeth. Sometimes colicky pains are noted. If in an 

 open space, the animal will walk in a circle, sometimes to the right, 

 at other times to the left, and will try to push through any obstacle 

 with which he comes in contact. In the stable he will press his head 

 against the stall or rest it on the manger. Sometimes he wiU crowd 

 backward or sidewise until he gets in a corner and remains there. 

 If the temperature is taken at the begiiming of the disease it will be 



