88 The Fa/rmer's Veterinary Adviser. 



feet. It is only known as communicated by contagion, 

 wlietliei- in Western Europe, in Great Britain and Ireland, 

 wliere it was introduced in 1839-42, or in North and South 

 America, which it reached in 1870 by imported stock. 

 Like the other animal plagues it follows in the track of 

 great armies and in the channels of commerce. The con- 

 tagion does not readily spread on the air, a river or common 

 road being often sufficient to limit it, but no poison is more 

 certainly transmitted by contact, direct or through the 

 medium of human beings, tame or wild animals, fodder, 

 litter, manure, clothing, drinking- troughs, etc., etc. Milk 

 is one of the most frequent sources of contagion to pigs, 

 dogs, and even to infants, producing the most dangerous 

 intestinal irritation and diarrhoea. 



Symptoms. The poison may remain latent in the system 

 for one or two days, or, in exceptional cases, perhaps as many 

 as six. Then there is roughness of the coat or shivering, in- 

 creased temperature, dry muzzle, hot red mouth, teats, and 

 iuterdigital spaces, lameness, inclination to lie, and shrink- 

 ing from the hand in milking. The second or third day 

 blisters arise on any part of the whole interior of the mouth, 

 one-half to one inch in breadth, or on the teats and between 

 the digits about one-half inch across. Saliva drivels from 

 the mouth, collecting in froth around the lips, and a loud 

 smacking is made with the lips and tongue. Swine champ 

 the jaws. Sheep and swine suffer more especially in the 

 feet, often losing the hoofs or even the digital bones, a con- 

 tingency not unknown in neglected cattle. 



Among the consequences may be named the loss of milk, 

 inflamed udders, blind teats, a habit of vicious kicking, 

 abortions, permanent lameness, and a lengthened incapacity 

 for the dairy, for feeding, or work. If well cared for the 

 disease passes in fifteen days, leaving no ill consequence, ex- 

 cepting the poison hidden away in the building. The aver- 

 age loss in flesh is $5 to $10 ; in dairy cows it is much more. 



