270 SPECIFIC DISEASES. 



foot and JMowtb Disease; also called Infectious Hpbtba, ov 

 Gczetna Spizootica. 



This is a specific eruptive fever, which not only affects 

 sheep but cattle, pigs, dogs, poultry and occasionally the 

 human family. There have been repeated outbreaks of this 

 disease in Europe, its history being almost as ancient as that of 

 anthrax. England first experienced its attack in 1839, the first 

 appearance on the American Continent being about ten years 

 later. It is a highly contagious affection, evidenced by pustules 

 in the mouth, mostly on the dental pad, and around the coronets 

 just above the hoofs, and in the clefts of the digits, these pus- 

 tules rapidly forming angry sores which extend their circumfer- 

 ences and tend to coalesce. 



It is supposedly caused by a micro-coccus, although the 

 germ of this particular malady has never been isolated, but that 

 such a germ exists is beyond a matter of doubt, all the character- 

 istics tending to prove that the disease is specific in origin. The 

 infection is contained in the saliva and excretions. It can be 

 carried from animal to animal by the attendant. The excretions 

 from the sores, also containing the contagium, accounts for the 

 wholesale infection of pastures and the wide distribution of 

 this disease. Dogs may carry the virus on their feet from one 

 district to another, as also beyond a doubt do rabbits and other 

 animals. An instance is recorded by Williams where the virus 

 was evidently distributed by a shepherd, whose clothes had be- 

 come infected a year prior to the outbreak of the disease. This 

 appears doubtful, however. The period of inoculation is short 

 — from twenty-four hours to six days. The disease usually runs 

 a benign course, the mortality being light. One attack does not 

 confer immunity against subsequent ones. 



Symptoms. 



The course of this disease is divided into four stages. 



