346 Veterinary Medicine. 



and high mortality which characterize that disease ; by the ab- 

 sence of rapid and uniform infection of other cattle irrespective of 

 a common milker ; by the immunity of heifers, steers and bulls, 

 which are speedily prostrated by rinderpest, and by the absence 

 of the congestiqns and epithelial concretions of the mucosae which 

 characterize rinderpest. 



From the leg irruption found in animals feeding on distiller's 

 swill and grains, or on the mast of beet sugar factories, by the 

 history of the outbreak, of the dietary, of the seat and nature of 

 the disease, and by the escape of animals living on a different 

 aliment. 



From ^h.^ false cowpox (varicella) it is distinguished by the 

 unilocular lesion of the latter, its absence of areola, and its rapid 

 pustulation and drying, in five or six days into a thin papery 

 crust instead of a thick, firm, umbilicated .scab, as in cowpox. 

 Varicella is further liable to appear in successive crops and thus 

 last for several weeks. 



The streptococcus eruption on teats and udder, is marked by the 

 formation of abscesses of various sizes from a simple pustule up- 

 ward, by the unilocular condition of the pus sac, by its tendency 

 to invade the deeper tissues, and by its rupture and granulation 

 without the formation of the thick umbilicated scab of cowpox. 



The hard warty growths on the teats which last for weeks or 

 months should never be mistaken for cowpox. 



Cowpox usually lasts for some weeks in a herd, the duration 

 depending on the number of susceptible animals and, whether 

 these are habitually milked by the same person. 



Course. Prognosis. It is a mild affection, which does not en- 

 danger life, yet it causes considerable loss through diminution of 

 the milk secretion and, it may be, altered character of the milk, 

 through the persistent sores and ulcers of the teats, through in- 

 flamation of the mammae, and through an acquired habit of 

 kicking. 



Treatment is rarely needed. Any costiveness should be cor- 

 rected by a cooling saline laxative (}^ to I lb. Epsom salts) or 

 by soft food, and milking should be done with great care to pre- 

 vent rupture of the vesicles and the formation of sores. A teat 

 tube may be used if necessary. Sores may be dressed with 

 bland ointment. An ounce each of spermacetti and sweet almond 



