THE iMOKE COMMON iVILMlSNTS OF CATTLE 435 



The indications of the disease when external are 

 apparent in the firm-handhng swellings which slowly 

 increase in size until they burst. As intimated, they 

 most frequently occur on the head and throat, but they 

 may occur on different parts of the body. When the 

 swellings are opened, there is usually found in the in- 

 terior pus containing minute-like grains. These, some- 

 times visible to the eye, are masses of the inoculating 

 germs. When the tumors burst, a thick, sticky-like pus 

 exudes laden with the germs. They may heal tem- 

 porarily, but growth continues even in the presence of 

 discharge. The interior of the tumor is somewhat honey- 

 combed, and the same is true of the bone when affected. 

 When the organs affected are internal, the difficulty of 

 diagnosing the disease is greatly increased. It may 

 affect the lungs, mouth, and some other organs. 



The losses incurred by the presence of the disease 

 are found in: (i) The lack of thrift resulting when the 

 diseased condition of the teeth hinders mastication; (2) 

 the cost of treatment for the disease during the tedious 

 process of recovery; and (3) the depreciation in the 

 price obtained for the diseased animal when marketable. 

 The animals affected may thrive as long as mastication 

 is not hindered. The long period usually covered by 

 treatment would seem to make early disposal of the 

 animals commendable without treatment, unless they 

 are of more than ordinary value. Cattle dealers will not 

 pay as much for animals with lumpy jaw and usually 

 they are chary about buying them at all. When the 

 disease is local, the carcass may still be good for food 

 save where the disease is seated, but such animals should 

 be killed under inspection, as there are instances in 

 which the carcasses are condemned as unfit for human 

 food. 



Until the life history of the ray fungus, as the 

 parasite is sometimes called, is known, preventive meas- 

 ures will be less complete than they would otherwise be. 



