376 ACUTE EXANTHEMATOUS INFECTIOUS DISEASES 



isolated cases where no vesicles can be found and the only 

 lesion apparent a teat ulcer, the diagnosis is impossible. 



Couise. — ^The disease usually lasts several weeks in a herd, ■ 

 depending upon the number of susceptible animals and the 

 precautions taken to prevent its spread. 



Prognosis. — Good. The disease is benign and does not 

 cause death. Economic loss is occasioned through the dimi- 

 nution and pollution of the milk, the persistency of the teat 

 idcers and the cases of mastitis which develop during the 

 course of an outbreak. 



Treatment. — No internal treatment is necessary. Washing 

 the teats and udder after each milking with a 1 per cent, 

 solution of sodium hyposulphite generally suffices. Stqrile 

 milk-tubes may be used when the teats ai-e sore. The ulcers 

 heal readily in ten to fourteen days provided they are not 

 irritated during milking. 



Protective hioculation. — ^Vaccinating cattle with calf lymph 

 (vaccine points) intended for human beings has been prac- 

 tised in Europe with apparently good results. 



Horsepox. — ^Definition. — Horsepox is a local vesiculopus- 

 tular eruption which occurs in the region of the fetlocks. 



Etiology. — ^It is probably cowpox transmitted to horses by 

 recently vaccinated horseshoers. 



Symptoms. — It is most frequent in young horses. The 

 region of the fetlocks becomes edematous and sensitive. In 

 a few cases there may be mild general symptoms (fever) 

 which are usually not noticed. In one to two days, on the 

 posterior surface of the fetlocks, there develop pea to bean 

 sized vesicles which soon burst and form crusts. Occurrence 

 on other portions of the body is rare, although cases are 

 recorded where the vesicles appeared on the head, about the 

 mouth and nostrils and, exceptionally, the buccal mucous 

 membrane was invaded. On the limbs a temporary change 

 in the color of the hair, which becomes lighter, has been 

 noted. The comse is benign. 



Swinepox. — Occurrence. — Swinepox is a rare disease and 

 has not been reported in the United States. 



Etiology. — It is probably transmitted to swine from man 

 and cattle. Experiments to transmit sheep-pox to swine have 

 resulted only in a local infection. 



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