388 ACUTE EXANTHEMATOUS INFECTIOUS DISEASES 



which should be kept accesiible to the patient. Only soft 

 foods should be fed for the first few days. Outbreaks handled 

 in this manner rapidly disappear. 



CONTAGIOUS STOMATITIS OF THE HORSE. 



Definition. — Contagious pustulous stomatitis is an acute, 

 benign, infectious disease of the horse characterized by its 

 marked contagiousness and the appearance of pustules in the 

 mucous membrane of the mouth. Sometimes the nasal 

 mucosa and the skin of the lips are involved. 



Occurrence. — ^The disease is widely distributed, appearing 

 enzootically, chiefly among colts or young horses herded 

 together in barns or on pastures. While the disease is usually 

 benign, the patients lose flesh and older horses are often 

 unable to work during the attack. Occasionally foreign body 

 pneumonia may complicate the disease (pneumonia medi- 

 cantaria from needless drenching). 



Etiology. — ^The cause is unknown. The virus seems to be 

 contained in the nodules and pustules; the saliva'is therefore 

 virulent. The disease is readily transmitted artificially. A 

 spiead to other animals (sheep, cattle, swine) and even man 

 is recorded. This is rare, however, as the disease is seen ordi- 

 narily only in the horse. 



Natural Infection. — Contagious pustulous stomatitis is 

 spread by the saliva of the sick which contaminates the food 

 and water. Transmission through polluted stable litter, 

 utensils, sponges, hands of attendants, etc., also occurs. The 

 disease does not assume an epizootic form probably because 

 the virulency of the virus rapidly attenuates in passing from 

 animal to animal. Usually all horses exposed do not become 

 infected. 



The disease is generally introduced into a stable or pasture 

 by an infected animal. 



Symptoms. — ^The period of incubation is three to five days. 

 The first symptoms noted are usually impairment of appetite 

 and ptyalism. The patient holds the mouth shut; if opened 

 a quantity of saliva spills out. The saliva is very viscid and 



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