MYCOTIC STOMATITIS OF CATTLE. 519 



If, however, food is placed on the back of the tongue it is readily 

 masticated and swallowed. If the mouth is examined at this time it 

 will be found red and hot, and exceptionally small blisters will be 

 seen, which, however, quickly become eroded and develop into active 

 ulcers varying in size from one-eighth to 1 inch in diameter. Where 

 several ulcers have coalesced a large and irregularly indented patch 

 is formed. These erosions are most frequently found on the gums 

 around the incisor teeth, on the dental pad, inside the lips, and on 

 the tip of the tongue, but they also occur on the cheeks, interdental 

 space, and dorsum of the tongue. The ulcers have a hemorrhagic 

 border, a depressed suppurating surface, and contain a brownish or 

 yellowish colored debris, which is soon replaced by granulation tissue. 

 As a result of this sloughing of the tissues and the retention of food 

 in the mouth, a very offensive odor is exhaled. The muzzle becomes 

 dry and parched in appearance, which condition is shortly followed 

 by erosions and exfoliations of the superficial layer of the skin. 

 Adherent brownish crusts and scabs form over the parts, and similar 

 lesions are seen around the nostrils and external surface of the lips. 



In some cases there are associated with these alterations a slight 

 swelling and painfulness in the region of the pasterns, at times affect- 

 ing the fore feet, at other times the hind feet, and occasionally all 

 four feet. In a few cases the swelling may extend above the fetlock, 

 but it has never been observed above the knee or hock. The skin 

 around the coronet may occasionally become fissured and the thin 

 skin in the cleft of the foot eroded and suppurated, but without the 

 formation of vesicles. As a result of these feet lesions, the affected 

 animal may assume a position with its back arched and the limbs 

 propped under the body as in a case of founder and will manifest 

 much pain and lameness- in walking. If it lies down the animal 

 shows reluctance in getting up and, although manifesting no incli- 

 nation to move about, when forced to do so there is more or less stiff- 

 ness and a tendency to kick or shake the foot as if to dislodge a foreign 

 body from between the claws. 



In some outbreaks the milch cows have slight superficial erosions on 

 the teats which at times extend to the udder. The cracks in the skin 

 are filled with serum and form brownish colored scabs. The teats 

 become tender and the milk secretion diminishes; in some cases it dis- 

 appears. A similar tendency toward the formation of fissures and 

 scabs on the skin of the neck and shoulder has manifested itself in a 

 recent outbreak in Texas, and this feature was likewise noticeable in 

 the disease when it occurred in Maryland and Virginia in 1889. 



In mild cases, only the mouth lesions may be observed, or these 

 alterations may be associated with one or more of the other above- 

 described symptoms, but in severe cases where there is a generalized 

 mycotic intoxication one animal may show all these alterations. 



