MYCOTIC STOMATITIS OF OATTLE. 521 



spread extensively in the mouth, the absence of these blisters on 

 other portions of the body— notably the teats and udder, and charac- 

 teristically the feet — together with the absence of infection in the 

 herd, and the inability to transmit the disease to calves by inocula- 

 tion distinguish between this affection and foot-and-mouth disease. 

 Scab formation on the muzzle and nostrils is not present in foot-and- 

 mouth disease. The erosions of the mouth are not so extensive and 

 they heal more rapidly in mycotic stomatitis. The swelling of the feet 

 and stiffness of the animal are also more marked in mycotic stomatitis. 



ERGOTISM. 



The lesions resulting from ergotism may be differentiated from those 

 of mycotic stomatitis by the lack of ulcerative eruptions in the mouth 

 and by the location of the lesions at the tips of the ears, end of the 

 tail, or upon the lower part of the legs, usually below the knees or 

 hocks. The lesions of ergotism do not take the forms of ulcers or 

 festers, but the end of the limb affected is diseased "in toto" and the 

 eruption extends entirely around the limbs, followed soon afterwards 

 by a distinct line of demarcation between the healthy skin above and 

 the diseased below. The absence of suppurating sores between the 

 claws and on the mucous membrane of the mouth, the knowledge that 

 the lesion upon the limb in question extends uninterruptedly around 

 it, and the presence of ergotized seeds in the hay or grain fed the 

 animals should point conclusively to a diagnosis of ergotism. 



FOTJL FOOT. 



In foul foot, or ground itch, of cattle, the inflammation of the skin 

 and toes usually affects but one foot. It begins as a superficial 

 inflammation, followed by sloughing, ulceration, and the formation of 

 fistulous tracts which may involve the tendons, bones, and joints. 

 The mouth remains unaffected, and the presence of the disease may 

 be traced to filth and poor drainage. 



NECROTIC STOMATITIS. 



In necrotic stomatitis (calf diphtheria) there is a formation of yel- 

 lowish cheesy patches in the mouth without any lesions of the feet or 

 udder. It affects sucking calves chiefly, and is caused by the Bacillus 

 necrophorvs. 



TREATMENT. 



The treatment of mycotic stomatitis should consist in first removing 

 the herd of cattle from the pasture in which they have been running. 

 The affected animals should, if it is possible, be brought to the barn 

 or corral and fed on soft, nutritious food, such as bran mashes, ground 

 feed, and gruels. A bucket of clear, cool water should be kept con- 

 stantly in the manger, so that the animal may drink or rinse the 



