422 DISEASES OP CATTLE. 



the lining membrane of the mouth, especially the tongue 

 and cheeks. 



In mycotic stomatitis (sore mouth due to a fungus or 

 mold), portions of the lining membrane become inflamed 

 and in a few days it changes to a croupous membrane 

 which peels off, leaving a raw surface, while the thin 

 skin between the toes may also be inflamed. The pre- 

 vious history of the case ; the failure of the blisters, if 

 any appear, to spread extensively; the absence of vesicu- 

 lar eruptions on other portions of the body, notably the 

 udder atid teats, and, characteristically, the hoof, to- 

 gether with the absence of rapid spread to practically 

 all cattle in the herd and the complete negative char- 

 acter of inoculation of calves, distinguishes between the 

 local disease named and foot-and-mouth disease. 

 Mycotic stomatitis occurs in only from 10 to 50 per cent 

 of the animals in a herd, usually in the late summer or 

 early fall after a dry spell, and it does not run a regular 

 course. 



The lesion, resulting from ergotism may be distin- 

 guished from those of foot-and-mouth disease by the 

 lack of eruptions in the mouth and by the location of 

 the disease 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 lesion of ergotism does not take the form 

 of pustules or blisters, but manifests itself first as a 

 swelling about the ankle, which later may slough and 

 circumscribe the limb, forming a deep crack, extending 

 entirely around the limb and forming a distinct line of 

 demarcation between the healthy skin above and the 

 diseased below. The absence of ulcerous sores on the 

 coronet and between the claws, together with the healthy 

 condition of the membranes of the mouth and the knowl- 

 edge that the lesion upon the limb in question extends 



