FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. 423 



Tinmterruptedly around it, should point conclusively to 

 a diagnosis of ergotism and to tlie exclusion of all fears 

 of foot-and-mouth disease. 



In foul foot or ground itch of cattle, the inflammation 

 of the skin and toes is general and not in certain spots, 

 as in foot-and-mouth disease ; the mouth remains unaf- 

 fected and the presence of the disease may be traced to 

 filth and poor drainage. 



The severer forms of the disease might be confounded 

 with certain general diseases. Where gastro-intestinal 

 symptoms predominate acute gastric catarrh or inflam- 

 mation of the intestines might be thought of. Involve- 

 ment of the lungs might lead to a diagnosis of acute con- 

 gestion of the lungs or pneumonia. The distinction is 

 apparent in these diseases by the lack of vesicular erup- 

 tion on the mucous membrane or skin, and also by lack 

 of evidences of infection in the herd or neighboring 

 animals. 



Prevention and Eradication. — The measures to be 

 adopted to prevent the spread of the affection must take 

 into consideration the highly infectious nature of the 

 disease, its ease of dissemination, and the liability of the 

 virus to live outside of the body of an animal for long 

 periods. Great care should therefore be observed in 

 keeping healthy animals unexposed to the contagion. 

 When an outbreak occurs in a community, the owner 

 should make every effort to keep other animals from 

 coming in contact with his diseased cattle. This espe- 

 cially applies to dogs, eats, goats, and poultry, which 

 usually have access to the stables and barnyards and 

 in this way furnish excellent means for disseminating 

 the infectious principle. He should be equally particu- 

 lar in prohibiting any person from coming onto his 



