88 DISEASES OF THE MOUTH 



founder. The temperature may be slightly elevated (mild 

 fever). There may be emaciation from inability to eat and 

 in rare instances individual animals may show diarrhea. 



Prognosis. — The prognosis is good; only in aggravated 

 cases are losses recorded from secondary infection. 



Diagnosis.— The diagnosis is not difficult, the disease 

 occurs among pastured cattle, usually attacks only a per- 

 centage of the herd, is generally benign in its course, and 

 once the patients are removed from the infested pasture the 

 symptoms rapidly subside. From foot-and-mouth disease 

 it is distinguished by the fact that it is not transmissible 

 by inoculation, does not affect sheep and swine, fails to 

 develop the characteristic large vesicles and is less apt to 

 involve the feet. Foot-rot and ergotism are not attended by 

 stomatitis. Necrotic stomatitis of calves is seen only in 

 very young animals, does not involve the external skin and 

 the lesions are characterized by a necrosis of the mucous 

 membrane of the mouth. The feet are not attacked. 



Treatment. — The principal indication in treating this 

 disorder is to remove the cattle from the infested pastures, 

 best placing them in a barnyard and feeding soft feeds. 

 The animals should be given constant access to fresh water. 

 It is recommended to place in the water borax (1 oz. to 1 

 gal. of water). In range cattle four ounces of crude carbolic 

 acid may be mixed with twelve quarts of barrel salt, the 

 cattle being permitted to lick this at will. The foot lesions 

 are treated according to the general principles ■ of surgery. 

 As a rule the animals rapidly recover when they are removed 

 from the infested pasture. 



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