336 ACUTE GENERAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES 



Diagnosis. — The recognition of the first cases of cattle 

 plague is difficult. The disease is characterized by its sudden 

 appearance, the rapid development of the symptoms and the 

 peculiar lesions found on the visible mucous membranes. Of 

 great importance is a clear history of the origin of the out- 

 break and the opportunity presented for the disease to be 

 introduced on the premises. Cattle plague may be confused 

 with the following: 



Malignant Head Catarrh. — Here while the mucous mem- 

 branes of the head (eyes, nose) are severely involved, the 

 digestive and genital tracts are mildly involved. Keratitis is 

 more pronounced in this disease. Further, malignant head 

 catarrh occurs sporadically and is not contagious. 



Foot-and-mouth Disease. — Would only be confused with 

 cattle plague when the mouth erosions following the rupture 

 of the vesicle were deep and covered with a pseudomembrane 

 and gastro-enteritis was present. Foot-and-mouth disease, 

 however, is characterized by vesicle formation, affects the 

 feet and usually does not involve the eyes and nose. Its 

 spread is further much more rapid than the cattle plague. 



Course. — The course is usually five to seven days, ending in 

 death. Toward the end of an outbreak a few cases may 

 recover. 



Prognosis. — The prognosis is bad, 80 to 90 per cent, of the 

 cases prove fatal. In the gray cattle of the Russian steppes 

 the mortality is not over 50 per cent. 



Treatment. — Medicinal treatment is of no value. Good 

 results are recorded from the use of anti-Rinderpest serum 

 coupled with a strict sanitation. 



Prophylaxis. — In civilized countries cattle plague has been 

 stamped out by the compulsory slaughter of all animals 

 affected and the enforcement of strict quarantine measures 

 against infected districts. As the disease is not transmitted 

 any distance through the air, its eradication is not difficult 

 when cooperation on the part of the cattle owners can be 

 obtained. The period of quarantine should extend ten days 

 after the last patient has died or been killed. Carcasses 

 should be disposed of as in anthrax. 



Protective Inoculation. — As one attack of cattle plague 

 confers lasting immunity, efforts have been made to protect 



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