FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE 349 



acid reaction, coagulates readily and is difficult to make into 

 butter or cheese. 



Complications and Sequelce. — The most serious complica- 

 tions are phlegmons of the digits which lead to suppurative 

 inflammation of the tendon sheaths, tendons, joints and 

 horn matrix, inducing severe general disturbance (fever, high 

 pulse), inability to stand, decubital gangrene, septicemia and 

 death in one or two weeks. 



Septic infection of the udder (parenchymatous mastitis) 

 is not an uncommon complication which may cause the loss of 

 a quarter or a half of the organ. 



Gastro-enteritis is a fatal complication in calves, leading to 

 death in two or three days. 



Diagnosis. — In typical cases, during the vesicular stage 

 of the eruption, the diagnosis is not difficult. The presence of 

 vesicles, the foot lesions, the rapid spread of the contagion 

 and the ease with which it may be transmitted artificially 

 characterize the disorder. 



During the early stages (before the eruption) and at the 

 end of a sporadic outbreak (vesicles healed or only secondary 

 changes present) the diagnosis can be extremely difficult. 



Foot-and-mouth disease may be confused with various 

 forms of stomatitis in cattle, none of which are contagious 

 but some of which are attended with vesicle formation. The 

 most important are the following: 



(a) Traumatic stomatitis ("tooth cuts") presents lesionson 

 the bars, lips and dental pad. There is no vesicle formation 

 and the wounds have sharp borders and are deep. 



(b) Mycotic stomatitis of cattle, a non-contagious foot-and- 

 mouth affection wide-spread in the United States. Vesicles 

 rarely appear and are never well developed. The mouth 

 lesions are more ulcerous in character than in foot-and-mouth 

 disease and are more apt to involve the deeper structures. 

 There is more swelling of the limbs but no vesicles occur at the 

 coronets. A peculiar reddish-brown coloration of the muzzle, 

 udder and teats is considered characteristic by some authori- 

 ties. The disease cannot be transmitted by inoculation and 

 does not affect sheep or swine. Often only a few animals in 

 a herd are attacked. 



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