FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE 351 



From resulting foot troubles (panaritium, suppurative 

 tendovaginitis, open joint, interdigital ulceration), loss of 

 flesh and milk (udder complications) the course is not only- 

 prolonged but the patient's economic value may become 

 permanently reduced. 



Prognosis.—The disease is benign except in very young 

 animals, when it assumes a malignant form and when com- 

 plications due to secondary infection occur (loss of claws, 

 decubitus, septicemia, etc.). It is rare for the mortality to 

 exceed 1 per cent, in the benign type. It may exceed 50 

 per cent., however, in the rarer, malignant type. , 



Treatment. — In countries like the United States, which are 

 not'permanently infected, no treatment should be tolerated. 

 The extreme contagiousness of the disease and its rapid 

 spread justify the most radical methods of eradication. 

 These consist in the immediate slaughter of all affected ani- 

 mals, the proper disposition of the carcasses (deep burial, 

 cremation) and a thorough disinfection of the premises. 



In countries where foot-and-mouth disease is wide-spread 

 and radical methods of stamping it out cannot be employed, 

 the following indications in the way of therapy are followed : 



The cattle should be fed only soft, sloppy food (bran 

 mashes, root pulp, grass) and allowed plenty of water. The 

 mouths may be irrigated twice daily with some non-toxic 

 disinfectant (pyoctanin 1 to 1000). The stable floors should 

 be kept clean and dry and the feet treated with disinfectants 

 (may be stood in a shallow bath of 2 per cent, creolin solutibn). 

 To the teats and udder boroglycerin, camphor ointment, etc., 

 are useful. Mastitis should be treated as such. Complica- 

 tions (shedding of claws, tendovaginitis, etc.) are handled 

 according to surgical principles. 



The milk should not be used during the outbreak. In a 

 raw state it is fatal to sucklings and when sterilized it is not 

 wholesome. 



General symptoms (heart weakness, high fever) are met 

 as they occur (oil of camphor subcutaneously, digitalis, al- 

 cohol, acetanilid). 



As foot-and-mouth disease is a self-limiting disease which 

 usually takes a typical course, in uncomplicated cases not 

 much medicinal treatment is needed. 



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