352 ACUTE EXANTHEMATOUS INFECTIOUS DISEASES 



Formerly it was a common practice, when foot-and-mouth 

 disease appeared on the premises, to inoculate all cattle still 

 healthy by rubbing saliva from an infected animal into the 

 mucous membrane of the mouth. This method infected the 

 whole herd simultaneously and lessened the virulence of the 

 attack. It is seldom permitted nowadays, although it has 

 much to recommend it. 



Protective and Therapeutic Inoculations. — Various methods 

 (for which see larger works) of preventive vaccination have 

 been tried with as yet indifferent success. 



CONTAGIOUS STOMATITIS OF THE HORSE. 



Definition. — Contagious pustulous stomatitis is an acute, 

 benign, infectious disease of the horse characterized by its 

 marked contagiousness and the appearance of pustules in the 

 mucous membrane of the mouth. Sometimes the nasal 

 mucosa and the skin of the lips are involved. 



Occurrence. — The disease is widely distributed, appearing 

 enzootically chiefly among colts or young horses herded 

 together in barns or on pastures. While the disease is usually 

 benign, the patients lose flesh and older horses are often unable 

 to work during the attack. Occasionally foreign-body pneu- 

 monia may complicate the disease (pneumonia medicantaria 

 from needless drenching). 



Etiology. — The cause is unknown. The virus seems to be 

 contained in the nodules and pustules; the saliva is therefore 

 virulent. The disease is readily transmitted artificially. A 

 spread to other animals (sheep, cattle, swine) and even man is 

 recorded. This is rare, however, as the disease is seen ordi- 

 narily only in the horse. 



Natural Infection. — Contagious pustulous stomatitis is 

 spread by the saliva of the sick which contaminates the food 

 and water. Transmission through polluted stable litter, 

 utensils, sponges, hands of attendants, etc., also occurs. The 

 disease does not assume an epizootic form probably because 

 the virulency of the virus rapidly attenuates in passing from 

 animal to animal. Usually all horses exposed do not become 

 infected. 



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