PREVENTION, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT 



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Stomatitis, Mycotic. 



This is a non-infectious disease of cattle occurring at pasture 

 and due to the local irritation of certain fungi. In addition to the 

 stomatitis there are swelling and tenderness about the pasterns 

 and often erosions of the skin about the muzzle, teats and udder, 

 associated with fever and emaciation. 



Among the fungi thought to cause the disorder are the red 

 and black rusts of clover; the fungus of rape (Polydesmus ex- 

 citosus) and of grasses (Pecillium and Puccinia). The disease 

 occurs more often after rains in autumn following a hot, dry period. 



Symptoms. — These resemble those of stomatitis generally — 

 difficulty in prehension and chewing, so that the animal stops eating 

 and rumination. Minute vesicles developing into ulcers appear 

 upon the buccal membrane and tongue. The ulcers suppurate and 

 give the breath a foul odor. Erosions, crusts and scabs form on the 

 muzzle and lips. Swelling and tenderness of one or more of the 

 pasterns often occur and the skin may be fissured about the coronets. 

 Sometimes there are erosions and fissures on the teats and udders, 

 and the teats are scabby and tender and lactation may be suspended. 

 Occasionally fissures and scabs may also appear on the neck and 

 shoulders. 



The animals are dull and either lie down or else stand with the 

 back arched and fore feet extended and hind legs drawn up under 

 them, and move stiffly and often shake or kick the feet. There is 

 fever and emaciation and rarely diarrhea. In mild cases only the 

 mouth may be attacked, but in severe cases the other sites noted are 

 also the seat of disease. 



The mortality is slight but severe cases may die if untreated. 

 The average duration is about ten days. 



The disease must especially be distinguished from foot-and- 

 mouth disease. In mycotic stomatitis only a few animals are 

 attacked in a herd and hogs and sheep are unaffected. Neither are 

 vesicles ever seen on the teats, udder and feet as occur in foot-and- 



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