2 Q2 DISEASES OF THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



diseases in these animals. It is the sole cause of necrotic anovul- 

 vitis, vaginitis and metritis in cows and heifers, of foot-rot in 

 sheep and cattle, of necrotic scratches and quittor in horses, of 

 necrotic stomatitis in calves, lambs and pigs, of pseudo-membranous 

 disease of the mouth in fowl and other birds. It is a contributing 

 cause of hog cholera and of confluent pox in cows and sows, and 

 the sole cause (in some cases) of white scour and umbilical and 

 joint infection of new-born calves. Not only this, but the bacillus 

 may cause one form of disease in one animal and give rise to an- 

 other form when the disease is transmitted to another animal of the 

 same or of another species. 



Predisposing Causes. — These are especially abrasions of the 

 skin and mucous membranes. The immediate cause of such in 

 lip-and-leg ulceration in sheep are cuts, bruises and abrasions pro- 

 duced by thistles, briars, cactus, greasewood, etc., about the mouth 

 and limbs, and injuries to the limbs and muzzle arising from crusted 

 snow, and abrasions on the limbs caused by the tearing off of mud 

 plastered and dried on the same. Drouth favors the disease in lead- 

 ing the sheep to browse on rough vegetation. It is not known 

 whether the bacteria ever exists on plants, unless they have been 

 contaminated with diseased animals or animal excretions. As in 

 the case of most contagious diseases, it is the infected animal which 

 transmits the infection. 



Symptoms. — Not only are the face (including the lips, nose, 

 chin, cheek, gums and roof of mouth) and pasterns attacked, but 

 also less often the feet, penis and sheath, vulva, udder and teats in 

 sheep, the tail stumps in docked lambs, and other parts of the body 

 from cuts in shearing sheep. Different forms of the disease, there- 

 fore, are described according to the site. 



( i ) In the more common lip-and-leg ulceration, either the 

 muzzle or fetlocks may be affected separately or both these parts 

 may be attacked in the same animal. The disease may be active 

 and malignant and fatal, or mild, chronic and without fatality. 



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