ON APHTHOUS DISEASE AMONG CATTLE. 
639 
the shedding of the hoofs, as we have witnessed in the hog and 
sheep. This termination is chiefly found in animals belonging to 
careless proprietors, who, by allowing the dung to remain in the 
stable too long, suffer the introduction of foreign bodies underneath 
the horn. 
To these local characters are united swelling, stiffness, and sen- 
sibility of the limbs affected, and the animal limps and totters as it 
walks. One very striking thing is the manner in which cattle fall 
away in a very short space of time, which state is not so apparent 
in sheep and pigs. 
The presence of vesicles on the teats creates, as we have stated, 
more or less violent inflammation of these organs. The progress 
and terminations are the same as in mammitis, developed under 
the influence of different causes to those which we have pointed 
out. We shall only remark that we almost invariably obtained a 
resolution of them, which, according to M. Levigney, was very 
seldom effected in the aphthous epizootic which he observed*. 
The external vesicles do not always ulcerate : sometimes they 
disappear through re-absorption; the pellicle then hardens, and comes 
off in flakes, after having formed a protective shelter, that fa- 
voured the cure. Where this is the case, the disease is very 
mild. We found it thus in animals that were attacked by the 
epizootic just as it was beginning to decline, and chiefly in pigs. 
Fourth Stage . 
In ordinary cases, that is to say, when there is no affection of 
the hoofs or teats, this commences about the twelfth or fifteenth 
day. The animals begin to become convalescent, rumination is 
re-established, the appetite returns, and they are very eager for 
after-grass and farinaceous food : the swelling of the limbs goes 
down — they walk with less difficulty — they may be turned on to 
the pastures if the ground be not too damp : the ulcerations dry 
up, and become covered with a thin epithelium, that must not, 
on any account, be injured. 
Duration of the disease . — The whole duration of this affection 
is about from twelve to sixteen days for cattle. When the aphthae 
are confined to the mouth, it does not exceed ten days. In pigs 
and sheep it rarely lasts more than eight days, unless any compli- 
cations occur, and then its duration is variable. 
* May not this arise from the owners of the animals seeking the assistance 
of art more promptly, and paying greater attention to cleanliness in their 
stables ? 
