FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. 
485 
lapse of three years, with opportunity for infection, he tells me he 
has not had scarlatina. 
The results thus obtained, especially when taken in connection 
with the data furnished by the statistical table, seem to furnish 
some reason for believing that, for a time at least, the virus of foot- 
and-mouth disease is protective against the contagium of human 
scarlatina. But I am well aware that at this stage of the investi¬ 
gation conclusions cannot, ought not to be advanced, and until fur¬ 
ther information can be obtained by careful experimental investi¬ 
gation, nothing absolute or positive should be said concerning the 
practical issue above alluded to. While foot-and-mouth disease, as 
it affects man, is in many respects the exact counterpart of the 
disease as it occurs in cattle, yet there are certain points of differ¬ 
ence, and in order to make them apparent a brief description of 
the latter affection will be given. The disease (as it affects cattle) 
may be defined as a very contagious and infectious affection, 
characterized by an eruption of vesicles or blisters in the mouth, 
on the internal surface of the lips, sometimes in the nostrils, on 
the teats and udder, between the pedal digits and around the 
coronets, and sometimes in the lactiferous ducts. It passes through 
four different stages, viz.: fever, eruption, ulceration, desiccation 
and desquamation. The symptoms of these four stages or periods 
are as follows: 
First Period .—Before any perceptible alteration has taken 
place in the ordinary habits or condition of the animal, the ther¬ 
mometer indicates an increase of temperature, which generally 
ascends to 102°, and as high as 104°, or even 107° F., in from one 
to two days, and does not descend to any extent until the end of 
the eruptive period. The next indication is dullness, inappetence 
and slight shiverings. The muffle becomes warm and dry, the 
eye is tearful, and the mouth hot and inflamed-looking in places, 
and frequently sore when handled, the membrane being covered 
with viscid mucus, which flows in stringy masses from the lips. 
There is grinding of the teeth, and a smacking or clicking noise; 
the breath has a fetid odor; rumination ceases, and the prehen¬ 
sion, and often the deglutition of food is painful; the animal pre¬ 
ferring to dabble its mouth in cold water. Not infrequently, 
