Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-03-22

presence ofnumerous worm-like bodies,
called "psoro-sperms," lying loose
among the fbres. The true nature of
these bodies Is not yet quite known.
They Ire evidently quite harmless, and
RI present in other diseases, and some
times when the animal has been
slaughtered whilst apparently In the
best of Health.
As sequei0 to eczema contagiosa, the
following alterations Of structure have
been observed, namely, swelling Of the
joints, open joints, with sloughirg of
interdigital substances, gangrene of a
whole foot, marasmus, aud disease of
the bones.
Mild cases require little medical
treatment, ot-and-mouth disease
being one of that kind which, running
through a definite course, terminates
in recovery. Whilst the mouth is very
sore, all the animal requires IS a p,enti-
full supply of cold water if the fever be
high, the water may contain one ounce
of nitrate Of potash dissolved in each
bucketful. As q rule, however, even
this is unnecessary. The food should
be soft and easy of mastication-bran
mashes, pulped roots, Or grass. The
feet must be looked to, and if suppura-
ton be detected, with separation Of
some parts OF the horn, the detached
horn is to be removed, and the exposed
sensitive surfaces dressed with a mild
astringent, such as a solution ofacetate
of lead, containing q small modicum Of
carbolic acid. What I usually pre-
scribe is an ounce of the concentrated
solution Of pure carbolic acid-one
part acid to sixteen hot water-to
twelve of the white lotion. Pledgets
Of tow dipped in this lotion are to be
bound to the foot by a bandage. This
simple expedient, 80 generally neglect
ed, will often prevent a lameness of
many weeks or even months duration;
for s%uppuration, once established to
any great extent in sensitive structures
of the foot. causes violent pain ,increas-
es the Inflammation, and induces the
process of sloughing. Some writers
recommend a variety of remedies both
to the mouth and feet. My experience
leads me to the conclusion that, except
carefully washing the feet, the less
medical interference the better.
Now and then, cases will be marked
| by extreme prOstration Of strength. en-
tire loss of appetite, inability to stand
from weakness as well as from the
lameness; such ought to be more az
lively treated. and stimulants, such as
whisky, brandy, or spirits of nitrous
ether, administered internally. and the
feet washed repeatedly with cold
water, and kept cool with wet cloths
fastened around them. In all instances
bleeding, purging, and other depicting
measures are most injurious. The
bowels, perhaps constipated at first, be
come loose as the disease advances ;but
this condition is not to be intertered
with, for the diarrhei may be looked
upon as one result OF the ris naedibu-
trir naturae, by which the morbid
material is expelled FROM the system,
Extensive sloughing of the structu res
of the feet is best treated by more pow.
erful MISREPRESENTATION of chloride ol
zinc, or strong solutions of carbolic acid
say one part Of crude acid to six OF
eight of oil.
Sheep loose flesh very rapidly while
suffering from the foot-and-mouth dis.
ease. They suffer more in the feet thar
cattle, and consequently require more
careful vigilance. 1t is q good plan tt
cause the affected flock to walk through
q shallow trough, containing the abov.
named weak astringent and antiseptit
solution, once or twice a day. AnG
finally 1t is my opinion that both cattl,
and sheep ought to be washed before
they r allowed to be driven on
public road or exposed in a market, i
they have recently recovered from Til:
disease. 1t may be difficult to do thi
with large herds of young cattle, ant
Its compulsion would be considered
hardship, but of two evils it is incom
parably the lesser.