St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-24
THE CATTLE PLAGUE.
The Foot and Mouth DiScGse-THe Synnp-
toms and the Danger.
To the Editor of the Globe.

The Foot and MOttth DiScGSe-Ihe Syntn-
toms and the Danger.
To the Editor of the Globe
Fort ToTTEN, D. r., March 17,-As mat
ter affecting human life, permit me to oc-
cupy short space in your largely circulated
paper, relative to the pathology, symptoms
and treatment of this dreadful pest, in order
that cattle owners may be prepared, as from
its highly contagious nature it may be in our
midst at any moment. 1t is a high
" contagious and infectious specific
fever, associated with vascular symp-
toms in the mouth, between the
pedal digit, around the coronets and heels,
and affecting the udder and lactiferous duets,
tie nlit Of animals so affected beimg higly dan-
gerOuS. All animals are prone to its attacks,
including human beings, birds, etc, etc. Its
period of incubation, is from one to four
days, the internal temperature ranging from
102 to 10Y Far. Little bladders or
vesicles then form on the tongue, lips, palate,
between the .hoofs and around the coronet,
there is also a nasal and mouth discharge
the lips and jaws are constantly
moving, producing smacking
sound there is difficulty of mas
ticaton and lameness in few days, there is
desquamation of the vesicles, leaving raw
ulcers and in severe cases
there is sloughing of the
hoofs. These symptoms are due to the pres
ence of a blood poison, and are natural eff
fects, to rid the system of the morbid materi-
al Thus pastures, horses, attendants cloth
ing, dogs, cats, game of all kinds, convey
the virus Of large tracts of country, in incred-
IDLY short periods, hence its outbreaks
amongst apparently isolated stock. MHk
from cocOs thus affected is hghly poisonous par
ticldarlY an}ten fresh and causes frequent
deaths especially yoocag ANIMALS and children.
Milk animals lose their milk, the average
loss in the dairy being from one to two
thirds, varying according to the number of
animals affected. If the feet are not impli-
Gated convalescence commences in about
seven days. If the weather is severe, and
animals are not housed, the chest, bronchial
tubes and intestines become implicated
these cases terminate fatally. In England
the loss from this disease to the dairyman
and butcher is estimated at $50 per animal.
1t is useless to add that the flesh is unfit for
human food.
Treatment-It must be remembered that
this disease, like all blood poisons, runs a
specific course, which cannot be shortened,
Drench with one or two ounces OF hyposul-
phite of soda, two or three
times daily, in apint of water.
Protection from atmospheric changes,
plentiful supply of cold water to drink The
food must be soft and easy of mastication
and digestion. If the feet becomes affected
so as to cause great lameness, envelop them
in cloths, kept constantly wet with cold
water solution of chrvstaliZed carbOlic acid
and water Zone part to thirty to raw surfaces)
and q liberal use of crude carbolic
acid solution over the stable
be strictly observed. If greet weakness and
prostration is observed, with loss of appetite,
stimulants as brandy, whisky in small doses,
purging and all depletiyes are highly injuri-
Gus.
The milk of animals affected with this dis
ease invariable contains morbid deposits of
very pronounced character; large granular
masses of yellOwish brown mucous, pus-
like bodies, bacteria, vibrones and numerous
spherical bodies. Samples Of milk from an
finals in the various stages Of this disease,
vary, its specific gravity ranging
from 1924 to 1925, which was not
exceeded until convalescenc was pronounced,
when it rose to 1,027, which standard was
not surpassed for two months after recovery.
The granular masses and pus corpusces de-
creasing as the disease subsidized, but in all
specimens taken from recovered animals,
those bodies were found, even two months
after apparent return of health.
NJ. j. TREAcY, NJ. II. c. V. S. England
Veterinarian, 18th U. S. Cavalry.