The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-12-24
APHTH0US FEVER,
Continued from last week.

Vesicles or blisters appear upon
the feet between the hoofs, espec-
ially at the front of the cleft; about
the coronary band, about the base
OF the supernumerary hoof sand up
on the heels. The vesicles upon
the teats are more frequently seen
about the ori6ce and may almost
cover the teats, and sometimes oc-
cur on the skin of the udder. This
condition causes much pain. The
opening of the teat may be closed
by inflammation and swelling result
big from the eruption. Vesicles
appear first as small elevations of
the superficial layers of the mucous
membrane or skin, from Is to e
inch in diameter: They are of
grayish color. Vesicles may not
become larger than or they may in
crease in size to an inch or more i'll
diameter, or several may become
contluent and loosen and raise up
al area several inches in diameter.
Such extremely large blisters occur
upon the tongue and muzzle. The
vesicles contain at first clear,
straw colored serum which later
becomes cloudy. The membrane
covering them is thin and soon
breaks. When the vesicles break,
the loosened epithelial or epidermal
layer remains for time attached
at the borders, forming pocket,
and, as it tears more, the loose
shieds OF membrane hang about
the borders of the denuded area un-
til these become detached and fall
away.
Nesicles usually appear first in
the mouth and almost simultan-
eously, or few hours or a day
later, on the feet and udder Some.
times the vesiculation is observed
in Tut one location. In cattle. it
is the mouth that is most likely to
show LESSONS, while among sheep
and hogs the LESSONS may be confin-
ed to the region of the feet. We
sicles may be few and small or they
may be large and numerous. The
resulting discomfort and constitu-
tional disturbances are usually in
proportion to the extent of the pri-
mary eruption. The affected areas
are exceedingly sensitive and
painful.
AS the vesicles form, The fever
abates and when the vc> Cles rup-
,ure, the temperature fails to nea.-
y FORMAL or quite to normal. The
subsequent course of the disease is
free from fever, unless there is very
extensive local inflammation. We
sicles rupture very soon after they
orm, especially in the mouth,
where the membrane covering them
s softened by moisture and sus-
aims violence from the constant
motion of the tongue, cheeks and
ips. About the feet and upon the
eats, the vesicles last longer. The
econd stage lasts one to three days.
The prevention of foot and mouth
disease is difficult matter on ac-
,ount of the virulence of the di-
-ase, the ease with which the con-
agion may be transported and the
!tality Of the virus in the bodies
If apparently recovered animals
nd in places that have been con-
animated by diseased animals.
In former times, attempts to con-
rol the disease were regarded as
iopeless and when Aphthous fever
'ppeared in a locality it was the
uslom of cattle owners to inoculate
heir animals and put them through
he disease as quickly as possible.
hey simply accepted as inevitable
he loss of large part of the value
/ the herds aud focks in infected
tegions.
The methods of prevention that
AVE been practiced have consisted:
,rst, in general restrictions on
'gade in animals of susceptible spec
es and their products and the pro-
.uCtS of farms in infested districts