Farm and Garden.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 55, 10 February 1872, Page 7

Farm and Garden.

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. That our readers may be made fully acquainted with the nature of the above serious malady, which has twice within the past year been introduced to the neighboring colony of New South Wales, and may any day be landed on these shores, we give the following full description of it by Professor George Armatage, M.R.C.V.S., of the Glasgow Veterinary College, in a recently issued and re-written edition of Clater's Cattle Doctor : Synonyms.—Various appellations are given to this affection in various parts of the United Kingdom. In Scotland it is known by the name " murrain ;" in England when it first appeared, the term "epidemic" was first applied to it. Generally it is known as the " foot and mouth disease," " blisters," " demic," and " tic," (as a contraction of epizootic ) It is the eczema epizootica of Professor Simonds. Nature.—With reference to the latter term, there appears to be some reason to question its accuracy as indicating the nature of this disease. This is based on the following facts. Pure eczema is a vesicular disease common to all our domestic animals : non-contagious ; recurrent; dependent on a given mode of diet; and sporadic in character. Vesicular aphtha, on the contrary, is highly contagious, occurring but once as a rule in the lifetime of the animal, belonging to a class of eruptive fevers dependent on the introduction of an animal poison into the system, and communicable from animals of one kind or species to those belonging to another. Lastly, it is of foreign origin, and is a blood disease ; while eczema is only a vesicular eruption of the skin, totally bereft of all connection with the specific conditions of the blood. In the home of its birth, vesicular murrain appears as an aphthous eruption in the mouth and upon the feet of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and even wild animals ; while the females also suffer in addition from an implication of the teats and udder. In Britain it has rarely been observed in other subjects than cattle, sheep, and pigs. Some years ago the writer observed a mild attack in a horse, which stood in the cowhouse of a town dairyman, among whose cows the disease had appeared. " Actseon," a writer in the " Veterinary Review," records several cases which he observed in horses under his care. Others have also been chronicled, but distinct references are not at present forthcoming. Symptoms.—The symptoms are variable, doubtless modified by the habits and temperament of the animal, as well as the mode by which the poison has been introduced. A brief period of incubation occurs, which may occupy not more than twenty-four hours, or extend to three or four days. The various stages of the disease are generally confounded, as they so closely run into each other that no particular distinction can be made. The early signs are a shivering fit, succeeded by slight dullness, starting coat, husky cough, elevated temperature, with increased frequency and hardness of pulse. If the animal is in the pasture, she will in all probability be found away from her companions. The appetite is capricious, tenderness is evinced upon pressure over the back and loins ; febrile signs are present, and an increased flo w of saliva takes place and becomes ropy from an admixture with mucus ; and uneasiness is evinced by frequent movement, of the jaws. If the mouth be examined, vesicles will be observed on the tongue and membrane generally. These vary in size from a pea to a half-crown, and in a few hours burst their contents with an admixture of blood giving color and consistence to an aggravated flow of saliva, while the raw and sensitive surface causes great pain and smacking of the lips. In some instances the feet are attacked, and this mav occur before any signs of disorder appear in the mou-,h, or not be observed except in conjunction with or until that period is past. When vesicles form on the coronets and between the digits, great pain and swelling accompanies the disorder ; the animal kicks or shakes the feet when made to walk, or lies persistently, and suffers for a time from acute fever. The vesicles soon burst and discharge their contents, and the various surfaces are possessed of an increased sensitiveness, while severe lameness adds greatly to the embarrassment.

In ordinary cases the raw surfaces are speedily covered by epithelium, their sensitiveness rapidly decreases, the lameness and flow of saliva gradually disappears, the pulse becomes slower, fuller, and softer, breathing regular, temperature gradually falls to the standard of health and general functions

restored, except perhaps the milk which freauently suffers permanent diminution, and from the tenth to the fifteenth day after the attack the animal is convalescent. This is the course of common cases. V\ e have now to notice aggravated forms. Milch cows frequently suffer violently. In addition to the ordinary signs already observed, the surfaces of the teats and udder are involved in the vesicular eruption. The gland withm is also affected with the animal poison, and is hot, tender, and swollen. In the process of milking, or through the suckling of the call, the vesicles are burst, the raw surfaces are exposed, and the operations prove a source of irritation which the animal resolutely endeaTors to avoid. This leads to an irritation of milk within the udder, and it becomes an additional cause of an irritation, and even inflammation. In common with the ordinary fobnle aions, pain and aching consequent upon the dilease located in the mouth and feet, the lunes are apt to become congested, breathing foetid, eyes bloodshot, sloughing of parts •within the mouth and even on the lips within the nasal passages occurrs, and blood is mixed with the discbarges ; abscesses form in the udder, sloughing occurs also there, or portions of the secreting parts are destroyed by the diposition of lymph, becoming what is termed blind quarter- In other instances mortification takes place, and the part comes away. The feet suffer no less ; swelling, inflammation sloughing, &c, proceed, and expose the bones beneath, while all attempts at reparation arc slow and abortive. During the development of these Btates the animal loses condition rapidly, the assimilative organs are more or less involved, and nutritive material is no longer passed into the blood. It, therefore, becomes thin and watery, and the heart beats are heard as unusual sounds at some distance from the Bide of 4he sufferer. The pulse is rapid ; small and feeble. It at length grows indistinct and imperceptible, and a condition of hectic is established, The animal sutlers from diarrhoea, and then suddenly dies at periods varying from one or two or three weeks from the attack. Young animals drawing their nourishment from the teat suffer acutely from the disease attacking the mouth, fauces, gullet, and digestive canal throughout. They then take no food, and weakness becomes excessive. Colicky pains with diarrhoea and violent straining are the prominent signs, in addition to the eruption in the mouth and upon the feet, from which the little creature succumbs in a lew hours. Under these circumstances, milk supplied to other animals should, if possible, be boiled by which its pernicious properties will be destroyed. Sheep lose condition rapidly in consequence of the power of mastication and locomotion being interfered with. Sloughing is common particularly about the feet, when not only the hoofs, but even the whole feet, bones and ligaments, are cast off, and the poor creature meves about on the knees or a stump. Pigs suffer in like manner. They scream violently when caused to move, a sort of cough is generallv present, and erysipelatous swellinga take place from various parts of the body, and death terminates in violent and fearful diarrhoea. . . In the aggravated form m all animals, the tendency to a low tvpe of inflammation, formation of large abscesses over the body, mortification, sloughing, &c, are common states. Condition, is therefore greatly sacrificed if death is averted ; and the prospects of the proprietor, particularly of milch cows and sheep are almost destroyed. Pregnant animals of all kinds abort ; and, months after the attack, when they are expected to yield a remunerative return for the previous outlay, the large owner finds himself in a state merging on ruin. The condition and health of the animals are sacrificed, the milk of dairy cows has been lost, the grass and other feed has been consumed, land occupied, labor and supervision demanded, rent, taxes, and wages, with numberless expenses have to be paid, and nothing is left but a creature resembling a skeleton, whose death at the commencement would have been rather a profit than otherEpizootic aphtha is readily transmitted to the human subject by the milk of diseased animals. Dr Balfour and Mr H. Watson, M.R.C.V.S. havo adduced positive proofs. Numerous instances have also come beneath the observation of the writer in which the disease has been transmitted to calves and pigs by the use of milk from affected cows ; and Mr C. Hunting, M.R.C.V.S., states that, during the prevaleucy of the malady of 1862, he observed fowls in the farmyard suffering from apatha, were diseased animals were pre--Bent* • ~ . i. The malady is also communicable to men by inoculation, Mr J. B. Hislop, F.R.0.5.8.. having had two cases come beneath his direct notice. Dr Balfour, commenting on these cases, quotes numerous cases in which the susceptibility of man is undoubted. The poison of epizootic aphtha is transmitted with remarkable facility. Cattle returning from fairs and markets carry it to the buildings of dairymen, farmers, and cattle dealers. The congregation of animals at such places, and their subsequent distribution over the country is the cause of its spread. The editor has known instances of animals becoming affected that have been tied up for weeks, but the cause could be readily assigned to the proximity of a main line of railway and roads on which diseased animals were continually travelButchers who visit cattle sheds frequently with a view to purchase, farm men going directly from diseased to healthy cattle, dairymen milking healthy and diseased animals indiscriminately, removal of food, straw, manure, &c, all have been known to convey disease. Pastures, buildings, yards, railway truoks, &c, into which diseased animals have been turned effectually communicate the

disease to others that follow, unless sanitary measures have been carried out. Epizootic aphtha frequently proves the precursor of other diseases ; and when it occurs in a stock of cattle that have been recently purchased, the owner may congratulate himself if after partial recovery, he does not lose them all by epizootic pleuro-pneumonia. In numerous instances during 1885 and 1866, the cattle plague was preceded by aphtha, which not only aggravated existing conditions, but maked the progress of the plague, aud delayed the ad option of suitable measures that might have gone far towards arresting the scourge. The history of the disease dates as far back as two hundred years; but records have not reached us that denote accurate observation before or even since that time. The increasing movements of cattle from east to wost have brought the affection as a distinct malady practically beneath our notice, particularly as such contagious nations from whom we draw our supplies, as Holland, &c, have suffered and communicated the disease to our own cattle. It was imported to us in 1839, when it plunged the three kingdoms into dismay by the rapidity with which it was carried from town to town. Since that time we have experienced repeated visitations, exhibiting different degrees of malignancy and fatalitv, particularly during the years 1852, 1854, 1855, 1862, and 1864 that of 1862 probably being the most remarkable, excepting the recent visitation of 1869.