r as the result of milking soon become covered with
reddened spots deprived of the superficial layer of skin and may develop
deep, obstinate fissures.

As soon as the disease has become well established the patient evinces pain
when attempting to eat; in fact, the appetite is often so seriously
affected that all feed is refused, and the animal uneasily opens and shuts
its mouth with a characteristic smacking sound, while strings of cohesive,
ropy saliva hang suspended from the lips. With the advance of the disease
the vesicles widen and extend until they may reach a diameter ranging from
that of a dime to that of a silver dollar. These rupture soon after their
appearance, sometimes on the first day, more rarely on the second or third
day. After they have ruptured, the grayish-white membrane forming the
blister may remain attached for a day or more, or disappear speedily and
leave deeply reddened, sensitive spots or erosions, both within the mouth
and upon the coronet and between the claws of the feet. Similar erosions,
which quickly form scabs, as a rule, may be noticed in cases in which the
teats of milk cows have become affected, and instances are reported in
which sloughing of the tegument immediately around the lesions upon the
udder has occurred. Owing to the tough, fibrous nature of the bovine skin,
it is exceedingly rare for sloughing to occur upon any part of the body
other than those mentioned.

The attack upon the feet of an animal is frequently manifested in all four
feet at once, but one or more of the feet may entirely escape and remain
unaffected throughout the course of the disease. The ulceration of the
interdigital tissue may extend to the ligaments of the fetlock or produce
disease of the joint or bone. As the feet become sensitive and sore the
animal persistently lies down, and it has been found that bedsores develop
with amazing rapidity in all such cases and wholly baffle all attempts at
treatment until after the patient has regained its feet.

The disease may attack some of the internal organs before it appears upon
any of the external tissues. These cases are very liable to prove quickly
fatal. The animal dies from paralysis of the heart, due to the formation of
poisonous principles within the system; it may suffocate by reason of the
action of these same poisons upon the tissues of the lungs, or it may choke
to death as a result of paralysis of the throat.

In cases of serious affection of the