ird line of prophylaxis. The so-called
diphtheritic inflammations of the vagina and uterus in cows are caused by
the same organism that induces necrotic stomatitis. A European writer has
recently pointed out the almost constant relation of such attacks to
previous occurrences of foul foot or foot rot in the same or other cattle
on the place.
In all likelihood, in such cases, the stalls and sheds are the harborers of
this germ. It is possible that many of these outbreaks have some relation
to preceding cases of the above-mentioned diseases and the greater use in
winter of the stalls and sheds, thus harboring the _Bacillus necrophorus._
_Treatment._--The treatment consists almost solely in careful and extensive
cleansing and disinfection of the mouth and other affected surfaces. The
mucous membrane of the mouth should be copiously irrigated with a 4 per
cent solution of boracic acid in warm water at least twice daily. As
exposure to oxygen kills the bacilli, one need have no fear about
disturbing or tearing off the caseous patches or necrotic tissue during
irrigation. The irrigation of the sores should then be followed by the
application with a brush or rag on a stick of a paste made with 1 part of
salicylic acid and 10 parts of water, or the affected areas may be painted
with Lugol's solution of iodin (iodin, 1; potassium iodid, 5; water, 200).
Frequent injections of 1 per cent carbolic-acid solution into the mouth
make an excellent treatment. The internal administration of 2 grams of
salicylic acid and 3 grams of chlorate of potassium three times a day has
also proved to be very beneficial when accompanied with local antiseptic
treatment.
MALIGNANT CATARRH.
Malignant catarrh, or infectious catarrhal fever, is an acute infectious
disease of cattle preeminently involving the respiratory and digestive
tracts, although the sinuses of the head, the eyes, and the urinary and
sexual organs are very frequently affected. It is relatively rare in this
country, being more common on the continent of Europe. Outbreaks have
occurred, however, in Minnesota, New York, and New Jersey. So far the
causal agent of the disease has never been isolated, and inoculation
experiments with the view of artificially reproducing the disease have
proved negative in every case. In spite of the foregoing statements the
consensus of opinion of eminent investigators points to malignant catarrh
as being of specific origin; that is, due to some fo
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