Necrosis advances rapidly, and extends throughout the thickness of the mucous membrane; the slough soon becomes delimited and separates. The odour of the mouth is then absolutely fœtid, and the saliva appears streaked with pus and blood.
The ulcerations exhibit a livid base, and show no tendency to heal. Necrosis extends in depth, and affects the muscles, tendons, and even the periosteum and the bones. The teeth are frequently loosened.
Grave complications, such as pharyngitis, broncho-pneumonia, infectious enteritis, and septicæmia soon appear, and the animals are carried off by septic infection and intoxication in a few days—at the longest in a week.
Diagnosis. The diagnosis is only difficult at first; and, at a later stage, the only mistake possible is that of confounding the condition with a very grave attack of aphthous stomatitis. Local sanitary conditions are sufficient to secure the avoidance of this error.
Prognosis. The prognosis is extremely grave; the disease usually results in death; recovery is exceptional. Very luckily the disease seems to become rare in direct proportion as the hygienic conditions of cattle breeding and keeping are improved.
Treatment. Curative treatment always appears to be ineffectual when a grave primary disease has already enfeebled the animal before necrosing stomatitis appears. In those cases where the stomatitis constitutes the primary condition, attempts should be made as far as possible to cleanse the wounds. The buccal cavity should be thoroughly washed out, and the wounds then cauterised with solution of carbolic acid of 6 per cent. strength, nitric acid of 10 per cent. strength, hydrochloric acid of 7 to 8 per cent. strength, or chromic acid of 20 per cent. strength.
This local cauterisation is performed with a tampon of cotton wool fixed to a handle; for necessarily it is impossible to apply any dressing whatever of a permanent nature. The cauterisations may be repeated twice a day. The stump of the umbilical cord should never be forgotten, for it sometimes contains a mass of necrotic tissue the size of a man’s thumb. It should be thoroughly cleansed and the wound plugged with a mixture of iodoform and boric acid.
This treatment will not avail unless the functions are stimulated by rich food that can be easily masticated and digested, and by giving milk of good quality, or boiled milk, eggs, meat-powder, cooked beans, etc. Aromatic infusions and hay tea containing coffee and small quantities of alcohol or tincture of quinine are also of service.
MYCOTIC STOMATITIS IN CALVES.
Thrush. Muguet.