DISEASE IN STOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21098, 4 February 1932, Page 14

DISEASE IN STOCK.

NATURE OF COW POX. CAUSES AND CURE. Cow pox is a contagious disease, characterised by the appearance of vesicles, or l-lislcrs, on the udder or teals of cows and accompanied by sliglit body disturbances. Fortunately, the disease itself runs a mild course, but complications set in, in somo cases, through infection of the vesicles which are ruptured during milking. A certain amount of immunity is conferred upon cattle on recovery from the disease, and this explains why young cattle appear moro susceptible to the complaint than older ones.

The cause of the condition is an exceedingly small micro-organism which passes through filters of certain density, and which cannot be seen under the highest magnification of the microscope, says Mr. C. C. Blumer, a Government veterinary officer of New South Wales. Infection commonly, occurs during milking, the virus or infective material being carried on the milker's hands from one cow to another. Infection may result, however, through contaminated straw, bedding, and so on. Symptoms Described. From foilr to seven days after infection the symptoms of the disease, including .t slight rise of temperature and diminished appetite, may be noted, but in the majority of cases are so slight as to escape observation. Probably the disease is first noticed during milking, the udder and teats being found to be tender—a cow previously quiet will struggle and kick when being milked or when the udder is handled.

In two or three days hard nodules, about the size of a pea, appear on the udder and teats and, a day or two later, these nodules turn into vesicles or blisters, which are filled with a clear, transparent fluid. The blisters are reddish, bluislvor yellowish:white in colour, depending upon the thickness of the skin, and those situated on the udder are generally round in shape, while those on the teats are often beanshaped. After about a week those blisters ripen and show depressions in their centres, and the contents then turn a creamy colour .and dry up into scabs, which ultimately drop off, leaving 'white, pitted areas. The number of vesicles or blisters on the udder or teats depends upon the severity of the attack, and varies from two or three to fifteen or twenty, which do not all appear straight away, but at intervals of a day or two. The first- vesicles are generally the largest. Curative Treatment. When the vesicles occur on the teats they are generally brokon during milking and become contaminated with dirt and so 011. Deep-seated ulcers may result, and the surrounding skin become inflamed and tender, and healing in these cases may not take place for three or four weeks. Diagnosis is based on the presence of round or oval vesicles with depressed centres found upon the udder or teats, and the appearance of the condition in other cows of the herd tends to confirm it.

The ruptured vesicles should be treated by applying, after milking, a mildly disinfectant ointment, such as salicylic acid one drachm, vaseline loz. Milking should be done carefully, so as to injure the tissues as little as possible. Sponging the sores with a 2£ per cent, solution of zinc sulphate after each milking checks the inflammation. The affected udders should be kept dry and clean. All affected animals should lie thoroughly washed in some weak disinfectant solution after being milked.