ON FEVERS AMONGST HORSES, CATTLE, ETC. 259 



these diseases. Luxuriant pastures, particularly those near 

 home, which consequently receive greater attention, and others 

 liberally treated with manures, natural and artificial, are parti- 

 cularly dangerous to young stock in the spring when they are 

 thriving rapidly, more especially after enduring a winter on 

 short commons. The excessive use of artificial foods under 

 similar conditions, or dry herbage of high lands, affect older 

 'Cattle, and in proportion as water is withheld, common salt 

 allowed, or confinement is enforced. Whatever tends to hasten 

 plethora in animals should be jealously watched, that means for 

 counteracting excessive states may be timely adopted. A sharp 

 appetite and an amount of necessary movement will amply efiect 

 -all this. 



When black quarter, &c., is discovered on clay soils, or such as 

 possess an impenetrable substratum which prevents the infiltra- 

 tion of the surface water, the mode of propagation may be some- 

 what more complex. In the winter time the herbage is very 

 likely to be scanty, and in the spring it rapidly shoots up in 

 consequence of the ever-prevailing moisture, favourable warm 

 weather, and genial showers ; and, in addition, as the animal quickly 

 thrives, it may not be improbable that, under such circumstances, 

 from the putrefaction of substances in contact with the earth's 

 surface, some morbid ferment may be communicated to the 

 blood. Such, however, cannot be insisted upon, as additional 

 evidence is required ; and while we cannot set down all soils of 

 the above-named character in the category of marshy grounds, 

 there is some amount of encouragement in assuming that some 

 at least of the essentials are present. Such land requires deep 

 drainage, and when this is done, black-quarter never fails to 

 disappear. 



(b.) Malignant Anthrax or AtUhrax Fever. — In this form of 

 disease, which doubtless depends upon a septic (putrid) condition 

 of the blood, the means of propagation are {a) Excessive heat 

 and drought on highly manured lands, particularly those in 

 marshy localities, favouring the extensive decomposition of 

 animal matter on the soil; conditions which are aggravated 

 immediately before and after rains. (&) Impure water, or such 

 as contains organic material undergoing decomposition, as drainage 

 from polluted soil, sewage matters, &c. (c) Defective buildings 

 rendered unfit as habitations by foul air, the emanations from 

 drains, manure, &c. {d) Food undergoing decay, or saturated 

 with putrescent elements, (e) Contagion or contact with the 

 morbid products of the disease in affected animals — inoculation. 

 This may arise accidentally by the fluids, blood, or secretions, 

 &c., being spilled over the herbage of pastures, thrown into 

 ponds, or directly to other animals. Another source of contagion 

 is to be found in the numerous flies and insects which may 



