INOCULATION AS A PREVENTION OF PLEUKO-PNEUMONIA. 23 



tliermometer on all sucli occasions. Cattle affected with pleuro- 

 pneumonia have been, and no doubt often are, inoculated in 

 ignorance of the fact that they are affected ; and although the 

 same may happen even where the thermometer is employed in the 

 detection of the disease, it is, in my experience, not so likely to 

 happen, as the reading of the instrument will in most cases indi- 

 cate pleuro long before the animal exhibits any of the ordinary 

 symptoms of it. 



In health the temperature averages in grazing stock 101°, or 

 thereabouts ; in housed milk cows the average obtained from 

 some thousands is 101|^°. In pleuro-pneumonia the temperature 

 ranges from 103° to 107° (in some cases falling as low as 100° 

 before death), and as inoculation does not pretend to cure the 

 disease, it is advisable that due care be taken, and that none 

 affected be inoculated. I advise the temperature being taken in 

 every case if possible. I am aware that this is easier spoken 

 about than done in the case of bullocks and young stock, but in 

 cows that are housed, and in very young stock, it always can be 

 done. All those that indicate health — that is, those whose tem- 

 perature ranges from 101° to 102§° — may be done. Those rang- 

 ing from 103° to 107° should not be done. True, there are cases 

 in which the temperature may range at and above 103° from 

 causes other than pleuro. No matter, do not inoculate such ; 

 rather delay the operation for a day or two until the temperature 

 declines, or until satisfied one way or the other. Those whose 

 temperature ranges about 103° are the ones the operator 

 requires to be most guarded about. I have done lots of them that 

 have come well through, but from the mild local results obtained 

 I have judged such cases to be slightly affected ones, although 

 probably only to the extent of the primary fever. It is right to 

 mention that, even in cases where the thermometer has been 

 most carefully used, animals have turned out in a day or two to 

 be badly affected that at the time of trial showed no signs of it. 

 Such cases, however, are rare, and do not affect the generally 

 great vahie of the instrument intelligently used. 



No animal should be inoculated, unless under very urgent 

 circumstances, tliat has any condition about it of an intiam- 

 matory nature, or tendency that way — any strain, wound, or 

 bruise, for instance. Internally and externally they should be 

 in normal health and condition, or as nearly approaching to it as 

 possible. In particular, no cow should be done that is within 

 two months of calving, or that has just calved. I have inocu- 

 lated without casualty cows eight days alter calving. I con- 

 sider the practice to be dangerous, however, and never unless 

 forced to do so inoculate any until they are about three weeks 

 calved, until such time, in fact, as the second cleansing is over, 

 and the womb and other parts engaged in the process of parturi- 

 tion have recovered their normal tone and condition. 



