REPORT ON MURRAIN. 147 



made considerable progress in condition, a heifer standing third 

 from the entrance commenced to salivate and refuse her food, 

 with other symptoms of Murrain; and as each animal could 

 reach his or her fellow from the principle of tying up adopted, 

 we naturally augured the existence of a scourge among the 

 number. I should have stated that 20 of the number,, when 

 taken up from the pastures, were sent to a farm five miles distant 

 eastward, and immediately lied up in a feeding byre. Ten were 

 forwarded to another farm seven miles south, and placed in 

 boxes, the remaining forty being left at the home farm, where 

 our description began. 



Further separation was impossible, and we accordingly pre- 

 pared for the worst. Each animal was carefully examined ; 

 ventilation and cleanliness scrupulously attended to ; soft, 

 nutritious, and easily digested food supplied ; and medical treat- 

 ment, both preventive and remedial, judiciously carried out. 

 The next day two bullocks at the furthest extremity of the 

 building, at least 60 or 70 feet from the rest, and separated by 

 several brick walls, were found to be affected. Next, the partner 

 of the cow first affected was seized, and on the succeeding day 

 another cow three or four distant. In all seven steers were 

 seized, and about 14 cows and heifers at various intervals, ex- 

 tending up to the beginning of March 1864, the remaining nine 

 never exhibiting the slightest symptoms, although tied side by 

 side with those diseased, eating from the same box, and not 

 unfrequently supplied with hay also refused by them.* One cow, 

 in which thirst was excessive, was severely affected, and died 

 from utter prostration caused by the alimentary canal being 

 implicated, with profuse salivation, which amounted to several 

 pails per day, and, strange to state, her companions on each side 

 were not affected. In May 1864 the whole were sold, all in first 

 rate condition — those in which the disease had appeared in nowise 

 unequal to their more fortunate fellows. 



In our desire to account for the appearance of the disease, 

 although willing to make the most of improbabilities, we were 

 placed in great difficulty, which has not been satisfactorily cleared 

 up at the present moment.. No disease of the kind was existing 

 upon any neighbouring farm, nor has it occurred since within 

 five miles. The home farnrf* is six miles from the nearest town, 

 and more than twelve from the usual cattle market, and upwards 

 of three from any turnpike road. Cattle are seldom seen driven 

 along the contiguous lanes, except to the village butchers, which 

 circumstance, coupled with the fact that the main line of railway 



* The reasonable solution to this proposition is that the animals had pre- 

 viously suffered from Vesicular Aphtha. 



f Pensher home farm by Fence Houses — midway between Durham a.nd 

 Newcastle — belonged to Francis Anne, Marchioness of Londonderry. 



