CATTLE DISEASE. 9g9 



much that it rarely spared over five out of a hundred. Hundreds 

 of thousands of animals perished. Inoculation, which has in Eu- 

 rope, yielded somewhat contradictory and unsatisfactory results, 

 was tried, and found effective in saving from a third to two-thirds, 

 if performed before exposure, and skillfully done. Judging from 

 analogy, we cannot see how inoculation should be of any avail 

 with this disease. It is well known that some contagious diseases 

 can be readily communicated from animal to animal in this method, 

 and that the disease thus taken proves less dangerous than when 

 taken by the " natural" method. But in all these cases, it is to be 

 remembered that the disease in both is essentially of the same nature 

 and affects the same parts of the system ; but inoculated pleuro-pneu- 

 monia is asserted to produce no disease of the lungs, but only a 

 local eflcct upon the tail or some other part distant from the lungs. 

 It is possible, however, that as this distemper fails in many respects, 

 to follow the laws which govern disease in the human system, there 

 may be some preventive eflScacy in the operation ; but the results 

 of experiment upon some thousands of animals in Europe, furnish 

 little ground for confidence in the operation. 



In 184Y, this disease was brought from England into New Jer- 

 sey, but its contagious and deadly nature being early discovered, 

 it was immediately and effectually extirpated by killing the herd, 

 involving a sacrifice, it is said, of about ten thousand dollars, which 

 was borne by the proprietor. What a contrast does the conduct 

 of such a man present, compared with that of one, who, for thirty 

 pieces of silver, would consent to sell a diseased animal to go into 

 a healthy district ! 



Quite recently this disease was carried from England into Aus- 

 tralia. As soon as discovered, the most active measures were 

 adopted. The herd was killed, the loss shared by those interested, 

 and at the last accounts the success was deemed complete. 



