358 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



rior quality of the turnips ia the former country, which pro- 

 duces the very best beef with the assistance of straws only ; 

 and, probably, with the exception of the very richest pastures 

 in England, these cattle of Scotland pay more per head and 

 per acre than any other cattle in Britain; thus showing that, 

 after all the breeding that has been done, the best flesh and 

 most profit are produced by animals that have comparatively 

 unimproved. 



The great and glaring defects of the symmetrical form of 

 Scotch cattle in general are — the back sunk, a low paunchy belly, 

 flat ribs, and a large vacuity between the backbone and short 

 ribs. But very few specimens are found that are wholly rid of 

 these defects ; but the small number is sufficient to produce a 

 progeny that would not inherit those properties. These qualities 

 are very largely apparent at the fat cattle shows of the Smith- 

 field Club, and at the last exhibition, a most obtuse discrimi- 

 nation " only" could have selected as examples the Galloway 

 animals that' were there shown as fattened carcases, exhibiting in 

 the superlative degree every defect that has been mentioned. The 

 waot of early maturity is a defect of an impossible remedy, 

 owing to uncontrollable causes : an average of five or six years 

 is required to fatten a Kyloe, three and a-half to four years in 

 the native country, and one and a-half to two years in the 

 Lowland management. 



Refinements in the animal organization require a corres- 

 ponding advancement in the quantity and quality of food. 



which do not attend the breeding and rearing of Kyloe cattle, 

 which are done wholly on straw and hay, roots being wholly 

 removed beyond any reach of use. 



Every action of human performance is capable of improved 

 advancement, according to the circumstances that control the 

 operation and its consequenceg. No human power can remove 

 or control these circumstances, that are the best of all 

 teachers, and the most despotic of all governors ; the power is 

 omnipotent on earth, and directs all events and consequences. 

 Kyloe cattle have been forged by the soil and fashioned by 

 the climate into an inhabitant of the mountains and islands ; 

 a long usage has habituated the wants to the productions, 

 and the habits liave been manufactured from the constant 

 attractions. Nature always produces strong varieties of supe- 

 riority in'all its works, which maintain it on being reproduced ; 

 and this excellence being maintained, a superior organization 

 is supported and supplied. But it may be advanced beyond 

 the common means of aliment, and then succumb ; and so with 

 the Kyloe cattle: that would not suit the circumstances of life* 

 if refined beyond its power. But no obstacle prevents the 

 good animals forming entire herds, as well as existing in 

 small numbers ; and on this simple principle the whole class of 

 cattle may be changed, and very much advanced in value. 

 The road is open, the progress easy, and the object certain 

 of attainment. J. D. 



THE CATTLE MURRAIN. 



" Crebro feHt : deroissee aures ; in certus ibidem 

 Sudor, et ille quidem niorituiis frigidus : aret 

 Pellis, et ad tactutn tractanti dura resi!tit." 



Gbokgics, Lib. III. 



Sad though it be, no doubt can now exist that a very 

 dreadful and fatal disease has appeared among the cattle 

 in various parts of the United Kingdom. I therefore 

 venture to offer to your readers the following rough 

 notes of some cases which have recently come under my 

 own notice ; at the same time I do not venture to at- 

 tempt a scientific account of either the nature or treat- 

 ment of the disease, but trust to be able to point out its 

 synqptoms in a manner sufficiently plain to render its 

 identity unmistakable. Before proceeding further, it 

 will perhaps be well to say a few words as to the situ- 

 ation and soil of the farms upon which the disease has 

 appeared. They join each other, and lie low in a valley ; 

 a considerable river intersects one of them, through 

 which the cattle are occasionally driven to pasture. The 

 soil on both is principally alluvial deposit upon a gravelly 

 subsoil. I do not, however, attach any importance to 

 these particulars, as I am quite certain that the disease 

 was imported, and in no way originated in the neigh- 

 bourhood. No doubt whatever can exist of its highly 

 infectious nature ; and I cannot urge too strongly the 

 absolute necessity of using every precaution to prevent 

 the plague spreading. 



I shall now proceed to point out^ 



1. The symptoms of the various stages of the disease. 



2. The treatment which has been pursued with, I re- 

 gret to say, indiflferent success. 



3. The post mortem appearances of the lungs and 

 other internal organs. 



I have endeavoured— both from my own observation, 

 and, what is far more important, from the observation 

 of the cowman and other attendants upon the cattle — to 

 ascertain what is really the first symptom of the dis- 

 ease. I have laid particular stress upon this point, as I 

 believe every chance of success depends upon taking the 

 disease in its early stages. In milch cows, the failing of 

 the milk is, I think, an unerring symptom. I do not 

 mean to say that a cow's milk may not fail from other 

 causes ; but an attack of the disease is invariably pre- 

 ceded by that symptom. The other most prominent early 

 symptoms are the withdrawal of the beast from the rest 

 of the herd ; he stands alone, and does not chew the 

 cud ; his coat stares ; he pokes his head forward in a 

 peculiar way ; the appetite fails, and the eyes glisten in 

 an unnatural manner. More serious symptoms soon 

 succeed : he heaves at the flanks ; a short dry cough 

 comes on, which gradually increases in intensity ; the 

 horns and feet at first become hot, and in the later stage 

 cold ; a slight running of the nose is perceptible, the 

 beast foams at the mouth, and dies. The course of the 

 disease runs from five days to three weeks, the time de- 

 pending a good deal upon the condition of the animal ; 

 the better the beast, the quicker he dies. 



I now proceed to the treatment which has been tried, 

 though I regret to say that the results are far from satis- 

 factory. Within the last five or six months twenty- 

 four cases have occurred ; twelve have already proved 

 fatal ; five are partially recovered — that is to say, they 

 have got rid of the most violent symptoms, but have 

 bad coughs still, and look jery poor : so I think their 

 ultimate recovery very doubtful. One cow seems to 



