5G0 Report on the Health of Animals of the Farm. 



diseased animals had been placed should be thoroughly cleansed, disinfected, 

 and lime-washed, and that the manure should be burned. In reference to the 

 future feeding of the animals it was ordered that no more cake should bo 

 given for the present. The prophylactic treatment also consisted of the 

 administration of mild aperients and antiseptics. 



A short time after my visit Mr. Freeman informed me that no other cases 

 of the disease had occurred. 



J. WoRTLEY Axe, 



Assistant Professor. 



3. Report of an OutbreaJc of Disease in a Herd of Dairij Cows, the 

 property of Lady Churchill. 



On the 26th of June I visited Cornbury Park, Charlbury, Oxon, and examined 

 the above-mentioned herd, which I found to consist of forty-six milch cows, 

 thirty-six yearling calves, and thirteen steers and heifers. The disease had 

 reference to the milch cows only, three of which had died previously to my 

 visit and three others I found to be more or less affected. The malady first 

 appeared on the 4th of June, and since that date had continued to spread. 

 The cows and other stock were pastured on park-land, some parts of which, 

 and especially that portion allotted to the milch-cows, is thickly wooded, 

 the herbage in consequence being inferior both in quality and quantity. The 

 latter especially was very short, from the dryness of the present season. 

 Among the trees are many oaks and beeches, and beneath these I found 

 large quantities of the husks of acorns and beechnuts. 



The symptoms observed during tlie progress of the malady were charac- 

 teristic of that form of blood-disease, termed Hoemo-alhuminuria, or as more 

 commonly called " red water." The origin of the affection was, in my opinion, 

 entirely due to a deranged condition of the digestive system, arising from 

 large quantities of indigestible matter, such as the husks referred to, being- 

 partaken of with the ordinary herbage. The means adopted for arresting the 

 spread of the malady consisted of removing the cows into a fresh pasture and 

 administering to them aperient and antiseptic medicines. It was also suggested 

 that, so far as practical, the husks of the acorns and the beechnuts should 

 be removed from beneath the trees. With reference to the medical treatment 

 of the animals already affected, diffusible stimulants, with mucilaginous drinks- 

 and tonic agents, were prescribed, according to circumstances. These means> 

 both preventive and curative, I am since intormed have proved beneficial. 



The urine obtained from one of the diseased animals was submitted to a 

 careful examination. When evacuated it presented a dark-red colour, and ia 

 a short time became nearly black. It had a clear and bright appearance, and, 

 after standing for some time, only a very slight sediment was deposited. This 

 sediment, when examined microscopically, was found to consist of epithelial 

 scales, apparently from the bladder and vagina, with granular matter and 

 some lime salts. The urine had an alkaline reaction to test-paper. On boiling,, 

 a copious flocculent precipitate of albumen was obtained, and a similar result 

 followed upon the addition of nitric acid ; at the same time considerable effer- 

 vescence was produced. The following determinations have been made at my 

 suggestion by Mr. Nelson, Demonstrator of Chemistry in the Royal Veterinary- 

 College : — 



Normal Urine. 

 Sp.Gr. 1-040. Percent. 



Residue dried at 212° Fahr 8-2 



A sh upon incineration 2-7 



No coagulum. 



