1866. | The Cattle Plague. 29 
and nitre (laxative and diuretic), combined with warm clothing 
enough to make the animal perspire profusely, so that skin, stomach, 
and kidneys are all excited to unusual action, with the view of 
getting the poison out of the system, is advisable in the first stage 
of the attack. And the earlier the symptoms can be perceived and 
recognized, the better the small chance of success in the treatment 
of the case. 
In spite, however, of treatment, a herdsman finds a cow or two, 
that may have been off their feed for a day or two without exciting 
much observation, suddenly displaying one after another the tram 
of symptoms which we have quoted from Dr. Smart ; and if he does 
not at once get rid of his herd, in a very few days or weeks the 
plague runs through the whole of them, and not five per cent. of 
them survive. Whole herds have thus been lost. Lord Granville’s 
herd, near Hendon, was one of the earliest. A neighbour had lost 
some cows by the disease, and the contagion in some unexplained 
manner reached his lordship’s byres, and nearly all the cows died 
under it. Calves bought in the Metropolitan Market and sent to 
Norfolk, Essex, and Sussex, carried the contagion with them, and 
forthwith whole herds disappeared. A London cowkeeper finding 
something wrong with his herd in town sends them all over to his 
farm near Guildford, and forthwith the whole district there is in- 
fected, and one and another lose their all. 
The disease is unquestionably more virulently contagious than. 
any other known, though there is still some doubt whether it be 
capable of transmission to any other kind of animal. Mr. Harvey’s 
flock of sheep at Crown Point, near Norwich, was indeed struck with 
an extremely fatal disease, very much resembling the cattle plague 
in the symptoms during life, and in the appearances after death ; 
and this happened very soon after the herd on the same estate had 
suffered from the rinderpest ; but, on the other hand, the experiments 
administering stimulants. I have found the following mixture, possessing stimu- 
lant, diuretic, and diapuoretic properties, very efficacious :-— 
Stimulant. 
Carbonate of ammonia, 3 of an oz. 
Sweet spirit of nitre , 
Spirit of mindereris jot ee 
Cold water, 9 oz. Mix. 
This dose, from the commencement of treatment, is administered thrice a day 
during the entire course of the disease. When prostration is great it is sometimes 
needful to conjoin it with the laxative given along with all other medicines. In 
such cases the doses are smaller. 
When convalescence is fully established, a simple tonic hastens recovery. I 
find none so good and safe as cinchona bark. The best quality only Should be used, 
and given in doses of 14 oz. of the powder. 
This tonic in the early period of convalescence is combined with the stimulant, 
and at a later period with a quart of good sweet ale given once daily. It is best 
administered at night. With the exception of an occasional dose of laudanum (two 
tablespoonfuls to any medicine the animal is getting, or in the food) to obviate 
straining and control excessive diarrhea, no other drugs are used,” 
