1838. HOUSE— No. 72. 15 



of remedial agents, as when we attempt to explain the operations of 

 mind, will, free agency and the like. 



Of diseases of the inflammatory character, there is probably none 

 so fatal as murrain. However it may commence, whatever part it 

 may attack, still it tends to a speedy and fatal termination. This is 

 unquestionably an inflammatory disease, and its seat in the foot, in the 

 fore quarter, side or hind quarter, does not alter its character. When 

 it prevails as an epidemic, it is like all epidemics which attack man, 

 more rapid in its course, and more certainly fatal in its termination. It 

 hurries through its regular stages without giving the sufferer even tem- 

 porary repose or intervals of abatement. As it commonly prevails in 

 New England, it occurs in sporadic cases, and confines its attacks mostly 

 to the young and thrifty cattle which have been turned into a rich pasture 

 in the spring. The first intimation to the owner of a thriving herd of 

 yearlings, that they are becoming too plethoric, is the finding already 

 dead, one of the finest of the herd. When this is the case, it should 

 lead to a careful examination of the remainder, to ascertain whether 

 there are among them any that are lame or ill, or apparently of too 

 full habit. If one or more be ailing, the first remedy to be applied 

 is blood-letting. The vein in the neck is to be freely opened, that 

 the blood may flow in a full stream. The quantity to be taken de- 

 pends on the circumstances of the case, or the progress which the 

 disease has made, and it is safer to let it flow till the animal staggers 

 and his pulse flutters under the finger. This is to be followed by a 

 pound and a half of epsom salts dissolved in thin gruel or warm wa- 

 ter. If all appear in a healthy state, a safe and prudent course will 

 be to turn them all into short feed for one or two weeks, and, during 

 that lime, mix with their salt a quantity of sulphate of magnesia. 

 Such a course will remove a predisposition to the disease, if one 

 exists. The latter course may be pursued even when no disease 

 has appeared. A short dry pasture reserved for this purpose, where 

 they can be exercised, (for cattle do become indolent,) will be of 

 great value to the cultivator of this kind of stock, and save yearly 

 one or more from falling victims to this disease. 



To return again to the treatment of this malady, I remark that not 

 only reducing remedies are to be relied upon, but those that heat the 

 system or act as tonics, are to be withheld. The latter would de- 



