MODERN FARillEll. 351 



that the accident may become infectious ; and it is 

 declared that experience has shown, that without 

 great care and nianaoenient it may go through the 

 whole stock, and even return the next season, if the 

 same cattle are kept. A¥e cannot vouch for the 

 truth of these assertions, but, if true, the circum- 

 stance is very remarkable. 



When a cow has slipt her young, unless this 

 accident has been occasioned by great exertion, it 

 is a proof that the animal is extremely weak, and 

 she must be put on a more nourishing diet, and 

 have strengthening remedies ; but, in general, little 

 is required after such an accident but rest, and per- 

 haps a warm bran mash. The latter may be fre- 

 quently given to cows during pregnancy, as costive- 

 ness may be a great means of producing abortion. 



31. Cow-pox. 



The symptoms and origin of this disease amongst 

 cows have been briefly described by Dr. Jenner, in 

 his publications on the subject. The first of these 

 appeared in 1798, while Dr. Jenner was practising 

 in Berkely in Gloucestershire, where he had an op- 

 portunity of frequently seeing the disease. 



' In this dairy country,' says Dr. Jenner, * a great 

 number of cows are kept, and the office of milking 

 is performed indiscriminately by men and maid ser- 

 vants. One of the former having been appointed to 

 apply dressings to the heels of a horse affected with 

 the grease, and, not paying due attention to cleanli- 

 ness, mcautiously bears his part in milking the cows 

 with some particles of the infectious matter adhering 

 to his fingers. When this is the case, it commonly 

 happens that a disease is communicated to the cows, 

 and from the cows to the dairy maids, which spreads 

 through tlie farm, until most of the cattle and do- 

 mestics feel its unpleasant consequences. This dis- 

 ease has obtained the name of the cow-pox. It 



