On the Bloody Murrain, 91 



cow was taken in a similar manner. We now resolved 

 to try another experiment ; we took from four to five 

 grains of opium, shaved it in water, and mixed a little 

 camphor with it; she was then not able to get up when 

 down, but in the course of one night she was raised again. 

 I believe it to be a disease similar to the dysentery in the 

 human body. 



Joseph Kersey. 



[As many losses were sustained in the year 1819 from 

 the disease above mentioned, it is much to be regretted 

 that the Society was not favoured with more communi- 

 cations. Every fact respecting the diseases of domestic 

 cardeis important ; and the Society will always be pleased 

 to receive them. The disease which prevailed in Chester 

 county may have been introduced by the Ohio drove of 

 cattle arriving in 1819 ; yet, from the facts in the letters 

 of Mr. Cox and Mr. Jones, there can be no doubt of its 

 existence in the county before that year. The truth is 

 that it sometimes appears as an epidemic, and that cattle 

 in some parts of the United States are particularly dispo- 

 sed to it, particularly in South Carolina and certain dis- 

 tricts of Virginia. From the valuable letter of Mr. Har- 

 rison, it would seem that a certain remedy is at last dis- 

 covered, for this hitherto fatal disease.] 



Berkeley, (Charles City Co, Fir. J Jan, 2lst, 1825. 

 Dear Sir, 



Your favour of the 8th inst. (requesting infor- 

 mation from me on the subject of the distemper of cattle, 

 or what is generally known as the bloody murrain,) was 

 received by the last mail ; and I take great pleasure in 

 answering your inquiries as fully as my own observation 

 will enable me to do. 



