58 DEPAETMEXT OF AGEICULTURE. 



affords a guarantee of its purity ; the tubes are thus kept hermetically sealed till needed, 

 and, from the way they are used, there is no loss of material. 



The results of successful inoculation are somewhat various ; by some methods the 

 swelling is considerable and many tails slough. It is not a little remarkable that cows do 

 not often fail to enjoy immunity from the disease after sloughing of the organ ; it might, 

 a priori, have been supposed that the acute inflammation and gangrene would have pre 

 vented the specific action of the virus on the system, and there is reason to believe that 

 occasionally this does occur, as I have seen more than one case of pleuropneumonia in cows 

 that had lost their tail after inoculation. 



Under favorable circumstances a slight heat and tumefaction occur around the punc 

 ture, at a period varying from a week to even sixty days. Commonly from the ninth to 

 the fifteenth day the local eruption is visible, and, if at all marked, is attended with a little 

 fever ; a slight shiver, restlessness and some loss of appetite, slightly checked secretion of 

 milk, and constipation may be noticed. I have repeatedly inoculated all the cows in a 

 dairy, and the owner has not sustained the slightest loss or inconvenience from cows fail 

 ing in their milk ; indeed, this is the rule. 



No pustule, no suppuration, forms ; untoward results consist in the excessive local 

 swelling, or, if putrid matter has been used, in secondary deposits at the root of the tail, 

 around the anus and other parts. One of the most remarkable cases I ever witnessed was 

 one in which, on the seventeenth day, after a carefully performed inoculation, both fore 

 legs and brisket swelled up enormously, and the animal suffered intensely from fever and 

 died on the fourth day. 



As a rule, no after-treatment is necessary, the results being so slight that they even 

 escape observation altogether. But, when excessive swellings occur, it is best to use cold 

 applications, and nothing is better than a steady stream of cold water on the part at short 

 intervals. Incisions are not always desirable, but, where it is deemed advisable to relieve 

 great tension, they must be deep and free ; the resulting wound must be washed with a 

 solution of sesquichloride of iron or chloride of zinc of the strength of four grains to the 

 ounce of water. When the animal has much fever and is costive, a saline purge, such as 

 a pound of Epsom salts, affords relief. 



JOAN GAMGEE, M. D. 



lion. HORACE CAPRON, 



Commissioner of A griculture. 



