286 VETERINARY HYGIENE 



from one animal to another. That such was not the case is strong 

 presumptive evidence as to the non-contagious nature of the con- 

 dition. The disease is essentially one of the horse but it has been 

 observed in cattle by Cadeac* and others on the Continent, and 

 more recently Lissotf has recorded three cases of what he had reason 

 to believe was the same disease occurring in cows. Purpura is 

 more commonly observed in young horses. Of 17 cases of which 

 accurate notes were taken by ZschokkeJ there were 12 deaths, and 

 the disease always appeared during or immediately following some 

 disease of the respiratory organs, e.g., strangles. The average 

 duration of cases was 16f days. Though not invariably fatal, the 

 rate of mortality is always high. 



PREVENTIVE MEASURES. These should be directed toward 

 keeping horses under hygienic conditions, such as good ventilation, 

 drainage, light, &c. Over-fatigue, under-feeding and general 

 bad stable management must be avoided, and any other conditions 

 that may lower the normal vitality of the animal. 



Convalescent patients should not be put to work too soon after 

 an illness, and this is especially necessary after such debilitating 

 affections as influenza, strangles or pneumonia. 



CATTLE PLAGUE. 



Cattle plague (rinderpest, bovine typhus) is a contagious 

 disease chiefly affecting cattle and occasionally sheep, goats and 

 pigs, caused by an ultravisible virus. It is indigenous in certain 

 parts of Asia, and has in the past caused considerable ravages in 

 Africa. It has been responsible for outbreaks in this country but 

 inasmuch as the last occurred in 1877 it need be given little con- 

 sideration in this work. It was eradicated from the United King- 

 dom by the method of slaughtering out, and should the disease at 

 any time in the future be introduced, the same methods would be 

 adopted, and judging from previous history with success. The 

 chief source of danger would be the affected animals, but the dis- 

 ease also spreads by mediate methods, e.g., by infected food, water, 

 &c., as well as by the agency of human beings. In countries where 

 the disease occurs in the form of epidemics, these vary considerably 

 in virulence, the latter becoming less owing to those which recover 

 acquiring immunity. A very efficient anti-serum has been widely 

 used in outbreaks. 



* System. Vet. Med., W. Hoare, Vol. I., p. 887, 1913. 



^Rec. Med. Vet., Vol. XIII. 

 % Zschokke, Joitm. Comp. Path., 1898, Trans., Vol. XI. 



