250 Rinderpest. 



of the affected animals. The mortality fluctuates within wide 

 limits, and is estimated among cattle of the colored breeds at 

 75%, in range cattle at less than 50%. 



In England during the outbreak in 1866 the affected animals died almost 

 ■without exception, whereas at the same time in Holland only two-thirds of the 

 diseased animals succumbed, and in France in 1871 the mortality amounted in 

 places to only 20%. In Hungary the losses in 1852 did not exceed 10%, on the 

 other hand in the years 1861-1863 they reached 75%. According to Krajewski the 

 disease sometimes riins a mild course, especially after a rapid spread through large 

 herds (losses of 15 to 20% or even less), but occasionally, even among range cattle, 

 85% may die. In India the mortality among cattle of the lowlands is about 20%, 

 while in mountain cattle it reaches 90%. 



Experience has shown that if the disease returns after a 

 long period of absence, a greater number of animals fall victims, 

 and on the other hand the mortality immediately after the out- 

 break is greater than in its later course. Under favoral:)le 

 hygienic conditions, pure air and dry weather, the losses are 

 lighter than under adverse conditions. 



Treatment. Medicinal treatment of the affected animals 

 gives no result, as was proven by the completely negative re- 

 sults obtained in experiments in England and Holland on the 

 occasion of the last outbreak. A favorable influence can be 

 hoped for only from serum treatment, in which the patient 

 should be given 40-80 cc. of immune serum subcutaneously or 

 intravenously at the beginning of the febrile stage, or not later 

 than the appearance of the first manifestations (see p. 252; 

 Fedetzky found the curative inoculation valueless). 



The opportunities for therapeutic treatment are remote, 

 as all of the European countries which are free from the 

 disease, with the exception of Turkey, require the killing of all 

 affected and suspected animals. 



Immunization. The possibility of an effective immuniza- 

 tion against rinderpest is indicated by the numerous instances 

 in which recovery from the disease has afforded the animals 

 an immunity lasting for a long time, usually as long as they 

 live. The intensity of the immunity thus obtained develops 

 in a degree relative to the severity of the affection. However, 

 as affected animals infect others during the course of the dis- 

 ease, and as they may disseminate the infection, immunization 

 except with pure serum inoculations, is only indicated in badly 

 affected localities, in order that the otherwise very great losses 

 may be reduced. 



As this purpose was not attained with older methods^ of 

 immunization, owing to the considerable losses from the im- 

 munization, it has been abandoned not only in the Central and 

 Western European countries but also recently in Russia. The 

 occurrence of the disease with great severity in the last decade, 

 especially in South and North Africa, has again placed the 

 question' in the foreground and the experiments conducted 



