NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



179 



essayed another and another plan of treatment. 

 Still the patients died. 



"Time rolled on, and the month of June, 184G 

 brought with it a recurrence of the disease on the 

 same farms as before, and with all its formci fatal- 

 ity. I applied to its treatment all tliat tiie previous 

 year's experience and the thoughts and inquiries 

 of the intervening twelve months had suggested; 

 but, as usual, death in most cases closed the scene. 

 I was, however, determined not to give up. I liad 

 observed in all the cases I examined in the sum- 

 mer, 1845, as a thing worthy of being noted, but 

 notliing further, that there was a large quantity of 

 eartliy matter — sand, pieces of brick, tiles, leather, 

 &c. — in the passage from the second and third to 

 the fourth stomach; and in one case I collected and 

 ^vashed a portion of this foreign matter and laid it 

 aside, thinking it of no use, however, but as a 

 cabinet curiosity. In summer, 184G, I invariably 

 metvvith the same appearance, and on inquiry was 

 told that all the beasts affected had been addicted 

 to eating bones, old shoes, rags, or whatever trash 

 they could get hold of. In making a post-mortem 

 examination of the last fatal case of the disease 

 which I saw, I was struck by tlie appearance 

 among the earthy matter in the stomach of small 

 particles of a soft, white, putty-like substance, and 

 the idea of white paint (carbonate of lead) imme- 

 diately came into my mind. I collected and took 

 with me a portion of this matter, and at the first 

 convenient opportunity made an analytical examin- 

 ation of it; the result of which was, such a quan- 

 tity of carbonate of lead as left no doubt of the 

 cause of death, in this case at least. And on mak- 

 ing an examination of similar matter taken from 

 the stomachs of the previous year's cases, I found 

 exactly the same results. Being now satisfied tliat 

 I had found a solution to my two years' diflrculty, 

 I applied to the owners of the (dead) cattle for 

 leave to exhume and exainine two of them, on 

 different farms, that had been buried without their 

 stomachs being cut up. One of them had been 

 eight, the other eleven weeks in the ground. I, 

 however, managed in each case to obtain a portion 

 of the contents of the stomach free from any ad- 

 mixture, and on subjecting these to analysis, had 

 my views still further confirmed by the large quan- 

 tity of lead I obtained." 



For an account of "the physiological action" of 

 the poison, which, owing to certain peculiarities in 

 the structure and functions of the digestive organs 

 in cattle are different in some respects from what 

 they are in man; as well as of the "symptoms and 

 post-mortem appearances," "treatment," and "an- 

 alysis," we refer the reader to Mr. Cuming's prac- 

 tically interesting pamphlet. 



It would not be doing the author justice, how- 

 ever, were we to conclude this brief notice of his 

 work without setting forth, and in his own words, 

 that "the claim" he rests upon is, "not that he bus 

 discovered that the salts of lead are poisonous to 

 cattle; but that he has investigated and traced to 

 its true origin an affection among this class of 

 animals (cattle) of mysterious character; of gen- 

 eral and extensive prevalence and extreme fatality, 

 &c." 



In an "Appendix," Mr. Cuming adds, he has 

 since met with "a number of cases confirmatory of 

 his expressed opinions;" and concludes with the 

 following very pertinent remarks : — "Last winter 

 a deal was written in some of the medical journals 



about a few poisoned partridges that somehow 

 found their way to the London game markets. But 

 the carcass of an ox or quey would outweigh a 

 vast number of partridges, and it would not be 

 difficult to tell of many such being slaughtered 

 after being incurably poisoned, and finding their 

 way in the shape of butcher's meat to the same 

 city whence the poison had emanated : a curious 

 instance, certainly, of retribution. It would be 

 hard, however, to say that such meat was hurtful, 

 until examination and experiment have proved it 

 to be so; on the other hand, it would be equally 

 unsafe to admit its being wholesome without suffi- 

 cient investigation : and in treating the subject as 

 I have done, I would have judtred myself short of 

 my duty to the public had 1 failed to notice this 

 view of it. Having pointed it out, it is for oth- 

 ers more interested to carry it further, if they 

 think fit." 



Remarks. — Some years ago, when conducting 

 the Yankee Farmer, we had inquires fi)r a reme- 

 dy for cattle poisoned by licking buildings newly 

 painted with white lead. Several animals were 

 lost by this poison. We asked several medical 

 men to investigate the subject, but they could pre- 

 scribe no remedy. 



We hope that the judicious remarks of Dr. 

 Dadd on the veterinary science in this country 

 will receive the particular attention of the humane 

 and patriotic, and that some able and liberal gen- 

 tlemen will do something to establish a school of 

 veterinary science and practice. The saving of 

 animals from disease, and curing them when ill, 

 in the most skilful manner, is not only important 

 as a matter of humanity, but as a matter of gen- 

 eral prosperity and wealth to the country. 



Dr Dadd is well skilled both in the science and 

 practice of the veterinary art, and we would re- 

 commend him to the consideration of those who 

 want advice or assistance on this subject. The 

 brute creation has been too long subject to the 

 cruel treatment of ignorant pretenders, who not 

 only know nothing of the important sciences of 

 anatomy and physiology, so essential to successful 

 practice, but they often pursue that severe course 

 of practice which argues a want of common sense. 

 — Ed. N. E. Farmer. 



For the New England Farmer. 



GOOD STOCK AND GOOD KEEPING. 



Mr. Editor: — Noticing not long since a cut in 

 your paper exhibiting the cow "Cambridge," with 

 some remarks on the short-horned breed of cattle, 

 you will allow the expression of some additional 

 facts and the views of a correspondent. Aware 

 that the freedom accorded to this New England 

 state of society induces many persons to take 

 the liberty of suspecting almost any man who ad- 

 vocates or disparages an object, article or measure, 

 warmly, of being interested, or having selfish mo- 

 tives in so doing, and that to such llie confident 

 language of experience is labor lost, I have long 

 since concluded to write less frequently, and less 

 confidently. I entertain no doubt oi ihe justness of 



