VESICULAR EPIDEMIC OF 1841-42, 297 



and the lips and inside may be ulcerated. He then obliges 

 the cow to move a pace or two, and she will stagger in her 

 efforts to progress. His mind is made up. It is a case of 

 influenza, and he therefore proceeds with caution. 



Treatment. — The terrible accounts left us of this disease 

 were most likely either produced by utter neglect, or caused 

 by wrong measures pursued for its relief. The modern 

 practitioner refuses to bleed; the strength cannot bear it ; 

 and likewise to purge, for excessive purgation and death 

 are commonly the result of exciting the bowels into action. 

 If the beast be out in a field, he gently gets her under 

 shelter, which he renders warm, placing a good bed of straw 

 under the animal, and a pail full of thin gruel in her man- 

 ger, with a hot bran mash before her. These, though she 

 has touched neither, he orders to be changed thrice daily ; 

 viz., morning, noon, and night. He shakes half a drachm 

 of calomel powder upon the tongue, and gives the following 

 drink night and morning : — 



Sulphuric ether an ounce. 



Acetate of ammonia eight ounces. 



Tincture of ginger two ounces. 



Cold water a P'^t. 



This is the only medicine he ventures to give during the 

 violence of the disorder ; so soon as it has abated, and the 

 pulse become faster and very weak, he leaves it off, and 

 gives in its stead a quart of warm, not hot, ale into which 

 has been stirred half an ounce of tincture of capsicums. 



In this disease the practitioner will do well to inform the 

 proprietor that every thing depends on attention and good 

 nursing. These two things are even more essential than 

 medicine, for many an animal will survive that has not been 

 taking a particle of physic, but has been assiduously tended 

 during its sickness. 



VESICULAR EPIDEMIC OF 1841-42. 



This disease attacks cattle, sheep, and swine. It was 

 formerly regarded with much terror, which has of late 

 years considerably abated. Its characteristic symptoms, 

 besides those of general constitutional disturbance, which 

 are always first exhibited, are vesicles appearing upon the 

 mouth, teats, and feet of cattle ; and upon the feet of sheep, 



