THE DISEASES OF CATTLE. 57 



case of pure murrain ; nor are the records of the sudden de- 

 cease of cattle, deer, sheep or swine, as chronicled in the agri- 

 cultural literature of the United States, at all conclusive on 

 the subject of cattle pest — murrain. In view, therefore, of 

 throwing a ray of light on a dark subject, I propose first, to con- 

 sult authorities. The following article is an extract from a 

 report made by the " Imperial Agricultural Society of Vienna," 

 translated for the London Times : — 



" The murrain, termed also cattle plague, stomach distemper, 

 overbile, and putrid fever, is known, partially, in some districts, 

 as cattle dysentery, on account of the presence of alvine de- 

 fluxions, continued to the end of the disease. The contagious 

 and infectious character of the murrain is such, that the dis- 

 ease, having made its appearance in one animal, is immediately 

 communicated to all others in its vicinity which are not, with- 

 out delay, separated from it. On the contrary, an animal which 

 has once had the disease is not liable to a second attack. In 

 consequence of this contagious and infectious nature of mur- 

 rain, the animal first attacked by it must immediately be sep- 

 arated from the healthy stock ; it must also have its own 

 attendant, and be provided with its own distinct fodder and 

 drinking arrangements, apart from the other cattle. Cases, 

 indeed, have occurred in which healthy cattle, tended by ser- 

 vants who have been in communication with diseased or dead 

 animals, sickened of the murrain in the second, third, and 

 fourth week. Also, the carcass should be buried with the ex- 

 crements ; and as the skins of the animals remain in a conta- 

 gious and infectious state, they should, when not also buried, 

 be steeped for a considerable time in water and sprinkled with 

 quick-lime. In the Esurgo district, the carcases were indeed 

 buried, but the excrements being thrown into the dung-pit 

 along with the other manure, constantly exposed to the action 

 of the air, and not allowed to come into contact with the cattle, 

 no evil consequences were the result. The skins were imme- 

 diately fetched away by the leather dresser, to be at once put 

 in hand, and steeped in lime-water. The opinion that dogs, 



