History of Animal Plagues. 339 



increases the vital ferments, and consequently resists the action of the 

 contagion, which cannot take place while they maintain themselves in 

 their due power. Hence it follows that the way to assist nature against 

 the attacks of tliis disease, is to keep up the animal strength by such 

 invigorative means as are compatible in other respects with the salutary 

 economy.' 



'To invigorate and strengthen by the administration of such medi- 

 cines as give force to the action of the nerves and tension to the fibres, 

 is the principal absolute intention of cure, which is dictated by the 

 general nature of the contagion and its mode of operation. But there 

 is, moreover, a palliative or secondary intention, which arises from the 

 consideration of a peculiar symptom. It appears from what is above 

 laid down, that the state of the parts subservient to digestion denies the 

 performance of that office on such food as requires the aid of saliva and 

 of lymphous juices secreted in the stomach, whence the power of the 

 contagion is increased by the weakness resulting from die inanition, and 

 the depravity of the humours in consequence of the want of a supply 

 of fresh chyle to the blood. It is, therefore, a just subservient inten- 

 tion to furnish a proper quantity of such food, of a fluid consistence or 

 divided texture, as can be digested under these circumstances, and 

 thence to support the strength of the subject, which must, otherwise, 

 sink from the concurrence of this additional cause of weakness with the 

 effects of the contagion and putrescence. 



' The primary intention of cure in the murrain, according to these 

 principles, is to be executed by the administration of such corroborative 

 and cordial medicines as give due tension to the fibres and vigour to 

 the nerves, removing the spasmodic insensibility or impediments to their 

 action, or their too great irritability, whence an irregular mode of action 

 is produced. 



* There are various kinds of medicaments which have these powers. 

 But experience in the case of similar diseases, and the consideration of 

 general fitness to the peculiar circumstances of this, point out two 

 species, which are more peculiarly proper as well as efficacious. These 

 medicaments are the astringent, febrifuge, gummous parts of vegeta- 

 bles, and vinous liquors. 



' The same intention of cure, as is here proposed for tlic murrain, is now pur- 

 sued by all able physicians in the contagious and other diseases of mankind that 

 induce a putrescence, experience having shown that it is the only means which 

 avail in such cases. It is, therefore, demonstrated to be the proper method of 

 treatment of cattle in the murrain, not only by reasons deduced from the symptoms 

 of the disease and the observations of the cause why amongst the cattle left to nature 

 some escape and others are carried off, but also from analogy on comparison with 

 the facts respecting similar diseases. 



