VOL. XXX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 379 



the latter spring ; and which I believe contributed not a little to the preventing 

 the increase of this distemper ; for this purgation coming so soon after the disease 

 appeared, it is not unreasonable to suppose that it freed such cows as were not 

 much injured from the ill effects of those obstructions, occasioned by the want 

 of their vernal evacuations. 



Several physicians attempted the cure of this distemper, and made many 

 essays for that purpose ; but the dissections convinced me of the improbability 

 of their succeeding. However, they having received the following recipe and 

 directions from some in Holland, said to have been used there with good suc- 

 cess, I made trial of it : but the effect was answerable to rny expectation, for 

 in many instances, I was not sensible of the least benefit : 



Herb. Aristoloch. rotundas, Veronicas, aa M. viij. Pulmonariae, Hyssopi, 

 Scordij, aa M. 4. Rad. Gentianae, Angelicas, Petasitidis, Tormentillae, Car- 

 linas, aa lb. ss. Bacc. Lauri, Juniperi, aa ^xij. Misce fiat Pulv. See Phil. Trans. 

 N° 338, in fine. This powder is to be given in water, 1 oz. at a time, 3 or 

 4 mornings successively ; then rest 4 days ; and if the disease continues, repeat 

 the powders in warm water, as before. 



I think every method in ])ractice was tried on this occasion, though I cannot 

 say that any of them was attended with an appearance of success ; except that 

 of bleeding* plentifully, and giving great quantities of cooling and diluting 

 liquids. But by this method, the instances of success were so few, that they 

 deserve no further mention. 



The lords justices being informed that the feeding of cows with distillers grains 

 was a new custom, and was the cause of this disease, gave me orders to exa- 

 mine into the truth of it : but on inquiry, I found it to have been the practice 

 of several of the cow-keepers above 20 years, without the least appearance of 

 any inconvenience ; and that some of those persons who had suffered most, 

 had never given any. Nor is there any difference between those of brewers 

 and distillers, only that the latter are the drier. 



It was also said, that the want of water was the cause of this disease, for that 

 the springs and places where people used to water their cows, were almost 

 every where dry ; and that many were obliged to send them several miles for 

 water. This might produce some diseases, but such only as they got by the 

 fatigue of being driven so far ; for Mr. RatclifF, Mr. RufFord and Mr. PuUen, 



* When it is considered that the cows had been stinted in their food (from the scarcity of grass 



occasioned by the great drought) for some time previous to the appearance of the distemper among 



them ; the propriety of bleeding will be much questioned. Should a similar disorder occur again, 



it would be desirable to try the effects of the Peruvian bark in powder, together with cold ablution, 



i, e. throwing buckets of cold water upon the sick cattle, until the heat of their bodies be brought 



down to the natural standard. ^^,„.,>^„„ 



2^2 •]nrr/'>i^ HiMii 



