INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF CATTLE. 377 



Thecontagiouspleuro-pneumoniaof cattle is a specific epizootic disease 

 which affects bovine animals, and from which other species are exempt. 

 It is characterized, when the disease results from exposure in the usual 

 manner, by an inflammation of the lungs and pleurae, which is generally 

 extensive, and which has a tendency to invade portions of these organs 

 not primarily affected, and to cause death of the diseased portion of the 

 lung. This disease is frequently called the Jung plague, which corre- 

 sponds with its German name of Lungenaeuche. In French it is spoken 

 of as the peripneunwnic contagicuse. 



The history of the contagious pleuro-pueumonia of cattle can not be 

 traced with any certainty to a period earlier than the beginning of the 

 eighteenth century. 2fo doubt it existed and ravaged the herds of 

 Europe for many years and perhaps centuries before that time, but 

 veterinary knowledge was so limited that the descriptions of the symp- 

 toms and post-mortem appearances are too vague and too limited to 

 admit of the identification of the maladies to which they refer. It has 

 been supposed by some writers that certain passages in the writings of 

 Aristotle, Livy, and Virgil show the existence of pleuro-pneumonia at 

 the time that their works were composed, but their references are too 

 indefinite to be seriously accepted as indicating this rather than some 

 other disease. 



As early as 1713 and 1714 it seems quite plain that pleuro-pneumonia 

 existed in Suabia and several cantons of Switzerland. Even clearer 

 accounts are in existence of its prevalence in Switzerland in 1732, 

 1743, and 1765. In 17G9 a disease of cattle was investigated in 

 Franche-Cointe by Bourgelat which was called murie, but which un- 

 doubtedly was identical with the pleuro-pueuinonia of to-day. From 

 that period we have frequent and well-authenticated accounts of its 

 existence in various parts of Europe. During the period from 1700 to 

 1812 it was pread throughout a large portion of the continent of 

 Europe by the cattle driven for the subsistence of the armies, which 

 marched and countermarched in all directions. It was generally prev- 

 alent in Italy in 1800. It appears to have been unknown, however, in 

 the department of the Nord, France, until 1820, but during the years 

 from 1820 to 1840 it penetrated into most parts of that country. Dur- 

 ing the same period it wan introduced into and allowed to spread over 

 Belgium and Holland. 



This contagion is said to have been carried to Ireland from Holland 

 in 1839, and is reported as existing in Kngland in 1842. The disease 

 was brought to the United States at several different times. Probably 

 the first introduction of the contagion wa.s with a diseased cow sold 

 in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1843. It came to New Jersey by importing 

 affected animals in 1847. Massachusetts was infected in the same 

 way in 1800. 



South Africa was infected by a bull brought from Holhuul in 18T>4, 



