No. 244.] 377 



site of the trees is on the summit of a hill near the shore> — about 

 forty-five feet high, — very barren. On the 14th of September these 

 trees had fresh vigorous leaves. On examining the muck about them, 

 it was found to be quite moist at four inches depth from the sur- 

 face. This result is attributed to the salt contained in the muck. 



Dr. Gardner read his essay upon the subject of the prevalent Cow 

 Disease. 



mw-York,lb\ '^^ooster street, Sept. 16tk, 1848. 



T. B. Wakeman, Esq, Secretaiv i;i the American Institute. 



Dear Sir: — Since the meeting of the Farmers' Club at ^\hich the 

 subject of the prevalent disease in cattle was discussed, through the 

 politeness of Charles Partridge, Esq., Eleventh street, I have had the 

 opportunity of exercising and treating one of these diseased animals, 

 and I proposed to give you a brief account of this single case, and 

 also in continuation, some ideas upon the subject mainly extracted 

 from a very able French work — the property of the Institute and 

 " one of the Vattemare books." I regret that they cannot be more 

 complete, but as by a by-law of the Institute I w^as prevented taking 

 the book to my own house, I have not been able to abstract sufficient 

 time from professional engagements, to devote to its study. I have 

 also wanted the books of reference necessary to its proper compre- 

 hension, while engaged in its perusal in the library of the Institute. 

 I trust I may be allowed these apologies for the imperfections in 

 this hasty letter. 



On Friday eve, September 8th, I first saw the cow of Mr. Partridge 

 in the sta-ble in Eleventh st. This gentleman had paid $50 for her 

 a few weeks previously. Since then until three weeks ago, she gave 

 daily 18 quarts of milk. At that time she was taken ill with cough, 

 refused to eat her food. She had been kept on hay and cut-feed. 

 Very soon she was seized with a severe diarrhoea, her faeces being 

 not only unusually liquid but the hay seemed to pass through the 

 intestines little changed by the digestive organs. Her milk was 

 speedily dried up. 



When I saw her on the 8th, she was in nearly the above descri- 

 bed condition. She had been seen by some of the ''knowing ones" and 

 described as being *'like all the rest." Some spices had slightly al- 

 layed the diarrhoea. She was very much emaciated and ate but lit- 

 tle hay, grass or meal, all of which were offered to her. The pulse 

 was about 70 and very soft, showing no signs of active inflammation. 



