1871. 



KEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



101 



active form in tlie saliva, and it is remarkable that 

 this fluid contains the fewest morbid products. 

 Nevertheless its contact with the interior of the 

 mouth of a healthy animal quickly causes the de- 

 velopment of the disease. 



There is no evidence of communication of infec- 

 tion by the skins or other parts of dead annuals ; 

 and it" is not certain, although very probable, that 

 the gaseous emanations from diseased beasts are 

 dangerous to those in the immediate neighborhood. 

 The spread of the infection along a certain line of 

 country from one farm to another is supposed to 

 indicate contamination of the atmosphere ; but, in 

 considering this mode of communication, the fact 

 that animals often remain unattacked within five 

 hundred yards of diseased cattle, must be taken 

 into account. 



Period of Incubation. 



According to the general aoceptation of the term, 

 the time of incubation of an infectious disease is 

 tlie period which elapses between the introduction 

 of the virus into the system, and the manifestation 

 of symptoms which indicate the existence of the 

 disease. In this ordinary sense the expression is 

 now used. Some difficulty usually presents itself 

 iu reference to the determination of the precise mo- 

 ment of infection. It does not follow that healthy 

 animals herded with diseased ones should at once 

 become the subjects of the malady ; on the con- 

 trary, they may resist its influence for some time, 

 and, therefore, conclusions which are drawn from 

 observations of the natural progress of an infec- 

 tious disease are often erroneous, and always 

 doubtful. 



Direct transmission of the virus into the system 

 of a healthy animal, furnishes the only reliable 

 means of ascertaining with absolute certainty the 

 moment of infection. Tested in this manner, the 

 period of incubation of eczema ranges from thirty- 

 six to forty-eight hours. If the rise of tempera- 

 ture be taken as a positive symptom, which it is 

 not, the incubation stage will be much shortened, 

 as this elevation of internal heat sometimes pre- 

 cedes by twelve hours the formation of vesicles in 

 the feet or mouth. The extremely rapid action of 

 the virus is evident from the fact that symptoms of 

 fever arc apparent in thirty hours after incubation, 

 and the full development of the characteristic signs, 

 — the formation of vesicles, — is seldom delayed be- 

 yond the fourth day. 



Professor Sunonds ascertained as early as 1839, 

 that the introduction of a small portion of hay sat- 

 urated with infected saliva into the mouth of a 

 healthy annual, caused the formation of vesicles in 

 the mouth and feet in forty hours ; milk from a 

 diseased cow given warm to pigs caused the disease 

 in three days. 



Experiments with hay saturated with saliva were 

 repeated by tis in 1867, with the usual result ; the 

 animal took the disease in a mild form, and com- 

 pletely recovered in the course of a week after m- 

 fection. 



Failure of Inoculation. 



Inoculation by punctur'e, and the introduction of 

 the contents of vesicles, failed to produce any ef- 

 fects in cows, sheep and pigs. 



These observations have an important economic 

 and judicial bearing, because they enable the veter- 

 inary pathologist to assert in reference to an out- 

 break of eczema in any locality ; that the affection 

 was in some way communicated not more than 

 four days prior to the development of the disease. 



Treatment and Remedies. 



1st. Enforce stringent sanitary laws. 



2d. No attempt, unless under competent direc- 

 tion, should be made to open the mouth, or to horn 

 down any fluids, alimentary or medicinal. If the 

 fever is very severe, an ounce of bicarbonate of 



potass may be dissolved in the drink water, and a 

 solution of the same, — one part to forty parts of 

 water, — may be syringed over the feet frequently, 

 for the purpose of keeping them clean and cool. 

 The magic healing powders prepared by Dr. A. J. 

 Hopkins of Providence, R. I., made into solution 

 and syringed into the mouth and feet several times 

 a day, arrests the disease at once, with slight loss 

 of flesh. I should recommend it to all who are 

 troubled with the malady. Tonics and stimulants 

 are necessary, when the disease assumes a low 

 form of fever, and they are best administered in 

 the food. Salts of Iron and stout may be employed 

 with advantage in these cases. It will be rarely 

 necessary to give any other tonics than properly 

 prepared and nutritious food. A. Bassett, 

 Veterinary Surgeon. 

 242 India St., Providence, B. I., Jan. 12,1871. 



EXTRACTS AND REPLIES, 



SPREAD OF CONTAGIOrS DISEASES AMONG STOCK. 



Many people are surprised at the rapidity with 

 which contagious diseases spread among stock; 

 and at first view, they do appear to be more fatal 

 and harder to be controlled, than similar diseases 

 among men. Why is this ? Is it because conta- 

 gion in the human species is different from cdhta- 

 gion among our stock, or is it the result of gi-eater 

 carelessness and ignorance in treating the latter ? 

 A moment's reflection will, I think, reveal the difler- 

 ence. 



Suppose in a case of small pox, scarlet fever, 

 cholera or any contagious or infectious disease, the 

 patient was kept in one room with the rest of the 

 family ; no matter how large the room or the fam- 

 ily, both well and sick occupied the same apart- 

 ment day and night; breathed the air, drink water 

 and ate the food that had been kept in the room 

 for hours ; suppose, also, that no care was taken to 

 avoid contact with the bed, clothing, person and 

 even excretions of the patient, how long would it 

 be before all the family would be sick? And if 

 neighbors and friends came in more frequently than 

 usual, how long time would it require to carry the 

 disease through the town and country ? 



Contagion among stock has precisely the same 

 means for spreading rapidly, when the infected an- 

 imal is kept in the same stable with the well. The 

 breath, exhalations and vapors of the sick, and 

 their excrements pervade the whole building; the 

 hay becomes infected; water, being a ready ab- 

 sorbent of gases soon becomes infected ; the clothes 

 of the attendants are infected, and everythmg in 

 the bam possessing an absorbing power is more or 

 less contaminated. Under such circumstances is 

 it strange that a disease quickly rims through a 

 herd, and if neighbors and strangers throng to the 

 barn and spend an hour or more hi its infected at- 

 mosphere, and in contact with infected substances, 

 is it a wonder that other herds are soon allectcil ? 



In the present light of science and experience in 

 treating contagion among ourselves, there is no 

 doubt that the rapid spreading of the present cat- 

 tle disease arises from negligence. And there is as 

 little doubt that the prompt adoption of well known 

 precautionary measures, with the help of skilful 

 veterinary surgeons would enable us to control 

 them better. 



The occasional prevalence of contagions diseases 

 proves the benefit of having a small stable, for a sick 

 room or hospital. This should be light, airv, diy, 

 warm and comfortable in evciy i-espcct, and at a 

 proper distance from the barn. Where there is 

 such a room and the affected animal is removed to 

 it at once, and no others allowed to come near it or 

 in contact -with anything used in it, and the atten- 

 dant takes due care to change his Ijoots, fumigate 

 his clothing, &c., there is greater hope and certainty 



