Specific Contagious Diseases. 125 



four drachms, every four hours, and locally equal parts of 

 tincture of iodine, aqua ammonia, and oil of turpentine 

 (Dr. Phares) is very successful. 



By way of prevention specific care should be given to 

 the young and plethoric as the most susceptible. Keep- 

 ing always in good condition and avoiding sudden acces- 

 sions of plethora proves very beneficial. No less useful is 

 the maintenance of free action of bowels and kidneys, by 

 a moderate ration of flaxseed or other laxative. The 

 avoidance of night frosts alternating with hot noons, of un- 

 wholesome or insufficient food, of impure water, or, indeed, 

 of any cause of debility is desirable. On infected soils the 

 avoidance of damp grass, by seclusion in houses at night, or 

 even by soiling the cattle altogether, may be resorted to. 

 Antiseptics (copperas, carbolic acid, sulphites of soda or 

 lime, and iodide of potassium) may be useful. 



It is a common practice on infected lands to insert a seton 

 through the dewlap of each of the young cattle, with the 

 view of preventing undue plethora. The beneficial result 

 is probably rather due to the fact that the germ is planted 

 in the wound, where, in connection with active suppuration, 

 it produces a mild infection only, the germs remaining con- 

 fined to the sore, and the animal recovering enjoys a subse- 

 quent immunity. A similar protection may be secured by 

 inoculation with a weakened specimen of the virus, or still 

 better, by the virus that has been sterilized by heat. 



PTiEMIA. PTJETTLENT INFECTION (bLOOD-POISONING ?). 



It has long been known that in connection with wounds 

 which have become unhealthy or suddenly dried up, a se- 

 vere general fever often sets in, accompanied by the devel- 

 opment of abscesses in different parts of the body and early 

 death. It is now known that suppuration is usually or al- 

 ways associated with the presence in the seat of its forma- 

 tion of bactei-ia, and that, when secondary abscesses appear 



