296 INFECTIVE DISEASES. 



after this misfortune issued a strong warning against taking the 

 virus from the cow. The experiments were made in the belief that 

 cattle plague was really small-pox in cattle, and . that the virus 

 would protect against human variola. 



Similar results were obtained by Mr. Wood at Gowalpara 

 in 1838. 



Bacteria in Cattle Plague Semner cultivated streptococci 



from the blood and lymphatic glands of a sheep suffering from 

 cattle plague. A calf inoculated with a cultivation died in seven 

 days. The cocci were stated to lose their virulence by cultivation, 

 and the weakened cultivation to protect against the virulent disease. 



The micro-organism was very probably Streptococcus pyogenes, 

 and the calf may have died of septic infection. There can be no 

 doubt that the nature of the contagium of cattle plague is unknown. 



Protective Inoculation. — In the great epidemic of cattle 

 plague in England in 1866, owing to a belief that the analogy 

 between cattle plague and small-pox was closer than it really is, 

 vaccination with cow-pox was attempted as a preventive measure, 

 but was proved to be absolutely useless. 



Stamping-out System — When cattle plague was imported in 

 1865 into London, dairymen and stock-owners made no attempts 

 to prevent the extension of the disease, so that it spread rapidly 

 all over the country through disposal of infected cattle. The losses 

 were enormous, and an Order in Council was passed in July 1865, 

 directing dairymen and others to notify outbreaks of any contagious 

 or infectious disease among the animals under their charge. A 

 "Veterinary Department of the State was formed, and inspectors 

 appointed in various parts of the country. A short Act was passed 

 in February 1866. A stamping-out system, consisting of compulsory 

 notification and the slaughter of diseased animals, was soon brought 

 to the notice of the public. There was violent opposition, but 

 nevertheless, after some delay, the system was carried out. The 

 number of cases of cattle plague had reached 18,000 weekly, and 

 on the introduction of the stamping-out system the disease rapidly 

 declined. The disease was again imported into Great Britain in 

 1872, and there were outbreaks in 1877. In each instance the 

 disease was promptly stamped out, and ever since that year the 

 disease has been kept out of this country. 



