16 The Farmer's Veterinary Adviser 



Tlie percentage of deaths and permanent destruction to 

 health is fifty or sixty, or when all the more susceptible 

 animals have perished it may be reduced much lower. 



Treatment. This disease is much more amenable to 

 treatment than Einderpest, but to preserve the sick is no 

 less reprehensible, as the poison is more subtle, more dif- 

 fusible through the atmosphere, is hidden unsuspected 

 for a greater length of time in the body of its victim, and 

 when manifested is far more hable to be mistaken for other 

 diseases (pneumonia, pleurisy, bronchitis). No treatment 

 should ever be allowed, except in perfectly secluded build- 

 ings, far from roads, where no strange men or animals 

 can get access, and in a constantly disinfected atmosphere. 



In the early stages, refrigerant and diuretic salts (Hquor 

 of the acetate of ammonia, nitre, bisulphite of soda) with 

 aconite may be given ; injections of warm water or mild 

 laxatives (Epsom salts) used to regulate the bowels, and 

 blisters applied to the sides of the chest (mustard and oil 

 of turpentine). Later, when prostration sets in, stimulants 

 (sweet spirits of nitre, wine, aromatic ammonia, etc.) and 

 tonics (gentian, cinchona, cascarilla, boneset, sulphate of 

 iron, or copper, mineral acids, etc.) are called for. Anti- 

 septics are useful, especially such as can be inhaled in the 

 air (sulphur fumes, carbolic acid vapor or spray) and thus 

 reach the seat of disease. 



The hydropathic treatment, by a rug wrung out of 

 water apphed next the skin and covered by several dry 

 ones kept closely applied by elastic surcingles for an hour 

 and followed by a cold douche and active rubbing till 

 dry, has proved very successful, but demands intelligence, 

 enthusiasm and activity on the part of the attendants. 

 The pack is repeated as often as the temperature rises. 



Prevention. Importation should only be allowed from 

 countries free from the plague, in ships that have carried 

 no suspected stock for at least three months, and after 

 inspection and, if thought necessary, quarantine, at the 

 port of entry. But the disease already exists in New 



