136 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



it was soon acknowledged that vaccination was entirely 

 without danger and one of the greatest blessings. 



Before its discovery one-seventh — or, according to some, 

 one-fifth — of the small pox patients died, and this large pro- 

 portion does not include those that lost the sense of sight 

 or of hearing or that escaped with disfigured faces. Since 

 the discovery of vaccination, which is now prescribed by 

 law in all well-governed countries, cases of small pox are 

 rarities, and deaths from it hardly ever occur. Among 

 thousands of young faces scarcely one is seen disfigured 

 by small pox. 



The lustre of the discovery has, however, of late been 

 somewhat dimmed, because it has been observed that years 

 after vaccination the small pox nevertheless broke out, and 

 with disastrous consequences. This observation has given 

 rise to the supposition that the vaccine-matter deteriorated 

 by being propagated from arm to arm and by being re- 

 moved too far from its original source. For this reason 

 endeavors are made to secure a fresh supply direct from the 

 cow. Every owner of cattle would secure the thanks of 

 the medical authorities by giving them immediate notice of 

 the appearance of the cow pox. 



Besides the above cow pox, other eruptions, which may 

 be easily confounded with it, sometimes appear on the udders 

 of cows, but they are without danger, and disappear again 

 spontaneously. 



SPLEEN DISEASE. 



As spleen disease is so frequently confounded with 

 pleuro-pneumonia, even by practitioners, I find it necessary 

 to make public a description of the disease. It attacks all 

 domestic animals, even poultry, is highly dangerous, and 



