cxx 



Report on the Epidemic among Cattle. 



The feet became Ctcutely inflamed, causinc^ the hoofs to shed 

 or exfoHate, and many animals were in consequence slaughtered 

 on the roads. 



Young animals appeared to be more exempt from attacks than 

 the full-grown; but in comparing the number affected it was 

 more fatal, and often more speedily so, in them than in the 

 adult animals. The house and exposed stock of all ages and 

 conditions were equally subject to attacks from general causes. 

 In some cases, supposed to arise from infection or contagion, the 

 symptoms appeared as early as the second day ; in others several 

 weeks elapsed after exposure to infection, before the disease 

 appeared.* One correspondent states that himself and all his 

 family and domestics were attacked on the lips and in the inoutli 

 in consequence of using the milk of his diseased cows; and that 

 a foal living with them had an attack of farcy and glanders, of 

 which it died. 



The disease generally commenced in the mouths of bullocks, 

 cows, and calves, by the appearance of blisters and ulcers on the 

 tongue, and sore throats in some ; the feet at the same time, or 

 very soon after, became ulcerated, as also the palate, lips, and 

 nose. It was accompanied by rigors or chills, succeeded by 

 feverish heat. The noses and feet of pigs were attacked, but the 

 feet only of sheep, except in a few instances in which the mouths 

 w^ere affected, as in cattle. 



In dairy-cows the teats became affected with pustules and 

 ulcers at the same time as the mouth, the udders subsequently 

 became inflamed and tumefied ; and abscesses were formed, ter- 

 minating frequently in a total loss of milk, and, in less severe 

 cases, in a diminution of quantity. 



The pregnant or in-calf cows and barren cows were less vio- 

 lently affected, but cows having recently calved suffered most, 

 more especially in the udders, from the formation of tumours and 

 milk abscesses, constituting the disease commonly called garge ; 

 abscesses and ulcers also were formed in various parts of the 

 limbs and body, especially the points bearing the animal's weight 

 when lying down. At this stage of the disease it was often 

 attended Avitli so much fever and prostration of strength and con- 

 stitutional debility, that the animal was incapable of rising or 

 changing its position, which caused extensive ulcers, abscesses, 

 and frequently death from irritation and exhaustion. 



* The following circumstance was related to me by the dairyman of a 

 large farm in Dorsetshire : — The smell of fresh blood often affects cows in 

 a straw-yard, making them appear as if frantic. After milking the diseased 

 cows the dairyman overturned the pail in the straw-yard ; the cows were 

 greatly excited in the same manner, smelling at it, and fighting to keep 

 each other away from the spot where the diseased milk lay. — C. Lemon. 



