514 Report on the Health of Animals of the Farm, 
I. — Beport of an Outbreak of HcBmatosepsis in a Herd of Cattle, the 
Property of — NoaJces, Esq., Yalding, Kent. 
The herd of cattle above referred to originally consisted of twenty cows, 
thirteen 2-year-old heifers and steers, fifteen yearlings, and nine calves. Of 
this number nine have died, viz., seven calves, one 2-year-old steer, and one 
yearling heifer. 
The disease first appeared on the 20th of February in a calf betweoi 
four and five months old. This animal died in about thirty-six hours. 
From the date above mentioned to the 5th of March, seven calves suc- 
cumbed to the effects of the malady in similarly short jjeriods. On the 
7th of March a yearling heifer also became affected and died after a very 
brief illness. The day jireviously to my visit a 2-year-old steer gave 
evidence of the disease and was still suffering on my arrival at Yalding. 
The symptoms presented by this animal were indicative of that form of blood- 
poisoning termed Hamatosepsis, commonly known as "black-leg," "black 
quarter," &c. 
On inquiry I gathered that the symptoms exhibited by the animals 
which had previously died were allied to those observed by me in the 2-year- 
old steer. To elucidate the cause of the malady a careful inquiry into the 
feeding and general management of the herd was made, special attention 
being directed to the calves in which the disease first appeared. These 
animals were between four and five months old, well grown, and fleshy. 
Their food consisted partly of milk obtained directly from their dama, 
together with a liberal supply of crushed oats, meal, pulped turnips, and 
hay and straw chaff. The dams of these animals were receiving, besides 
roots and chaff, six pounds of linseed-cake daily. The yearlings and 2-year- 
olds were also having a plentiful supply of roots with cake and chaff. 
The water was derived from a brook, and with the exception of beii^ 
rather turbid, seemed to be of good quality. The supply was abundant. All 
the animals were in large open yards, which were fitted up with good warm 
sheds, well littered with straw. With reference to the cause of the malady 
I am of opinion that its origin depended on a too liberal supply of highly 
stimulating food, which to a great extent was due to the liberal feeding 
of the cows. This conclusion is partly drawn from the fact that between 
the 20th of February and the Ist of March the disease altogether ceased, 
and that during this time no cake was given to the cows in consequence 
of the supply being exhausted. The immediate cause of the outbreak of 
the disease among the yearlings and 2-j'ear-olds is not so apparent. It 
may, however, be mentioned with reference to the yearlings that the heifer 
which was attacked on March 7th had occupied a yard in which four of the 
calves had died. 
The measures adopted for preventing the further extension of the malady 
consisted in a reduction of the quantity of food and the administration of 
aperient and antiseptic medicines. Instructions were also given that all 
manure should be removed from the stables and yards occupied by the 
diseased animals and be mixed with lime in the heap ; and that the posts and 
rails of the yards, and the mangers and fittings of the sheds, should be well 
washed with water, and afterwards disinfected with carbolic acid solution. It 
is satisfactory to know that these measures had the effect of at once arresting 
the progress of the disease. 
Since my visit to Yalding Mr. Noakes wrote as follows : — " I am very pleased 
to say that we have had no fresh attack of disease since you were with us." 
