Plciiro- Pneumonia amongst Cattle. 
361 
this country. The facts I have brought forward tend to show 
that the disorder is principally propagated by fairs and markets; 
and I should recommend the buyer, whenever he is in doubt 
about any stock he is anxious to purchase, to consult those who 
are familiar with the premonitory symptoms of the disease. But 
if he should be so unfortunate as to ))urchase animals affected with 
the malady, or exhibit any tendency thereto, he would do well to 
first lodffe them in a well -ventilated and warm building, apart 
from other stock ; and, contrary to the plan usually adopted, 
the air should be accessible from the upper part more especially. 
Particular attention should also be paid to the diet, which 
should be of a light and nutritious character, such as boiled lin- 
seed, boiled turnips, carrots, bran-mashes, &c. ; but upon no 
consideration should hay, straw, or dry chaff be given, which 
articles of food we have repeatedly observed to produce consi- 
derable irritation of the respiratory tract. 
The importance of medical treatment in the first stage has been 
sufficiently pointed out to show that as little delay as possible 
should be had in having recourse to it. Those individuals who 
are in the habit of attending upon such cattle should wear a loose 
external garment during the time they remain with them, and 
should not be allowed to approach other stock without first taking 
it off. Although we have no proofs that the disease is communi- 
cable by contagion, yet the facts that have fallen under our obser- 
vation warrant me in recommending this change of garment. 
As regards precautions to be t;iken with healthy cattle, I 
should recommend all those causes I have particularly pointed 
out as predisposing, to be avoided, but especially confinement of 
numerous animals in ill-ventilated and narrow buildings, bad 
food, impure water, exposure to cold east winds, &c. 
Buildings which have previously been occupied by diseased 
cattle should undergo as complete a purification as possible. 
They should be first washed with a strong ley of pearl-ash or 
soda, afterwards they may be tarred, and quick-lime scattered about 
the premises with water fsprinkled upon it, if the place should 
be dry. But I feel I shall be guilty of a great omission if I 
did not impress upon the owners of cattle this additional precau- 
tion. They must not attach too much importance to disinfecting 
means : for cases which have fallen under my own observation, 
and Fletcher's more particularly, amply show that the locality of 
the stabling itself, its imperfect drainage, the conditions of 
ventilation, &c., may, I will not simply say keep up, but even 
give rise to the disease ; and if this opinion be correct, it is quite 
evident that precautionary disinfecting means will prove of little or 
no avail. 
So much with regard to external circumstances as precautionary 
VOL. IX. . 2 b 
