splenic Apoplexy. 
2il 
objectionable for animals than most hard waters. The well yieldinfi; 
the fetid water is situated within fifty yards of this one, and was 
originally made with a hope of obtaining water less tnrbid and 
better suited for domestic purposes. It is uncovered, and, ou 
gauging it, I found it was only twenty-seven feet deep, fifteen of 
which were occupied with water, so that it woidd appear that the 
organic matters which produce the sulphuretted hydrogen are super- 
ficially placed in the soil. It is a singular' fact connected with this 
well, that the water was comparatively sweet until a leaden pipe 
connected with a pump near the house was placed in it, with a 
view to obviate the trouble of going each time to the well for 
water. The first water drawn from the j^unip in the morning is 
not onlj^ so exceedingly fetid as scarcely to be borne, but is dark 
in colour; and although this colour soon passes off, the fetor is 
always very much greater than that of the water in the well. 
The facts tlius reported upon show the necessity of a chemical 
examination of the waters of the district, and also the necessity of 
a botanical examination of the herbage, and as such my investiga- 
tions are to be considered as preliminaiy rather than otherwise. 
Already several samples of water have been sent to Professor 
Vuelcker, and will doubtless be, in due time, reported upon. 
These waters were taken from Mr. Bradley's farm, and consisted — 
1st, of water from the pump ; Sndly, from the drinking-place in 
the cattle-yard behind the house ; and 3rdly, from the ditch which 
flows directly into the drinking-place from the pond previously 
described. In addition to the chemical and botanical investigations, 
I woirld suggest that, to lessen the effects of some of the causes in 
a practical manner, the suspected fields be thoroughly underdrained, 
and be dressed with lime. That, instead of being fed in the spring, 
they be .shut up for mowing, and afterwards stocked heavily with 
strong-constitutioned animals ; and, as further precaution for pre- 
serving the health of the cattle in the yards during the winter, 
that the hay taken from these fields be well salted when being put 
into the stack. 
As further preventives in Mr, Bradley's case, I would suggest 
that the cattle-yards be entirely remodelled, so as to prevent the 
animals standing tip to their knees in wet and filth while at the 
feeding-bins : and that means be taken to give them a supply of 
pure water to drink, by conducting the streams now passing 
•through them into stone tanks placed above the level of the 
drainage of the yards. 
As these things belong rather to the future than the present, I 
have recommended Mr. Bradley to supply his animals with an 
improved diet, by adding some cake, com, or bran daily, with good 
hay-chaff, to their ordinary allowance of hay, so as to lay the 
foundation for a better quality of blood. With a further view also 
of keeping their systems in a state better calculated to resist the 
disease, I have advised that an occasional dose of aperient medicine, 
consisting simply of Epsom salts, with a little ginger, be given, and 
after its effects have passed off, that each animal take two drachms 
VOL. XXIV. U 
