♦ 
and other Lrflammatory Attacks. 55& 
another autumn season will liave passed before our discussions 
are renewed, I will give a short account of my own experience, 
which may be some guide to those who are already hesitating 
what course to pursue in dealing with cases of lung disease. I 
was induced to try homoeopathic treatment two years ago— 1st, 
Because it is my wish to test everything which may possibly be 
of service to agriculture ; 2ndly, Because I believe that all 
medical treatment rests, and must rest, on an empirical and 
shifting basis rather than on the mature conclusions of reason ; 
3rdly, Because the trial of medical agents, one at a time, is the 
only means of attaining distinct knowledge of their properties ; 
and lastly, Because, in dealing with fattening stock exposed to 
lung disease, the question lay practically between this treatment 
and none, the knife being preferable to the prospect of a tainted 
carcase, or of an impaired constitution and a long doctor's 
bill. 
My experience at first was far from encouraging. Of a; 
supplementary lot of 8 polled Scots, bought late in the autumn, 
of 1861, 4 were attacked, and of these, 2 died under homoeo- 
pathic treatment, and 1 was sold for 5Z. A Avell-known prac- 
titioner came down from London to see them for a day, and 
on the whole they were treated according to his rules. When 
in the autumn of 1862 disease of the same nature broke out 
apparently with the same malignity in 4 cases among some 25 
bullocks, I agreed with my manager that he should, at his dis- 
cretion, employ the same remedies as before ; but instead of 
allowing 2 or 3 hours to elapse between the doses, as our books 
direct, should repeat them every half hour or hour, at the first, until 
he appeared to make some impression on the animal. This direc- 
tion was specially applicable to the feverish symptoms which 
aconite has to cope with, and the sluggish inertness for which 
bryonia may be given. To special skill in the treatment we of 
course make no pretensions ; in this respect any farmer who has 
watched the symptoms of lung disease with care may exercise 
as good a judgment as ourselves. I shall only wish to show that 
in 2 cases especially the attack while it lasted was very acute, 
that it was of the nature of lung disease, and that the animals 
not only recovered, but throve and fattened, and were sold at 
good prices. 
The first case of illness occurred in a 2-year-old bullock on 
December 12, 1862. Our memoranda show that first aconite, 
then aconite and bryonia alternately, were given every hour ; 
"4th day, no better, ammonium causticum, 12 drops every hour 
and half ; 5th day, phosphorus every hour ; 7th day, bryonia and 
