Disease among Celtic. 551 
been reaped, and was so green that it would not have kept. Al- 
though rice is a very prolific crop, yet it is subject to many casu- 
alties, from the locusts and other insects that devour it; the 
drought at other times affects it, particularly the aquatic varieties. 
There is a use to which the rice is applied here, which was new 
to us, namely, as a substance for razors; by using two grains of 
it between the fingers, they nip the beard, or extract it from the 
chin and face.— JVar. of the U. S. Explor. Expedition. 
DISEASE AMONG CATTLE NEAR ALBANY IN THE 
SEASON OF 1848. 
BY EBENEZER EMMONS. 
The valley of the Hudson has, in the main, from its settlement, 
been free from diseases peculiar to cattle. This exemption from ma- 
ladies which have infected other districts of the United States may, 
in part at least,be attributed to the natural drainage of the country. 
To this cause must be attributed the growth of those grasses 
which are best adapted to the constitution of all kinds of domes- 
tic cattle, and which may also be set down as one of the causes 
which exempts it from endemic diseases. 
It is not, however, entirely freefrom occasional visitations of fatal 
diseases. This appears from the fact that during the past season 
a number of cattle have died from a peculiar malignant form of 
disease, which the writer believes to have been attended with some 
peculiar and remarkable phenomena; and as the reports of cases 
of post mortem examinations are quite unfrequent, it is proposed 
to state some of the facts as briefly as may be, for the information 
of persons who have much to do in the cattle business of the 
country. 
The symptoms which accompany this malady are very imper- 
fectly known. No opportunity presented itself by which an in- 
vestigation could be made, which could throw much light upon the 
treatment required to arrest its progress. Indeed an ox which 
appeared well on one day, would be found dead on the next morn- 
ing. It was remarked, however, that some of the cattle which 
died, appeared more stupid than usual; those for example which 
were wild and unmanageable, ordinarily were accessible and 
tame, and generally refused food. Nothing has been noticed of 
the circulation or the temperature of the body, or the condition of 
the digestive organs. The eye is dim and the ox is indifferent to 
external objects. All therefore which could throw light upon 
