ACORN-POISONING. 
133 
succession, some of them in a few hours after being attacked. 
The remaining animals of the herd were removed from the 
pasture at once and placed in a sheltered but well-ventilated 
yard, where they received every attention, but in spite of 
every care fresh attacks occurred at intervals, and by the 
beginning of November all the animals were suffering 
severely. 
On the occasion of our visit, in company with the vete- 
rinary surgeon in attendance, the sight which presented itself 
carried us at once back to the worst days of cattle plague. 
Something like a score of cattle were in the yard, some 
standing with their heads hanging down, some lying with 
their heads turned to one side ; many of them gave utterance 
to the peculiar groan or grunt in the middle of each expira- 
tion. Even the characteristic symptom of muscular twitch- 
ings or tremblings was not wanting. All the animals had 
the sunken eyes and haggard looks which were so familiar 
in the time of the plague, and all were miserably weak and 
emaciated. It was remarked at the time of the inspection 
that, had cattle plague been then prevalent in the district, 
short and sharp would have been the shrift that these wretched 
creatures would have received. Happily, however, cattle 
plague was not prevalent, and notwithstanding its malignant 
nature, the existing malady had been proved over and over 
again to he non-contagious, therefore the victims were left 
to a fate which was as certain, though not so swift, as the 
stamping system of treatment. 
A closer observation of the sick cattle led to the detec- 
tion of other symptoms which simulated those of cattle 
plague. There was in most of the animals a discharge of a 
glairy fluid from the eyes and nostrils, and in several cases 
the fluid had collected in the inner corner of the eye, forming 
a gelatinous mass. The discharge from the nostrils was often 
streaked with blood. Frequent evacuation of small quantities 
of fluid feculent matter mingled with mucus and blood took 
place, and it was observed that the everted portion of the 
rectum was deeply congested. 
Admitting the striking general resemblance which the 
symptoms and lesions of the acorn disease bear to those of 
cattle plague, we must nevertheless admit that to the 
scientific pathologist the distinction of the two diseases is 
perfectly easy and sure. Not to speak of the minute phases 
of difference, there is sufficient evidence in the state of the 
internal temperature as indicated by the thermometer and the 
condition of the mucous membranes to set all doubts at rest. 
In none of the animals which we have examined has the 
