THE CATTLE MURRAIN OF INDIA. 
25 
capable of extension from one animal to another, there is a 
strong presumption of its existence, as a substance capable 
when brought into relation with an animal of causing the 
disease. From the rapidity of the spread of the disease, we 
infer that the material is very subtile and diffusible, and 
most probably capable of being conveyed by the atmosphere. 
The comparative virulence of infecting material is inferred 
from the kind of reaction which ensues on their introduction 
into the body. Thus, the poison causing “ eczema epizootica ” 
and “vaccinia” is, in the great majority of cases, mild, producing 
no sudden or striking nervous reaction, involving little or no 
change or vitiation of the functions of the body, stimulating 
little or no destructive tissue changes, interfering to a very 
slight extent with secretions, and quietly working out its 
own elimination through the channel which, for an inscru- 
table reason, it selects. The poison of “ gootee” is reckoned 
to be more pernicious, because the reaction is more severe. 
The nervous system is primarily attacked, and general 
dulness, uneasiness, and shivering evidence the poisoning 
agency. The functions are gravely involved, tissue change of 
a destructive character is soon initiated ; secretions become 
depraved, and the elimination of the poison from its seats of 
selection is accompanied by violent local action ; inflam- 
mation in all cases, abrasion and ulceration in many, and 
erysipelatous gangrene in some. 
In puschima and rinderpest we have the extreme of viru- 
lence. In these diseases the action on the nervous system is 
so pernicious that poisoning may ensue at once without the 
development of any other organic disturbances. When these, 
however, ensue, their severity, their rapidity, and their fa- 
tality are most marked, and contrast strongly with the other 
diseases. 
On comparing eczema epizootica, vaccinia, gootee, pus- 
chima, and rinderpest, a remarkable sequence is disclosed, 
the whole forming a natural group of diseases, with eczema 
at one end and rinderpest at the other. 
Is puschima preceded or followed by gootee ? 
Mr. Thacker reports on the Kurnool outbreak of murrain, 
or puschima, in 1863. The eruptive form, or gootee, was 
present, although to so slight an extent that he considered 
the disease assumed a pustular (i. e. eruptive) form at certain 
seasons of the year. In the Assam outbreak, 1867, puschima 
subsequently assumed the form of gootee. 
Mr. Farrel, reporting on the Sunder bunds' outbreak, 1869, 
speaks of the two diseases as identical. And during the 
