24 
THE CATTLE MURRAIN OF INDIA. 
with gootee virus mild cases of gootee are by no means 
rare would render inert the infection of puschima; and 
also to ascertain whether by diluting the virus, or by carrying 
it through a succession of removes (animals), it might be 
rendered comparatively harmless (the effects of vaccine also 
merit observation) . If such happy results could be obtained, 
inoculation could be as easily carried out as vaccination is 
amongst the people; and then a sudden outbreak of the 
dreaded scourge would be nipped in the bud. I know it has 
been attempted, but determined and thorough experimental 
investigation, and the expenditure of talent, patience, time 
and money, are required, before such a golden chance of 
success should be relinquished. 
VIII. Pathology . 
These diseases belong to the zymotic class, and are closely 
allied to the exanthemata, or eruptive fevers. Their essential 
nature is expressed summarily in the following definition : 
After an interval of longer or shorter duration has elapsed 
between the exposure to the specific cause of the disease and 
the appearance of its symptoms, certain phenomena indi- 
cating general disorder of health appear. These having 
lasted from a few hours to a few days, are succeeded by a 
febrile condition of the body, which varies in degree and 
type according to the form of disease and general character 
of the epizootic, and is revealed by increase of temperature, 
and certain definite disturbances of the functions of the 
body. 
After this condition has prevailed for some time, certain 
specific lesions of the mucous or cutaneous surfaces, or both, 
are manifested, in some cases accompanied by affections of 
the lymphatic glands in relation to these. 
The constitutional symptoms now undergo a change, and 
within a certain time a fatal result from general exhaustion, 
or the development of some special complication, or an im- 
provement in the character of the symptoms presaging 
recovery takes dlace. 
What the origin or nature of the poison producing the spe- 
cific symptoms in these several diseases is, we are quite ignorant 
of.* Whether it is the same poison in different degrees of 
intensity, or different poisons, we are equally unable to say. 
The utmost we can say of contagium is that, from the fact of its 
effects being intensified by certain unsanitary conditions, and 
* Described as morbific germinal matter in the blood, by Professor 
Beale in his f Microscopic Observations on the Cattle Plague,’ 1866. 
