MIDLAND COUNTIES VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 767 
It was agreed to turn all out except the bull, who occupied a small 
building on the other side of the yard. After the apparently sound 
cows, as well as the two that were better, had been out a few weeks, 
others were found affected, and it was determined to dispose of the 
whole. The animals, including the bull, were accordingly sold at a 
neighbouring fair. 
It was in August of the same year I went wiih my master to a 
farm three miles on the other side of our home to see a sick bull. 
Contagious pleuro-pneumonia was soon found to be his disease ; in 
a few days he died, and his carcase was entirely cleared away. On 
inquiry it was found that he had been bought in the previous May 
at the fair above named, and in fact belonged to the herd of which I 
have spoken. My master, who previously thought the disease was 
of atmospheric origin, now inclined to the opinion that this bull 
must have brought it in his system from the other farm, and it was 
greatly feared, as the animal had served and been pastured with a 
Jot of cows since his arrival, that some must have caught what was 
considered an infectious disease. However, weeks and months 
passed by, and all the animals with which this bull had been in 
contact remained healthy. 
If I reflect through a series of years, I could recall an almost 
numberless array of such cases where newly purchased animals 
mixed with the herd a few weeks or months, on being attacked were 
isolated, and ultimately died or destroyed, no more cases being 
seen. It is in these instances that the various prophylactics, in- 
oculation, setoning, drenching, &c., have gained undue credit. On 
the other hand, I could cite many instances, each with its own 
peculiar history, where the restoration to apparent health of a 
recently purchased animal, the true character of whose disease had 
not been ascertained, admitted its subsequent contact with the herd, 
had been followed with most serious loss. Also where the newly 
purchased cattle have had so mild an attack as entirely to have 
escaped the farmer’s observation, contagious pleuro-pneumonia never 
being dreamt of ; when lo ! and behold ! in two or three months, 
the greatest favourite, the most acclimatised animal in the herd, would 
be seized, and in the result the disease would sweep off the whole 
lot, with the exception of one or two animals that did not succumb 
to the disease. In a month or two the farm would be re-stocked, a 
short time after which, although the animals had been selected from 
healthy herds, the disease would again make its dire appearance ; the 
farm would then be stocked with sheep for twelve months, thus un- 
consciously, time would be allowed for any animal remaining on the 
farm and recovering from the disease, to fairly throw off every vestige 
of contagious matter. Presuming the place to be again restocked 
with healthy cattle, all would go well. Then it would appear to 
attack cattle in particular localities ; certain farms and certain 
villages were 'scarcely ever to be considered free, and so I was taught 
what appeared to be the general opinion of the agricultural public, 
that contagious pleuro-pneumonia, like the potato disease, settled 
down here and there, and was not a contagious epizootic, but an 
