652 
ON THE DISTEMPER AMONG CATTLE. 
I may here observe, that many consider the disease to be essen- 
tially a pleuro-pneumonia ; and it has been supposed that the 
morbid condition of the brain is the effect of sympathetic partici- 
pation in the serous membrane. Were this the fact, we might ex- 
pect to find the peritoneum occasionally involved. 
Many of the early symptoms, as hot ears, the recurrence of 
rigors, the excited, or, in some cases, depressed countenance and 
imperfect action, especially as these two latter are more 
marked in the cases exhibiting effusion upon the surface of the 
brain ; with the constant change in that organ, and even the ineffi- 
cacy of venesection and sedatives in taming the arterial action — 
these point out the brain and nerves as the real seat of the disease. 
When we reflect on the great influence exercised by the mental 
operations on the different secretions, and on the various results of 
functional changes in these systems — as tetanus and encephalitis, 
for instance (which undoubtedly belong to the encephalon, and may 
be cured with as much certainty as enteritis) — surely it requires 
no great stretch of the imagination to adopt the above conclusions. 
I freely admit that my post-mortem examinations were too limited 
to stamp the theory with indubitable verity ; and need not advert 
to the necessity of seizing every opportunity for these at the dif- 
ferent stages of the disease. 
I conceive, then, that the disease is of the zymotic order; that 
it is contagious ; or, if infectious, it is so only in a slight degree : 
that is, the morbid effluvia, commingling with the atmosphere, soon 
becomes diluted to a certain point, beyond which it is inert. That 
it possesses the singular property of cleaving to the animal for 
weeks, or even months, without perceptibly disturbing the animal 
economy ; but, ultimately, the brain and nerves, particularly the 
ganglionic, become diseased ; the functions of the latter are im- 
paired, and abnormal action in the secreting organs under its con- 
trol is the result ; and hence, also, the effusion of coagulable lymph 
into the lungs, and a vitiated secretion into the intestines. 
Treatment . — The excitement of the brain and fever, which are 
the leading features of the first stage, require special attention, 
and in several instances have been overcome, and the disease cut 
short, by the administration of the following twice a-day : — R antim. 
pot. tart. 3j, pulv. pot. nit. et pot. bitart, a a Jiss, sulph. sublim. §vi. 
Mix and divide into three or four doses, giving §ss of tar along with 
each. 
Should the disease progress and irritability of the bowels be 
manifested, this medicine must be discontinued, as I have always 
found the antimonial, and likewise digitalis and hydr. chlor., even 
when combined with opium, act injuriously at this period. If the 
pulse is full and strong, with a scarlet hue of the visible mucous 
