CHOLERA AMONGST CATTLE. 
401 
feces were jerked to a little distance. It had also vomited, 
and its mouth was filled with a grumous fluid. Various 
remedies were tried, which gave it increased strength, but 
with return of strength came increased violence of cramps, 
and it died after six hours’ illness. I opened it next day. 
The post-mortem appearances were — flaccidity of body ; 
surface a dark blue, with a pinkish tint on belly ; stomach 
moderately distended with half-digested food, studded with 
patches of inflammation varying in size from a shilling to 
a half-crown, the intervals being natural in colour; the small 
intestines, at intervals of about eight to twelve inches, were 
inflamed, the length of inflamed part about an inch; large 
intestines healthy ; liver and spleen natural ; heart natural. 
The lungs alone presented features which arrested the eye — • 
namely, from the intense scarlet colour of their surface and 
of every part cut into; they were not congested, but could be 
expanded fully with the blowpipe, collapsing when untied. 
Eight have died 'since that (the 3d inst.) The keeper in- 
formed me that they had lost about forty since the disease 
appeared. At first it began like influenza or intestinal fever; 
fever, prostration, constipation, loss of power in the legs, and 
they lingered a long time; now the disease is different, and 
they die after a few hours’ illness. The long ranges of 
buildings are badly ventilated and not drained. 1 felt suf- 
focated while walking through them, and there was a depth 
of six inches of putrid water under the plank on which I 
walked. 
On Saturday last, 1 visited another farm where three cattle 
had died, —one clearly from lung-disease, and two from 
choleroid disease, from the cramps and few hours’ illness. 
I shall make no comments further than to say, that a great 
and heavy responsibility lies on our authorities, inasmuch as 
no provision has been made to supply the farmer with efficient 
skill for investigating the nature, treatment, and prevention 
of those diseases ; and further, that when an animal dies after 
such a short illness, to the ordinary eye there is no change to 
be seen in the meat when cut up. I know to a certainty that 
diseased carcases daily find their way to the towns, and are 
there consumed by the unsuspecting public. In short, nothing 
but skill of a high order, with auxiliaries not at present in use, 
can detect such meat. 
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, 
William Donald, M.R.C.S., 
Surgeon to the Ileathfield, Bedlay, and Shankramuir Works, 
and Medical Officer for Cadder parish. 
Chuyston; June, 1857. 
{The Lancet.) 
