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THE PREVAILING DISEASES AMONG CATTLE. 
From this period to the year 1841 we hear nothing of this disease; 
but then it broke out in London, and, soon after, on the continent, 
where it made dreadful ravages. It is remarkable, that it appeared 
in a milder form in this part of the country than in the eastern 
counties, and that in the north part of our island it was most vio- 
lent. The disease of which I am now speaking has undergone many 
modifications since its first introduction among us ; still there are 
so many points of contact in what it was and what it is, that we 
cannot doubt its identity, though some of the symptoms are differ- 
ent. In the epidemic of 1841 and 1842, the breath was offensive; 
there were ulcers on the tongue and nose, a secretion between the 
claws, suppuration of the cartilages and hoofs, ulceration of the 
joints, udder, and teats, quick breathing, violent sore throat, and 
great discharge from the nostrils. The udder was sometimes so 
inflamed and ulcerated that it burst, and occasioned instant death. 
In other cases, gangrene or sloughing ulcers appeared in the back 
and loins, which soon came to a fatal crisis. In one case that 
came under my own notice while at College, besides most of the 
symptoms just mentioned, the animal had not power, for four 
weeks, to stand ; but with prompt treatment and care it was quite 
cured, and was afterwards slaughtered. The same epidemic ap- 
peared in this part of the country, but in a milder form. Very 
few were so bad as those before described. They were affected 
about the feet, the tongue was ulcerated, fever prevalent, and the 
breathing quick. As I have before stated that the symptoms are 
different at the present time from what they were at the first ap- 
pearance of the disease in this country, I will proceed by describ- 
ing the symptoms as they now appear. They are, a drooping 
head, a wild eye, quickness and difficulty of breathing, a deep 
hollow moan, and the back a little up. At the commencement of 
the disease they feed moderately, but as it advances they eat less, 
become more debilitated, and the moaning increases. The faeces 
are dark-coloured, slimy, rather offensive, gradually become harder, 
and finally fall in small lumps like buttons. The congenital mem- 
branes are a little tinged, and in cows the secretion of milk is les- 
sened. While the symptoms of the disease are not so numerous 
now as formerly, the disease itself is more dangerous, inasmuch as 
it affects those organs which are most necessary for the support of 
life ; and we all know, when these are damaged, how difficult it 
is to divest them of disease and restore them again to healthy 
action. Gentlemen, you may begin to think I have said quite 
enough as respects the history, nature, and symptoms of the 
“ Pleuro-pneumonia,” and may wish to hear something about the 
cause and cure of this disease in cattle. An eminent writer, speak- 
ing of this disease, ascribes it neither to improper feeding, nor to 
