614 
THE CATTLE EPIDEMIC. 
a dysentery, preceded by constipation, comes on at the second 
period of the disorder, with evacuations exceedingly offensive. 
The constipation does in some cases, however, continue to the end. 
On bodies being opened after death, aliments are discovered in the 
stomach and intestines agglomerated into a hardened mass, all the 
viscera in a state of high inflammation, and, in some individuals, a 
sanguine congestion towards the head, with the skin reddened 
with blood. The same authority states that the more vigorous 
animals are generally the first to be attacked, and that almost all 
of them die, whereas the weaker often recover. Cows, calves, 
and oxen, become infected, without distinction of age. Some sink 
under the disease within the first forty-eight hours ; others on the 
third, fourth, or fifth day. The convalescence of the animals that 
recover lasts from twelve to fifteen days : during the first three or 
four they remain recumbent, without the power of rising. The 
cows that recover always lose their calves by abortion, and it is 
added that cows of an infected herd, without having sickened 
themselves, generally lose their calves in the same manner (1 1). 
I have the honour of transmitting enclosed a translation of another 
account, published in Russia by a German farrier in the service of 
this government, which contains a far more detailed description of 
the symptoms and progress of the disease ; but though I have 
heard no part objected to by the experienced here, it is suspected 
to be the result of observations made elsewhere, rather than in this 
country. 
With respect to the medical treatment practised and recom- 
mended here, a great many modes have been cried up, of none of 
which the benefit is sufficiently authenticated to authorize their 
enumeration ; and I have heard sensible and experienced men de- 
clare that the acuteness of the malady defies all remedies till now 
known. I presume, however, to make mention of one of a very 
simple nature, that many assert has been found available at the first 
stage, namely, a decoction of linseed, first ground into a coarse flour, 
and boiled in water with some nitre. The patient is to swallow 
a bottle of this in the morning, and another at night, intestinal in- 
jections of the same being made in cases of costiveness. 
The measures upon which all opinions agree are those that have 
in view the preservation from contagion. For this purpose the 
government of Austria has forbidden, since many months, the pas- 
sage of Russian cattle across her frontiers. The Russian govern- 
ment took similar precautions upon the Don in 1842 and 1843 ; 
and the order is now everywhere enforced, that the dead bodies of 
infected cattle are to be buried immediately, and without subtract- 
ing the hides or any other part of them. So great is thought to be 
the contagious power of the cattle plague, that dogs feeding on 
