LECTURE ON THE DISEASES OF CATTLE. 
645 
trict. But for a considerable period before this I had heard that 
rumours were rife that there was a disease of an epidemic cha- 
racter prevailing in the west of England, more particularly in the 
low parts of Somersetshire and on the rich lands about Bridge- 
water. Thence it gradually spread through the upper part of 
Somersetshire, until, in the month of July, it was just on the 
upper border of the county of Wilts, where it jumped, about a 
fortnight afterwards, into the valley of the Test, then towards 
Basingstoke, and when it had reached that point it seemed to 
have acquired great force, and it spread rapidly throughout the 
entire kingdom. All these points are almost in a direct line west 
and east. But there were several lines parallel, as it were, to each 
other, and while the disease was advancing in the same direction, 
there was at the same time a small spreading out laterally, until, 
in the upper part of Hampshire, the lines seemed to coalesce. In 
a few months the disease was, as I have stated, rife from one end 
of the kingdom to the other ; cattle, sheep, and horses, being all 
attacked. It even affected animals living in the state of ferae 
naturae. 
It was very peculiar in its course at that period, and, in fact, it 
is so at the present time. It would take one part only of a stable. 
There was one stall with a horse affected, another in which the 
animal was not in the least affected. It would take a farm in the 
same manner ; and I have even known it take part of a flock. 
Swine were affected in the same way, and even poultry did not 
escape. There were some circumstances connected with it which 
are peculiarly worthy of notice. On investigation, I found an en- 
tire change in the system of an animal affected. Instead of finding 
blood which was full, rich, and sufficient to carry on the functions 
of life, I found watery blood. Such blood I detected in many 
animals long before the disease manifested itself; and so sure as I 
found blood in that state, so sure was the disease to take effect ; 
the animal suffering under a complete prostration. 
Now it is a difficult matter to trace the causes of disease ; but 
in proceeding in the investigation, we must look first at the pre- 
monitory condition, and, secondly, at the condition under the dis- 
ease itself. As to contagion, a great deal of doubt exists on that 
subject. I have exposed my horses over and over again without 
the slightest evil effect. There is one point which must never be 
lost sight of, viz., that when an animal is in a predisponent state 
for disease, the slightest thing will act as an exciting cause. But 
the question which we have to consider is — What produces the dis- 
ease under the operations of which we are suffering. Upon in- 
vestigation, we find there is no difference as to locality. We find 
the epidemic as prevalent on the hills as in the valleys ; we see it 
