79 
OlY THE EPIZOOTIC DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, 
AND SWINE. 
By W. Youatt. 
[Continued from the New Series, No. 8, p. 451, and the Old Series, 
vol. xv. No. 176.] 
Our history of the epizootic diseases of cattle has been 
discontinued during the last four months on account of our en- 
couraging the hope that we might be permitted to have access to 
the numerous communications on this important subject which 
were sent to the Royal Agricultural Society from every part of 
the kingdom. This hope has been realized, and we are now 
engaged in a series of researches respecting the malady among 
cattle that prevailed 1839-40. We will exert ourselves diligently 
and honourably in the accomplishment of our task. 
The fairest and the most advantageous course we can pursue 
is to select some district as our starting-point, and to make our- 
selves masters of its locality, soil, and prevalent and epidemic 
diseases. We cannot select a better locality than the districts 
north of the Tweed. Professor Dick has given us an interesting ac- 
count of the disease which has occurred in his portion of the coun- 
try. According to him, as it has been described in a former Num- 
ber, it is a slight influenza or catarrh, attended with blisters about 
the nostrils, upper lip, tongue, and gums, and also occasionally 
upon the teats and about the heels, and at the interdigital space 
in front, above, and between the hoofs. In the mouth the cuticle 
peels off, but is reproduced in three or four days. A dry scab is 
then formed, which heals beneath, and the animal is quite well 
in about a week. There is little if any fever, and the pulse com- 
monly ranges from 50 to 60. The breathing is not much affected, 
but the appetite is considerably impaired, principally from the 
state of the mouth. In some cases there is considerable consti- 
pation, and the pulse rises to more than 80. When the teats are 
blistered, great care is necessary in the milking, so as not to ex- 
cite any considerable inflammation that may extend to the udder 
and produce serious disease. The udder usually heals if it is 
washed daily with a solution of alum, and the teats anointed with 
a little lard or palm oil. 
The hind feet are most commonly affected, on account of the 
filth and moisture to which they are exposed ; and, if they are 
neglected, inflammation frequently ensues, and deep and exten- 
sive sloughings, which prove troublesome and tedious, and lead 
to the casting of the hoof. 
