ON THE EPIZOOTIC DISEASES OF CATTLE, &C. 141 
or fair. So convinced were the farmers in general that the dis- 
ease is principally contracted at these places, that many of them 
refused to purchase any cattle from the market. In almost every 
instance the breaking out of the disease among the cattle on a 
farm could be fairly traced to infection. The animals had either 
been in contact with strange cattle, or fresh cattle had been 
brought on the farm. A great number of Irish and Scotch cattle 
are brought into this county twice in the year, — -in the autumn 
for the straw-yard, and in the spring for grazing purposes. They 
arrive in large droves, and are sold to a great many farmers in 
small lots. The disease generally breaks out in these droves, 
which they are frequently obliged to rest for some time : but those 
that have escaped, and those that have recently recovered, are 
taken to the different markets and sold. The purchaser, being 
quite ignorant as to their having had the disease so recently, 
takes no precaution, and the consequence is that the infection is 
propagated to the rest of his'stock. These droves have caused the 
disease to spread more fatally than all other causes put together. 
With the following account, by Mr. Cleaver, V.S., at Darling- 
ton, we conclude the history of the disease in Durham : — 
The epidemic made its appearance in the neighbourhood of 
Darlington early in August, being introduced by some lean 
Irish stock bought at Sopcliffe fair. The symptoms were ex- 
treme lameness, with discharge from the cleft of the feet round 
the coronet to the heels, which was troublesome to dress, 
the animals frequently catching the foot up with convulsive 
shakings. 
The feet were washed clean with warm water, and bathed with 
salt and water twice a-day, with strict care to keep them clean 
and dry. The gums skinned away with deep ulcers, and the 
tongues the same. Some had their muzzles ulcerated, with much 
constitutional disturbance, as quick pulse, copious dischage from 
the eyes, costiveness of the bowels, and loss of cud. 
The treatment consisted of salts and sulphur in full doses, with 
one oz. doses of nitre repeated every third day. Three doses were 
usually sufficient to effect a cure. They lost condition fast, although 
they had not much flesh at the commencement, but were sup- 
ported with good gruel and mashes. They had a desire for food as 
soon as their bowels were thoroughly emptied, but their mouths 
were too sore to permit them to eat. The mouths were washed 
with a weak solution of sulphate of zinc. After ten or twelve 
days they began to improve rapidly in condition, but were much 
longer in getting sound. Sheep and pigs were affected the same 
way : the sheep had salts given them, and the pigs sulphur mixed 
