142 ON THE EPIZOOTIC DISEASES OF CATTLE, &c. 
in their food. The milk affected pigs shortly after taking it, 
and it is believed that it was generally thrown away. 
The distemper did not spread much in this neighbourhood 
until the latter part of October. There is a very large cattle 
fair held at Yarm on the 19th; and a number of diseased cattle 
were brought there from the neighbourhood of Leeds and Wake- 
field. These beasts were bought up in small lots, divided into 
different flocks, after which the disease spread every day. In 
the district from twelve to fifteen miles round Darlington, more 
than two-thirds of the farmers had the disease among their 
stock. The farmers in this neighbourhood, however, think so 
little of it now, that, when it shews itself among their stock, 
they turn the whole of them together, in order, as they say, to 
get done with it. Some drench them with salts, sulphur, and 
ginger; others leave them to nature, and these generally ulti- 
mately recover, although the disease hangs longer upon those 
that have no medicine, and they waste most in condition. The 
symptoms were nearly the same as in the first cases, but milder. 
There was not generally such dreadful sloughing of the mouth, but 
they were quite as lame. He did not once let blood, nor lost one 
patient; but he had heard of many deaths from a complication of 
disorders, or improper treatment after purging and spicy drinks. 
The most interesting cases that came under his care were two 
valuable cows of the short-horned breed, belonging to an exten- 
sive farmer a few miles north of Darlington. The disease shewed 
itself among his stock of all descriptions in the early part of 
August. He treated them himself. To some he gave salts, 
sulphur, and ginger ; others were left to nature. All went on well 
until the middle of September, when a disease broke out amongst 
his best cows and heifers quite different from any of the others. 
He sent for a cow-doctor — a chip of the old block ; and all that 
were put under his care died. 
After losing four of his best beasts, he sent for Mr. C. to see a 
cow which this said doctor had given up. He found that she was 
sinking fast — the pulse scarcely to be felt — the horns cold — the 
ears drooping — the eyes glassy — the pupils dilated — the nose dry 
- — the head thrown back on the side — the legs and feet cold. This 
had commenced two days before with violent griping and purg- 
ing, — the stools mixed with clotted blood and matter. She had 
no motion during the night previous to his seeing her, and died in 
the course of the day, and was buried as the rest had been. He 
regretted much that lie had not an opportunity of post-mortem 
examination. 
On the next day two more began to exhibit the appearances 
