274 THE LATE EPIDEMIC DISEASES AMONG HORSES, &c. 
feet sloughing off in the one case and the hoofs in the other, are 
coincidences leading to the suspicion of similarity of cause. We 
have, also, the general prevalence during the last two years, in 
many parts of the country, of mildew in its several varieties, with 
the large quantities of damaged hay, straw, and grain, facts to be 
traced to the extraordinarily wet summer of 1839. 
Although it should be proved that the disease is contagious, 
still some such cause may have originated it; and there can 
be little doubt that whatever originates a contagious disease, 
predisposes also to its reception. I venture to throw out these 
hints, apprehending that the connexion may escape general ob- 
servation, unless some more direct query is addressed to the 
members, and that the committee may have an opportunity of 
appending one in some future communication. If they have, it 
might perhaps be desirable also to inquire whether any similar 
disease has attacked the human subject under circumstances in- 
dicative of contagion. I suggest this for the following reason : — 
A very respectable and intelligent surgeon, who attends my 
own family, informs me (indeed his case has come under my own 
actual observation) that during last November he had examined 
a number of cattle labouring under the epidemic, particularly a 
horse, whose mouth he opened ; he did not, however, dissect any. 
On November 26th he saw some very bad cases, though he did 
not on that day touch them. December 1st he was himself at- 
tacked by fever and general constitutional derangement. On the 
4th, inflammation at the root of the nails, both of the fingers and 
toes, came on, which extended to the joints, especially of the 
fingers. About three or four days after, suppuration ensued, and 
he lost two finger-nails, one on each hand, preserving the rest 
with great difficulty. His own impression is, that it was the same 
disease which is now so general among cattle*. 
Continuation of the Account of the Epidemics among 
Cattle in 1840, and at the present Period. 
Mr. Levers, of Richmond, in this Riding, gives the following 
account of the disease : — 
The epidemic first made its appearance among my cattle in 
August 1840, and was for some time confined to a particular 
* I have now the nail of my left fore-finger sloughing off from a sore coming 
into contact with the diseased mouth of a beast. There was considerable irri- 
tative fever accompanying the case. — W. Y. 
