328 
THE LATE EPIDEMIC DISEASE IN FRANCE. 
cattle were left almost to themselves. The farmers brought them 
hay ; they mowed the tallest grass for them, and then left nature 
to act for herself. There were only a small number of farmers 
who, at the appearance of the disease, called in the veterinary 
surgeon or cow-doctor, for it was the common belief that there 
was nothing to do, and that nature alone would cure the cows. 
Those who did most only claimed the help of the profession when 
the disease was highly complicated, or the patient had become 
incurable. 
It was also impossible during the spring, and especially the 
summer, to procure the quantity of roots and farinaceous food. 
At this period of the year there is but little herbage in this 
country, and there remains in it scarcely any grain. The farmers 
are compelled to confine themselves almost exclusively to grass, 
to clover, and to hay. In cases of illness, the farmers force these 
into the mouths of the cows that are unable to stand. Some- 
times they force them with gruel, and they generally manage 
very well. 
It is well known that it was during the deep snows of the 
winter of 1841 that the disease attacked M. Laurent’s cattle, 
leaving no other exception than his fat hogs. A part of his 
cows were on a herbage pasture, on the border of the sea ; others 
were more than two hundred yards distant ; but all exposed to 
the intense cold of that season night and day. 
By my advice, M. Laurent gave a mixture of cooked pota- 
toes and the refuse of the cyder-mill, apples being very abundant 
this year, and, consequently, of very little value. They were 
given to the least valuable cows until the animals were satiated 
with them. This was afterwards replaced by meal, especially 
for those that were of considerable value. Two persons had the 
care of this proceeding, which was not a very laborious one, at 
first ; but if the cows refused this food a first and a second time, 
on the third day they were forced with a certain quantity of the 
provender. 
This was the only trouble that was bestowed upon them. It 
succeeded so well, that out of four hundred pounds of butter, 
that they were accustomed to yield every week while they were 
in good health, M. Laurent did not lose a quarter of a hundred, 
even including the sick cattle. This diminution, however, must 
not be attributed entirely to the disease, for it partly proceeded 
from the state of the atmosphere, and partly from the great quan- 
tity of snow which fell. 
The cows that were deprived of fresh grass could not eat, by 
reason of the disease in the mouth ; and those who suffered in their 
