THE LATE EPIDEMIC DISEASE IN FRANCE. 
329 
feet experienced shivering fits, and then a trembling in the hind 
legs, as well as behind the shoulders. With this exception, the 
functions of the animal were in their normal state. 
Before I was called to attend upon the cows, they had been 
bled and their diet had been changed. I blamed the farmers for 
this, for the animals ought not to have been reduced in strength, 
and I made them cease this mode of treatment. I also earnestly 
advised that the cattle should be fed as highly as possible. 
I have just described what has been the result of this new 
regime, and admirable it was. The re-establishment of health to 
more than eighty horned beasts was very quickly effected, al- 
though several of them had diseases of the feet and udder. The 
snow melted ; they were put again on good grass ; and they 
returned to their usual state of health. 
I selected for my example the diseases of this herd, for the 
cows would only take what was put into their mouths ; they 
remained constantly exposed to an intense degree of cold ; and I was 
also enabled to prove two important things, — first, that bleeding, 
as well as restricted diet, while they greatly diminish the milk, 
do not advance the cure ; and secondly, that free air, whatever be 
the temperature, does not aggravate the disease, — on the contrary, 
M. Laurent had, by way of precaution, put the cows that were 
the most advanced in pregnancy into the stable. These were the 
beasts who gave the least milk. They seemed to suffer from the 
change : so true it is that a state of nature and of liberty is 
necessary and advantageous to animals. The cows that have 
suffered most from the epizootic were those who were attacked 
by it during the hot weather. They solicitously avoided the heat 
of the sun : the shade was indispensable to them, in order to 
avoid the flies that sting so dreadfully, and especially attack 
those who have diseases of the feet. They introduce themselves 
into the wound, and there deposit their eggs, which are not long 
in being hatched. 
From all this it must be concluded that a considerable degree 
of cold, far from increasing the disease, seems rather to be fa- 
vourable to a happy termination of it; and that, on the contrary, 
great heat impedes the cure. If, then, we wish to preserve the 
secretion of milk,— the most important object with regard to the 
interest of the farmer, and which the slightest cause often dimi- 
nishes, — there must be neither excess of heat, diet, nor bleeding. 
When I was called in, at the first appearance of the disease, 
to attend on either the milch cows or the cows that were in 
pasture, my first prescription was to feed them well, and to avoid 
a too damp pasture-ground, on account of the diseases of their 
feet. 
