PLEURO PNEUMONIC EPIZOOTIC AMONG CATTLE. 497 
The antiphlogistic treatment is certainly essential, to some 
extent ; but here, from the short duration of the inflammatory 
stage, and its almost imperceptible sub-acute existence, the prac- 
titioner is mostly called in to treat the effects of what is considered 
by the owner the disease itself. 
If, after dearly earned experience, the proprietor is wise enough 
to call in the veterinary surgeon on the earliest development of 
symptoms previously mentioned, he will generally obtain success 
as the result of his labours ; but, on the contrary, if the practi- 
tioner is called in tw r o or three days subsequent to the earliest 
attack, even though the symptoms are insufficient to create alarm 
to a non-professional man, the veterinary surgeon, from a minute 
examination of the respiratory apparatus, too often knows that the 
case will end in disappointment both to himself and employer ; 
the latter, I am sorry to say, erroneously forming therefrom a 
mean opinion of the surgeon’s skill, and this frequently operates 
against his future employment. 
Without advocating any mode of treatment as the best, I 
will give a brief outline of what, after considerable trial, has 
proved with me of greatest utility; bearing in mind, throughout, 
as a matter of the greatest importance, the necessity of support- 
ing the animal powers to the utmost degree consistent with 
safety. 
In the first stages, those of congestion and inflammation, 
bleeding suggests itself as the most effectual and immediate 
means of relief that we can employ. Its extent will depend upon 
the case, always remembering the character of this disease, and 
its peculiarities. I have seldom found it needful to abstract 
more than from ten to twelve pounds at first; yet, sometimes, 
several repetitions may be necessary, although the united quantity 
is small. If the first bleeding was not employed before the third 
day, I have seldom found it justifiable to bleed at all. 
As regards medicine in this stage, I would entirely discard digi- 
talis and verat. alb., from the uncertainty of their effects — lying, 
as it w r ere, for a time, inert, and subsequently operating when 
their action must be injurious. I am inclined to place consider- 
able dependence upon hydrarg. submur. and potass, hydriod. 
throughout the whole course of the disease. In the present 
stage I usually give hydrarg. submur., potass, hydroid., pulv. ant. 
tart., pulv. opii, and potass, nit., in doses proportionate to the 
case, in linseed or castor oil, made into an emulsion with an egg or 
two, twice or thrice daily, until the bowels are acted upon by the 
oil, or so long as there is any thing to fear from the existing in- 
flammation. 
3 x 
VOL. XVI. 
