616 
ON THE EPIZOOTIC OF 1840. 
In the first place, the mouth and feet were well cleansed from 
all foreign substances with warm water in which a little alum 
had been dissolved ; and when the vesicles had burst, they were 
slightly touched with hydrochloric acid and tinct. benz., as re- 
corded in a former number of The Veterinarian. This soon 
gave a healthy appearance to the sore, and in a short time ap- 
peared to ease the pain. 
The beast not seeming to suffer much from irritative fever, 
I gave her a dose of opening medicine, composed of sulph. magnes., 
sulph. sublim., nitre, and zingib. in gruel made for the purpose, 
at the same time ordering her to be frequently drenched with com- 
mon gruel. This gently relaxed the bowels, which before were in 
a constipated state, and the faeces black. 
The mouth and feet were daily dressed, but no more medicine 
was given, and in a week she was convalescent. 
From the date of my second visit, until the 28th of the same 
month, more or less of the cattle were affected every day ; and, 
in all, the disease assuming the same form, excepting in one case, 
in which was much neglect, from her being of so ferocious a 
nature, that she could not with safety be handled. In conse- 
quence of this, she was left to take her chance. 
In the case of this beast, whether from the dung and moisture 
accumulating about her feet causing an absorption of the matter 
contained in the vesicles, or from the malignant tendency of the 
disease, it quickly assumed a typhoid character, from which she 
was with difficulty relieved. 
In this stage of the disease I used tonics and stimulants, with 
warm and dry clothing, the beast being several times in the day 
drenched with a small portion of good sweet gruel. This, in 
the course of a fortnight, brought her so far round, that she was 
struck off the sick list. Two of these beasts were fat cows, and 
were rather more difficult to treat, symptoms of inflammation 
appearing at different times, but which were always subdued by 
bleeding, fever medicine, &c. 
This person had two good store pigs, which I strenuously ad- 
vised him to have killed, as they lay close to one of the affected 
cow-houses, and, in all likelihood, would catch the disease. He 
immediately complied with this advice, and well was it for him 
he did, as a fine breeding sow adjoining caught the disease in 
the first week, and was ill for nearly three more. In a few days 
after this the rest of the pigs caught the infection, though not in 
so severe a degree. From their unruly nature their mouths were 
not dressed, yet they shewed that champing motion, with a flow 
of saliva, &c. ; but their feet were washed and dressed the same 
as with the cattle, and no untoward symptom shewed itself. 
