618 
ON THE EPIZOOTIC OF 1840. 
were sent to the butcher. The pigs at this farm also partook of 
the milk with impunity. 
I may likewise remark, that three of my own cows broke out of 
the place where they were kept, and were found on three suc- 
cessive mornings grazing where the three cows affected with the 
disease were kept in the daytime; yet, up to the time of writing 
this, they have not had the disease, or ever shewed the slightest 
illness that might be construed into a disease. 
There are many more farms which have never had the disease 
upon them, and, some having had it in so mild a form, their 
owners never thought of seeking medical aid. I have often re- 
marked, that the cattle thus left to themselves, and no aid being 
applied to relieve the disorder, have been always the most difficult 
to treat when any acute inflammatory attack supervenes. 
There is another point which I would mention, viz. the general 
health before vesication takes place. 
I think, in most of the cases, the health was a little disturbed 
previous to vesication taking place ; but, according to my observa- 
tion, as soon as the eruption commenced, the fever, in the majority 
of cases, ceased. I also am inclined to think, that, if the feet 
were severely affected, the mouth was less so, and vice versa ; 
also, when the prevailing symptoms were in the feet, the consti- 
tutional symptoms were less, and the animal sooner recovered. 
As to the loss of appetite, it depended greatly upon the state of 
the mouth : first, because the animals in general were ready to 
take food when offered, but, from the diseased state of the mouth, 
could not gather it up. Secondly, if any thing like a slice 
of turnip, potatoe, or even a small portion of hay, were placed 
so far back as to reach the grinders, they generally masticated it 
freely. 
There is one point which I must not forget. In general, after 
a beast became affected, I deferred giving the opening medicine 
until after the vesicles had formed in the mouth or feet ; having 
found that, if given at the commencement of the disease, it 
generally did little good, always requiring a second dose at the 
time mentioned. If given at this period, one dose generally 
sufficed. In a few cases, where debility shewed itself, tonics 
were freely used. In no case did I observe any harm from 
the purging, but, in general, the beneficial effects were soon 
apparent. 
