686 ON THE PRESENT EPIDEMIC AMONG CATTLE. 
all my patients to require a slight stimulant, although at the 
same time I may be using depletive measures. 
I generally clip the hair close off the sides of the chest, and 
from the spine to the sternum, extending well back and down 
the whole course of the trachea ; I then rub in a strong blister 
composed of pulv. lyttae, bichlor, hydr., spt. terebinth, et ol. lini, 
and repeat it in twelve, or from that to twenty-four hours, as the 
case may require ; but before the blister is repeated the parts 
are ordered to be well fomented with hot water. Setons are 
inserted in the dewlap. I give submuriate of mercury* hydriodate 
of potass, nitre, powdered opium, and ginger, mixed with thick 
linseed cake gruel. If they will eat, I allow them scalded bran and 
oats, or linseed cake ; but if they refuse all food I drench them 
repeatedly with thin gruel. This treatment 1 continue until the 
inflammatory symptoms have subsided, which generally takes 
place from the second to the fourth day, I then give tonics, as 
cupri sulph., ferri sulph., p. gentian, p. zingib., and small doses 
of p. lyttae, twice a-day, repeating the saline medicine at noon, 
so long as the animal’s respiration continues hurried. As they 
continue to progress towards convalescence they may be allowed 
a little green food, as potatoes, turnips, carrots, cabbage, or a 
small quantity of old hay soaked in warm water, or a few 
mashes. Continue the thin gruel for drink, or occasionally hay- 
tea. Great care is now required in feeding, as the least over- 
allowance of food will produce indigestion, which at all times, 
after illness, is attended with danger. 
The post-mortem appearances discover extensive disease in the 
cavity of the chest. The bronchial tubes suffer in proportion to 
the duration of the disease in their being filled with frothy mucus. 
There is slight effusion of serum, with extensive adhesion between 
the plura-pulmonalis and the pleura-costalis, particularly in the 
right cavity of the chest. The substance of the lungs is hepa- 
tized, and appears almost impervious to the air. The heart also is 
larger than usual, and of a darker colour ; it has become flabby 
and has lost its usual dense muscular feeling. I will now state 
my cases as they present themselves. 
Case I. — A heifer, a week before calving, was driven with 
others two miles from turnips, and put into a shed, the night 
being wet. Two hours afterwards she was found in a violent 
perspiration, but by allowing sufficient ventilation she appeared 
to recover. She calved at the usual time — her first calf, and a 
very fine one. On the third day after calving, she was ob- 
served to breathe quicker than usual ; she was off her feed, had 
violent hoove, and appeared weak. A farrier in the neighbour- 
hood, or, as he styles himself, a veterinary surgeon, was sent for. 
