4G8 
ON WOOD-EVIL AND MOOD-ILL. 
have fifty-two cases of rheumatism, and a great many of them 
scarcely able to rise when down, and not have the swelled joint, 
&c., as described by our modern writers. It is not impossible to 
have a rheumatic affection without the swollen joints ; but there 
is not that particular grunt which characterizes what I call moor- 
ill; and, moreover, I find it to be quite the contrary here. What 
I call moor-ill is more prevalent on dry land, and in dry, hot 
summers than in cold wet ones. 
Q. 3 d . — If any one will look my first paper over again, he 
will find that I said I was not aware that any proper distinction 
had hitherto been drawn ; therefore in what way could I expect 
to be supported on this subject, by either modern or ancient 
writers? But to retrace my steps. Our fathers had the good 
sense to see that moor-ill was brought on by feeding on some 
unwholesome food found on moors and commons, which was ab- 
sorbed into the system, and so produced that affection of the 
joints and muscular system which they describe. Wood-evil, on 
the contrary, was brought on by eating acrid herbs, &c. 
Q. 4 th. — Moor-ill ! Mr. Mayer hardly knows what I take it 
to be. As my first paper on Wood-evil and Moor-ill was very 
short, and its contents were not much more than a few hints for 
the veterinarian's consideration, and my second was not given so 
accurately as I could wish, a little from my own pen, and a 
little from that of the editor or printer, for this reason I consi- 
der I have said very little on the subject at present, and I may 
have rather kept in the rear as to the cause ; and, moreover, 
if I mistake not, there are diseases incident to cattle which have 
been known to exist for ages, and the precise cause not known at 
the present day. Is not puerperal fever a matter of much dis- 
pute among us at the present day ? 
Q. 5th. — Post-mortem appearances I have given none. I did 
not know that I had sent any cases: and— allowing me a little 
to boast here — if I had such ample opportunities of post-mortem 
appearances as Mr. Mayer is led to suppose, my reputation for 
the cure of what I call moor-ill would not be what it is. I have 
followed veterinarians and others, and been successful where 
they have failed. 
Q. 6th , or lastly. — I felt somewhat astonished, when I looked 
over Mr. Mayer's last paper on moor-ill, to find a question put 
to me which I had already stated as a matter of fact, in the 
case of Mr. Snow and another farmer, whose name I thought 
proper to conceal, because he is a relation. 
I now proceed to relate some cases : — 
About the 20th of July, Mr. Bentley, a farmer at Endon, 
called to give me some information about three cows, which 
