PRIZE ESSAY:— PLEURA-PNEUMONIA AMONG CATTLE. 333 
character. The vesicular epizootic, on the one hand, spared but 
few animals from its attack, and was seldom if ever fatal; whereas, 
on the other, the disease in question affects few in comparison, but 
those in so dangerous a manner that but a very small proportion 
of those affected recover. 
T shall first attempt a description of the disease, treating slightly 
the premonitory symptoms — mentioning those only which may be 
referred to the organs of respiration more especially. T am in- 
duced to do this, because I shall have occasion, in following out 
the order proposed by the committee of the Royal Agricultural 
Society of England with reference to several points connected 
with the disease, to treat of the “premonitory symptoms” at 
greater length. 
“The first and most constant symptom of this disorder is a cough 
of a dry or husky character, which may continue for a greater or 
less period before other symptoms of a more decided nature present 
themselves. The frequency and severity of this cough may be 
influenced by circumstances : for instance, I have observed when 
the animal is fed exclusively upon hay, straw, &c., or when it is 
lodged in a close ill-ventilated hovel, or turned into a low, damp, 
marshy spot, the cough has become aggravated, and other symp- 
toms of the disease have more speedily presented themselves. 
Again, the age and condition of the animal appear to govern its 
duration in this stage of the disorder: I have observed it, in young 
and well-conditioned animals, to continue longer than in those 
which are old and emaciated. 
“ I will now inquire what modifications of the healthy sounds 
may be detected in the chest in this stage of the malady. In the 
majority of instances no morbid sounds have been discovered; but 
I have occasionally found a crepitation or rattling along the upper 
borders and bases of the lungs. In some cases the animal has been 
noticed to cough up now and then, and discharge by the mouth, a 
thick mucous secretion. 
“ I consider that the occurrence of this cough is an index to the 
commencement of a mild character of bronchitis, and which may 
exist for some time previous to the lung or pleura becoming 
diseased. Those symptoms which generally exhibit themselves at 
the time when the services of the veterinary surgeon are usually 
required, and which I consider indicate the second stage of the 
disease, are the following, for the better description of which I 
will instance a milch cow. If, in a meadow with others, she is 
observed to separate herself from her companions, and to be 
generally lying down whilst the others are feeding, with an aspect 
spiritless and haggard, staring coat, surface of skin rigid, and 
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