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92 
REPORT ON THE EPIDEMIC AMONG CATTLE. 
By Professor Sewell. 
[Extracted from the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England.] 
The Veterinary Committee of the Royal English Agricultural 
Society having, in compliance with a resolution of the council, 
sent a circular to each member, containing queries for informa- 
tion on the nature and extent of the prevailing epidemic among 
cattle and other domestic stock, have received nearly seven hun- 
dred communications which may be generalised, as in the follow- 
ing Report : — 
The disease had not made its appearance in England before 
the summer of 1839, and, with few exceptions, had broken out in 
the stock of those members who have sent communications, and 
the information is mostly confined to what occurred on their own 
farms and premises. 
Some members state that it prevails in their immediate neigh- 
bourhood, and others at several miles’ distance. It is generally 
reported not to have prevailed extensively before 1840, and then 
to have attacked all kinds of stock indiscriminately, even poultry, 
dogs, cats, and deer. Influenza, by some called distemper, ca- 
tarrhs, and sore throats, prevailed much among horses, before the 
epidemic, during its prevalence, and after it had ceased, and pul- 
monary diseases proving fatal in several cases. 
As far as situation, nature of the soil, and general features or 
aspect of the country, are described, no exemption from disease 
is recorded, whether mountainous, hilly, flat, wooded, or open, 
dry or damp, intersected by rivers or canals, or in the vicinity of 
marshes, ponds, ditches, or any stagnant waters. 
It has been attributed by some to the prevalence of east or 
north-east winds ; others supposed it induced or brought by the 
south and west winds. Some are of opinion it has been pro- 
duced by fogs, and abounded more in valleys, on the banks of 
rivers, and low damp situations ; others attribute the outbreaks 
to communication by the herdsmen, shepherds, or persons em- 
ployed. 
Its attacks appear to have commenced, whatever was the quar- 
ter from which the wind blew, and under all temperatures, through- 
out the year, commencing and ceasing at uncertain periods ; and 
the disease did notvary in its symptoms exceptjwhen^the atmo- 
spheric temperature was highest : then inflammatory action was 
more intense, and the disease more fatal, especially among ani- 
