448 
ON THE EPIZOOTIC DISEASES OF CATTLE. 
attendant on this complaint, and also great prostration of strength 
— the animals being sometimes scarcely capable of walking. 
The post-mortem appearances closely resembled those pre- 
sented in animals that have died under bronchitis. The bron- 
chial tubes were filled with a frothy mucus, and the poor beasts 
died from suffocation. 
Mr. Mayer very properly characterises this disease as “ a 
highly contagious inflammatory fever, possessing an erysipela- 
tous type, and affecting particularly the mucous and secreting 
tissues*.” 
Mr. Karkeek says, that “ it is one of those contagious diseases 
which is communicable both by contact and without it, like small- 
pox, the matter of which, when brought into direct contact with 
the body, will produce this disease ; or when suspended in the air, 
or coming in contact with the body, is capable of being thus pro- 
pagated.” 
Professor Dick gives a favourable account of the epidemic north 
of the Tweed. Happy would it have been for many of the Eng- 
lish agriculturists had the symptoms been of the same character 
in the south. He says, “ 1 am glad to be able to state that the 
murrain is a less formidable disease than has generally been re- 
presented ; at least, such has been the case with it so far as it has 
fallen under my notice. It appears to be a slight influenza or 
catarrh, attended with blisters about the nostrils, upper lip, 
tongue, and gums ; sometimes, also, upon the teats and about 
the heels, and especially at the interdigital space in front, above, 
and between the hoofs. 
“ The blisters break in about twenty-four hours. In the mouth 
the cuticle peels off, but is reproduced in about three or four days. 
On the other parts, the serum contained in the blisters escapes, 
and a dry scab is soon formed, which, when the animal is pro- 
perly treated, falls off and leaves the skin healed beneath, and 
the animal is quite well in about a week. There is little if any 
fever, the pulse commonly ranging from 50 to 60. The respira- 
tion is not affected, but the appetite is considerably impaired ; 
but, apparently, more from the state of the mouth than from 
any functional or structural derangement. 
Mr. Hawthorn, of Kettering, says that in some few cases there 
was ulceration of the base of the horns similar to the coronet, and 
ulcerations of the alee of the nose so violent, that the septum has 
* Mr. Mayer is perfectly correct, when he says that “ this disease is one 
sui generis, and, so far as his reading and observation go, has never pre- 
vailed in this kingdom before ; therefore, to style it the murrain or blain is 
highly incorrect, and encourages very erroneous notions both as to its nature 
and treatment.” 
