580 POPULAR LECTURE ON THE PREVAILING EPIZOOTIC 
of the weather are found more cattle affected with distemper 
than in those affording good shelter. The cattle belonging to the 
improved short-horn breed, provided they have not been reared 
too delicately, are less frequently attacked than the ordinary 
race. With respect to age, I have met with animals of all ages 
affected. It, however, is worthy of remark, that the very aged 
recover with the greatest difficulty, and seldom thrive after an 
attack. Milch cows seem to be extremely susceptible, especially 
those that were housed until late in the present season. Castrated 
males (or oxen) are not so frequently affected as heifers or cows. 
Store cattle are by no means so subject to the attack as others. 
The disease seems to attack principally those that have had the 
.pustular affection of the mouth and feet with severity. 
Symptoms . — It is a matter of great importance that the dis- 
ease should be detected in its earliest stage, otherwise it is im- 
possible to save the life of the animal, the lungs rapidly becoming 
so solidified in their structure as not to admit the reception of 
air, consequently producing asphyxia. It is, therefore, most un- 
fortunate that the precursory symptoms of this terrible pest 
should be almost invariably so obscure as not to attract any 
notice until the animal is in such a state as generally to afford 
but slender hopes of a satisfactory result even to the most judi- 
cioustreatment. 
Another source of difficulty which presents itself is the ex- 
traordinary variety of symptoms evinced by different animals, 
although their age, condition, pasture, and every other cir- 
cumstance under which they are placed may be exactly the 
same. In the one field, where many are affected about the same 
time, the various peculiarities by which their sufferings are de- 
tected will frequently confound the most experienced in the prac- 
tical management of cattle. One beast may be seen separated 
from the rest of the herd, standing listlessly by the boundary 
fence ; another will be found lying down in the centre of the 
field, with fevered countenance, occasionally turning an anxious 
look to her flank, and moaning with pain. A few may be seen 
moping about the field with straddling legs, arched backs, and 
heads stiffly bent downwards, taking an occasional and sudden 
bite at the herbage, but neglecting to masticate it ; while others 
will evince no other.symptom than an occasional wheezing cough, 
and a discontinuance of rumination. Indeed, to describe every 
variety of symptom would be an endless undertaking, even if it 
were possible to sum them all up from the annals of one’s me- 
mory. The most invariable symptoms are dulness, quickened 
breathing, loss of appetite, and accelerated pulse ; yet I have met 
with some hundreds of cases where, until twenty- four hours before 
