592 
ON THE PRESENT EPIDEMIC AMONG CATTLE. 
By Mr. Youatt. 
Having, from the sad prevalence of epidemic disease during 
this year, had considerably more cattle- practice than has fallen 
to my lot in any preceding one, 1 feel myself bound to add my 
mite to the interesting records which this present number of 
The Veterinarian contains. 
It seems to be originally an affection of the pleural lining of 
the chest or covering of the lungs, and most frequently of the 
latter. There is usually, but not always, cough ; for many a day 
and many a week has occasionally passed before the true charac- 
ter of the disease is developed. Our dairy cattle are often sub- 
ject to hoose or cough, and this continues a long time before the 
true character of the disease is suspected. Of the primary cause 
we know little or nothing; and, so far as we have had opportunity 
of observing, the disease is not essentially either contagious or in- 
fectious. It depends on some unknown atmospheric agency. That 
agency is, perhaps, more developed in some situations than in 
others. It is more frequent and more fatal in low and marshy land 
than in upland ground, provided that upland pasture is protected. 
Cold or damp appear to be the principal agents in developing it; 
and, whether or not because I reside in the neighbourhood of so 
many milch cows, I have fancied that they are more subject to 
this affection than any other species of cattle. 
The present epidemic does not appear to have connexion with 
the disease that prevailed two years ago, except that the prior 
disease seems to have left them in a somewhat debilitated state ; 
or rather, I should say, that the state of debility which subjected 
them to the first attack is still at work under a different form. 
Cough is the usual, but not invariable, concomitant of the 
early stages of this disease. It is heard for many a day or many 
a week before the true character of the disease is developed ; but 
in a few instances it is not observed until the animal is within 
four-and-twenty hours of its death. There is generally an un- 
willingness to move — a groaning or expression of pain — a shrink- 
ing when the sides are pressed upon — slight spasms stealing 
over the sides — and a decided roaring or rushing noise when the 
ear is applied to the sides, occasionally audible at a variable dis- 
tance from the animal. 
These symptoms are sometimes rapid in their progress ; at 
other times they are exceedingly slow. The average time be- 
tween the evident presence of the disease of the animal is from 
