THE PRESENT EPIDEMIC AMONG CATTLE. 
83 
In other parts, where the soil is less rich, the subsoil is hard sand- 
stone, and in some places coarse gravel. Near the Chiltern Hills 
the soil is less productive, being of a kind of chalkish clay, below 
which chalk and chalk-stone abound. The cows, during their 
time of lactescence, are liberally supplied with hay twice in the 
day, throughout the winter months. They are turned to pasture 
both day and night the whole year, and are put into cow-houses or 
sheds morning and evening, for the purpose of being milked. 
When they are allowed hay at the season above stated, they re- 
main long enough — from two to three hours — to fill themselves. 
A great number of oxen are fattened by grass only, and sent to 
Smithfield about Michaelmas: those intended for Christmas are 
taken about this time (Michaelmas) into houses, and profusely fed 
on the best selected hay and oil-cake. 
No. 3. The first case which came under my own observation 
was in the month of February, 1840. I heard of one farmer having 
the disease among his cows as far back as Nov. 1839. I did not 
see them, and, of course, cannot answer for the accuracy of the 
report. 
No. 4. The weather had been exceedingly wet from July 1839 
to March 1840, and the land so completely sodden, that it was 
with great difficulty the beasts could walk on it in many situations. 
No. 5. Yes. Mr. Tomlin, of Rousham, the proprietor of 32 head 
of cattle, 28 milking cows, 2 stirks, and 2 bulls, all of which had 
the epizootic disease. I first saw them on the 16th of Feb. 1840. 
One had died on the 15th; another I directed to be immediately 
killed on account of the miserable state in which it was ; four died 
afterwards, and many very slowly recovered. Mr. Tomlin states 
as his opinion, that he brought the disease to his own cows by pur- 
chasing two heifers about ten days previous to its outbreak : but 
this is very doubtful, as neither of those heifers were, apparently, 
affected by the disease until a day or two after his cows shewed 
symptoms of it. A Mr. Cox, of Scot’s Grove, who, perhaps, has 
had more cases of disease than any one in this county, affirms that 
he introduced the complaint among his cattle by purchasing some 
barren cows with the disease on them. About forty had the dis- 
ease at the time I saw them, which was on the 25th of Feb. last. 
No. 6. No, in the first case — Mr. Tomlin’s. The second — Mr. 
Cox’s — is doubtful : they might have done. 
No. 7. No. 
No. 8. I am of opinion that it is a contagious disease, although 
it may be difficult for me to give the why and the wherefore. I 
have attended cattle affected with the disease, the property of fifty- 
two persons ; out of which number about fifteen or twenty posi- 
