the present epidemic among cattle. 
135 
have never employed it but with increase to the severity of the 
symptoms and danger to the animal. There appears a morbid de- 
termination to the intestinal canal in many cases ; even from the 
beginning; and although a spontaneous diarrhoea may now and 
then relieve the head and abate the symptoms generally, it is far 
from being a salutary effort to unload the system in that way, and 
I believe requires the most especial care in our treatment, and the 
utmost caution and judgment ere we determine the course to pursue. 
To allay the irritated condition of the bowels, and keep up a neces- 
sary action, I employ injections, which succeed admirably; and to 
soothe the febrile symptoms, I give p. potass, nitr. 3 ij, camph. 3 SS, 
antim. tart. 3 ss, in a ball twice a day. The nose-bag will be 
found, in many cases, a valuable adjuvant, containing a warm mash, 
and where the indications call for it, a hot sheep-skin applied over 
the loins, the legs, of course, being well rubbed and bandaged to 
equalize the heat. Blisters to the sides and chest, and the in- 
sertion of a rowel or seton should be resorted to if we anticipate 
any serious inflammatory determination to the lungs, & c. 
It certainly, in my opinion, cannot be regarded generally as a 
contagious disease ; but owing to some general cause, either origin- 
ating or subsisting in the atmosphere, and depending on its sudden 
changes, the spread of this epidemic over the country has been 
so general, that I cannot believe its rapid propagation could be 
caused by intercourse. All have been, and under all circumstances 
and conditions, subjected to its prevailing influence, from the 
“ patriarch of his breed” to the youngest scion, 
By spur and bridle undefiled, 
And feet that iron never shod, 
And flanks unscar’d by spur or rod. 
Another circumstance that strengthens my incredulity is the 
curious fact of the influence which the general cause that produces 
this epidemic seems to exert over the animal body with regard to 
other diseases ; and again, I have found, in my practice, that the 
horses most subjected to its attack are those who work hard, such 
as post and coach horses. I have also had two or three of one team, 
who have journeyed together over the same stage, taken very ill 
with it; and, although they stood regularly in a stable with other 
horses, and worked the same coach on a different line of road, 
but one only of these at last failed with it, and then was merely 
slightly attacked : horses, however, that worked in the stead of those 
ill were, after a journey or two, likewise obliged to be rested from 
the same prevailing cause. The post horses have in this neigh- 
bourhood, nearly all of them, been visited with the complaint in 
greater or loss severity, which, considering they travel to all neigh- 
