136 THE PRESENT EPIDEMIC AMONG CATTLE. 
bourlng districts, is no great wonder, and progressing as does this 
epidemic condition from place to place, and "country to country. 
I have known it return on some who have been previously affected, 
and with increased intensity ; nor do I consider the bare fact of 
having been once the subject of its influence or power in any way 
secures from a renewal of the attack. 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE PRESENT EPIDEMIC. 
By Mr. Charles Dickens, V.S., Kimbolton. 
I AM fearful that ere this you will have said that one who is 
always ready to lend a helping hand has forgotten to reply to your 
queries. Not so ! but from numerous causes I have been prevented 
from communicating with you, and now, I can give you little more 
than you are already in possession of through my paper in The 
Veterinarian for November. 
I have little cause to alter any opinions there expressed. The 
disease kept raging with us until the beginning of December. A 
little while after that I had not a case upon my list. I have had 
from a thousand to fourteen hundred patients, and whether my 
principle has been right or wrong, I am thankful to say that my 
practice has been highly successful. When I say this, I confine 
myself to cattle, for the horse had not then begun to suffer. 
I trust the agricultural world will evince their sense of gratitude 
to the profession for its successful treatment; for although many of 
them who ought to know better do make a boast of having done 
without professional aid, they forget that, to the improved veterinary 
knowledge which has been diffused, they owe all that they know 
about the subject. 
In answer to some of your queries I reply : 
I. I have found it attack our cattle, more or less, in all situa- 
tions, whether tied up, or in meadows or upland. 
3. The first appearance in my neighbourhood was in February 
1840. 
4. Mild. No symptoms of disease on them when purchased. 
8. My opinion is, that it is decidedly contagious ; and I think 
that opinion will be borne out by reference to my former paper. 
As to infection, I am yet doubtful. 
9. Generally in the mouth first, but not always : the animals 
that were lame invariably suffered less from disease in the mouth. 
II. My grand object and sheet anchor of practice has been to 
get the feces pultaceous. I bled none, except now and then in a 
case in which the chest was the principal seat of disease, and then 
cautiously. 
