THE EPIDEMIC AMONG CATTLE, SHEEP, AND PIGS. 151 
stages, and, judging also from the morbid appearance presented by 
the other parts, we may conclude that a decay had taken place 
throughout the system. Indeed (as I have before observed), for 
some time previously, marked symptoms were shewn of decay ; a 
very gradual wasting of flesh and of strength ; stiffness in the 
hind extremities, deepening of the cavities above the eyes, as well 
as sinking of the eyes ; no wonder, therefore, that the animal died, 
labouring, as it evidently did, under every disadvantage, or, in 
other words, under two diseases, each requiring a mode of treat- 
ment diametrically opposite to the other. 
ON THE EPIDEMIC AMONG CATTLE, SHEEP, AND 
PIGS. 
By Mr. W. F. Karkeek, V.S., Truro. 
My dear Sir, — I WILL now endeavour briefly to answer your 
queries relative to the “ Epidemic” among cattle, sheep, and pigs, 
in my neighbourhood. 
1. It has prevailed chiefly in three or four parishes, situated 
about the centre of the county of Cornwall, and embracing a circuit 
of nearly fifteen miles. 
2. The soil lies on the clay slate chiefly, and may be considered 
to be as highly cultivated as any part of the kingdom. Most of 
the cattle had been housed previous to the attack, and had been 
feeding on turnips. 
3. About the 3d day of December last. 
4. During the continuance of the disease we have had every 
variety of weather, rain, frost, snow, storms, fine, changeable, 
rain, snow, frost, storms, fine weather ; changes that would have 
puzzled Mr. Murphy himself to describe, or even that prince of 
astrologers, Francis Moore, physician. 
5. Previous to the 1st of December, I believe that I am correct 
in stating that we had not a single case in my district. There 
may have been some few in the neighbourhood, bordering on 
Devonshire ; but I never heard of any. 
On the 1st of December there was a fair of cattle held at St. 
Austle, to which several cattle were brought either from Devon or 
Somerset, for sale. These were chiefly purchased by a few farm- 
ers ; and in about three or four days at the utmost this epidemic 
was observed in each of the farms to which these strange cattle had 
been taken. Other cattle that were exposed for sale, and that 
