ON THE PRESENT EPIDEMIC AMONG CATTLE. 
By Mr. J. Hayes, V.S., Rochdale . 
Although not solicited personally by circular, yet feeling’ 
anxious to contribute what little information I do possess, I send 
you the following true statement to your questions in the last 
number of The Veterinarian, respecting the late and present 
epidemic among cattle. 
We have been visited by this strange and little known disease. 
Although it has not been fatal, except in a few instances, yet 
it has been the source of much trouble, annoyance, and expense 
to cattle keepers. 
It first made its appearance in this district in the beginning of 
July last, at a farm two miles from this place. The whole stock, 
seventeen cows and a bull, were affected in the space of six days. 
The soil is light, dry, and sandy — the pasture bare, short, and 
poor — the cattle had been much fed on malt draff, &c., and 
the weather, previously very dry, had now changed to wet. 
There had been works lately erected for the manufacture of 
naptha on one part of the land, the refuse of which was allowed 
to run down the ditches, through the pasture, and into the pond 
at which the whole of these cattle were watered, and which water 
was covered with a thick black scum, very foetid, that came down 
from the works in great quantities. 
This was first thought to be the cause of the disease by the 
owner, and also by the cow-doctor of olden times ; and the pro- 
prietors of the works were threatened with an action at law 
against them forthwith; but before proceedings were commenced, 
the owner’s attorney called on me, to request I would ride over 
to see them, and examine the water, &c. and give him my opinion 
thereon. I did so, and found the circumstances as above stated. 
On examining the cattle, I immediately recognized this strange 
epidemic, the symptoms precisely agreeing with the description 
of them in The V eterjnarian. I gave my opinion accordingly, 
and thereby saved the owner from the expenses of a suit at law. 
In a few weeks it spread over all the adjacent parts. 
2. The soil of this county is various, some light, dry, and 
gravelly, and some stiff, heavy, and wet, with a clayey subsoil. 
The disease appeared to pay little deference to the kinds or quali- 
ties of soil or herbage, except that it seemed to be more intense and 
general on high and exposed situations, both on the pasture and 
in the stall. Those that were highly fed were also more generally 
and more severely afflicted. Few districts escaped, yet there are 
