HISTORICAL RESEARCH on the epizootic. 675 
be added; in particular, that which does not require much masti- 
cation. To the carnivorous animals, light broths made of veal 
should be given, or drinks composed of milk with a decoction of 
barley, to which may be added a little honey. General bleeding 
he never recommends, not even when the eruptions are accom- 
panied by violent inflammation and febrile reaction. Leeches to 
the gums, where they could be applied, and where this cannot be 
done, slight scarification, the bleeding of which is afterwards pro- 
moted by steaming the lower parts of the head. The mouth to 
be gargled with mucilaginous decoctions. 
By these simple means (he continues) we often succeed in 
allaying the general irritation, promoting the development of 
the vesicles, and favouring the formation of the eschar. He does 
not recommend the gargles to be injected into the mouth, on ac- 
count of the percussion which would result from it on the affected 
surfaces, and the great pain that would be produced. They are 
best administered by means of a fine clean supple linen cloth, 
which is to be fixed to the end of a wooden spatula : the vesicles 
may be opened with a scalpel, lancet, or curved scissors. The 
gargles should then be changed, and made slightly detersive, 
and may even be rendered caustic by the addition of acetic or 
sulphuric acid. 
This treatment should be modified according to the complica- 
tion of the disease, and continued until the disappearance of the 
vesicles; after which the appetite returns, the animal becomes 
lively, the secretion of milk increases, the convalescence is esta- 
blished, and nothing more is required but a generous diet. 
Hurtrel D’Arboval, Diet. Vet., tom. ii, 113, & c. 
Dr. Rayer has given the following account of the same epi- 
zootic which prevailed in the neighbourhood of Paris, in 1839, 
attacking neat cattle, sheep, goats, and swine. He describes three 
periods — the first, fever ; the second, irruption ; and the third, 
desquamation. The fever lasted two or three days, during which 
time the animal appeared dull — the pulse accelerated — the se- 
cretion of milk diminished, with a slight alteration of its consti- 
tuent elements — the coat rough — the base of the horns and the 
eyes hot — a slight cough ; but no sensible change in the respi- 
ration— the appetite diminished — the thirst increased — thealvine 
evacuations natural, or sometimes soft. 
Nevertheless, the ensemble of these symptoms presented no- 
thing serious. About the third or fourth day an eruption ap- 
peared on the mammae, and the inner surface of the lips and 
gums, and bifurcation of the feet. The period of desquamation 
