ON THF. KPIDEMrC TN CATTLE. 
449 
2. I have not been able to trace any connexion between the 
disease and the soil and pasture on which the animals fed. The 
nature of the soil, and its productions, are so variable throughout 
the county, and the disease having appeared on every variety, 
I think they can have had nothing to do with its production. 
3. In the beginning of November last, in some parts of the 
county, it had existed earlier than this by two or three months, 
but confined to a few farms where fresh cattle had been brought 
on, and those coming from the southern counties. 
4. About the commencement of November, the air was cold 
and damp ; and some considerable falls of rain took place. Since 
that period, we have had every variety of weather which the sea- 
son usually produces. 
5. On its first appearance, it was confined to cattle that had 
frequented the fairs or markets, or on farms where fresh cattle 
nad been introduced. 
6. In a drove of young Kyloes, which I had an opportunity of 
examining, it was supposed to have arisen from following some 
diseased cattle on the road. 
7. In several instances it was evidently introduced in this way. 
8. It is my decided opinion, that the disease is both infectious 
and contagious. Any person or thing employed about or being 
in contact with the diseased animals, capable of conveying the 
saliva or effluvium, will propagate it to a healthy one. There 
seems to be little predisposition required in the animal to take on 
the disease. Wherever it is accidentally introduced by a diseased 
animal, it spreads with such rapidity as scarcely to be believed. 
In the close and unventilated cow-house, the whole of the in- 
mates are, one and all, affected in a few days. Many instances 
of this kind have come under my observation. I will here relate 
one : — 
A farmer purchased a calf in the market, and, on his arriving 
home, in order to place the young animal in a warm and comfort- 
able situation, he took it into the cow house, amongst his cows. 
Perceiving, however, that the young animal was unwell, it was 
quickly removed to another place, when it soon died. On the third 
day afterwards, the cow which stood next to where the calf was 
placed, took the disease. The adjoining one to her, three days 
afterwards, was affected ; and in less than six days the whole in 
this house were affected with the complaint. The rest of the 
cattle on the farm were kept separated from these, and have es- 
caped. A pig in the same yard broke from his confinement and 
got to the dung-hill, and ate some pieces of turnip which came 
from the diseased cattle. On the third day after, he was affected, 
while not one of the other pigs, which were confined, have had 
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