450 
ON THE EPIDEMIC IN CATTLE. 
the disease. I could select several other cases where it was thus 
simply introduced, and spread through the whole herd. I need 
not add more on this subject, as all who have seen any thing of 
the complaint must be convinced of its highly infectious and 
contagious qualities. 
9. There is some variation in the early symptoms. When the 
animals are in the open folds or fields, they make to the most shel- 
tered situations: this is more observable if the weather is cold. 
The appetite continues, but it is not with the relish of a beast in 
health. The coat is rough, the legs are brought together, and the 
back is slightly elevated. In a few hours after these symptoms 
shew themselves there is a slight increase of saliva ; it drops from 
and hangs around the under jaw. The animals are often making 
forcible attempts to swallow. In this stage they are generally 
standing, the legs are often lifted, and there is a degree of stiff- 
ness about the limbs. These early symptoms are not always 
observed when the animal is in the house. I have often, however, 
seen them well marked, and followed by considerable rigors 
before there was any effusion into the mouth, or the feet became 
affected. At the beginning, and throughout the course of the 
disease, they are much affected with cold ; trembling and shaking 
with the least exposure. In a great many cases not one of these 
early symptoms is seen; but the animal refuses its food, saliva 
drivels from the mouth, or the feet become affected. More fre- 
quently the feet and mouth are diseased at the same time. There 
is one symptom which is never wanting, but is frequently over- 
looked, — an itching of the skin ; the animal is rubbing and licking 
incessantly : this is on the day prior to the attack. Where I have 
had an opportunity of examining the pulse during the cold fit, I 
have generally found it from 60 to 70, and scarcely perceptible 
at the jaw; it gradually increased in strength as the warmth re- 
turned. In many cases there is no perceptible alteration in the 
pulse, either at the commencement or during the course of the 
disease. 
10. After the early symptoms shew themselves the future pro- 
gress varies considerably. In some the appetite and general 
health seem little affected, and the disease is thrown off in a few 
days : in others, on the contrary, and particularly in fat cattle and 
milch cows in high condition, the appetite is quite gone. There 
is great local pain, attended with general fever. 
11. The treatment which I have adopted has been much the 
same as that which has been generally pursued. In every case 
I purged the animal. The sp. ether, nit. was early employed. 
Plenty of linseed-tea or water-gruel was given with the horn, in 
order to accelerate the action of the purgative. With respect to 
