674 
ON THE PRESENT EPIDEMIC 
disinclination to move, and a very low and oppressed pulse. Its 
principal action was on the caecum and colon, with an immense 
quantity of serum between its coats. In some parts the intestines 
were from two to three inches thick, in others marked with red 
spots, and in others in small ulcers. 
If space permitted, something might also be said on the fools’ 
or wild parsley (sEthusa cynapium). I have never known it 
produce death ; but in the spring, when some horses will eat it 
greedily, I have known it purge very violently. It has also a 
peculiar effect on the nose and lips, causing deep cracks and ulcers, 
particularly on horses with white muzzles. 
Prof. Gelle, in your number for September, page 647, supposes 
the ulcers and cracks to be occasioned by vipers. I would beg 
leave to say, that the disease is very frequent in this island, 
where there are no venemous reptiles or vipers ; and I can prove, 
from numbers of instances, that it is occasioned by the animal 
grazing amongst the wild or fool’s parsley. In order to give one 
case out of many, I have selected the following : — Captain Slade, 
of the Royal Artillery, being alarmed at the condition of his fa- 
vourite horse’s nose, sent for me. After examining the nose, I 
asked if he had not been grazing amongst the parsley. We went 
to the field, and found the plant in abundance, and, that being re- 
moved, the horse had no return of ulceration or cracks on the nose. 
P. S. I hope, before the appearance of your number for Novem- 
ber, to be able to send you a few cases on calculi, which I think may 
throw some light on that subject, unless your correspondents should, 
in the mean time, supersede me. I do this in accordance to your 
request, dated in your number for September, p. 594. 
AN ACCOUNT OF THE PRESENT EPIDEMIC AMONG 
CATTLE. 
By Mr. Welton, of Ingatestone. 
Dear Sir, — I t being your expressed wish, in your last valuable 
Periodical, that all who had an opportunity of studying the cha- 
racter of the present epidemic among cattle would forward you 
their experience, I beg to inform you that I have had, since the 
1st of August, 1839, sixty-four cases, in all of which, except one, I 
have been successful, she having, previously to the attack, evident 
diseased lungs. 
