ON PHTHISIS IN COWS. 
383 
certain electric state of the atmosphere continued during several 
days is most unfavourable to animals in the early stage of phthisis; 
and as it is in summer that this electric state of the atmo¬ 
sphere principally prevails, and as the dairyman makes no change 
in the food and general management of the cows on account of 
this peculiar atmospheric influence, it is not wonderful that acute 
inflammation of the chest should be superinduced on the pre¬ 
viously existing chronic disease which is seldom long absent 
from any of our cows. 
Why is the disease generally most prevalent and fatal in the 
spring 
We know that in the spring of the year a general development 
or turgescence manifests itself in all organized bodies; and that, 
at this season, they who are affected with chronic diseases have 
great reason to fear a relapse. It is not, therefore, surprising 
that consumptive cows, coming from a situation and mode of 
treatment calculated to increase the disease, or at least the dis¬ 
position to be affected by it, and changed often at that period 
to a kind of food much more succulent and nutritive, should 
exhibit symptoms of inflammatory disease. 
From all that has been stated, it will be seen that there is little 
room for the interference of Government in order to remedy the 
evil so complained of. That evil is utterly beyond the reach of 
magisterial control. 
The only measure which Government, in the utmost exertion of 
its power, could adopt, is to direct the cow-keepers to keep their 
cows in larger and loftier houses, where they may have the air 
necessary for respiration during the night, or it may be renewed 
in a manner least injurious to them. But the administration 
would be averse to adopt any measure that would cripple this 
kind of industrious employment, by rendering a more consider¬ 
able capital necessary, either in the building more convenient 
places, or the renting those of larger size and better construction. 
I now arrive, M. Prefect, at the most important of the ques¬ 
tions submitted to me, namely, the employment of the flesh of 
animals attacked with phthisis as an article of food. This also 
will demand some lengthened detail, or it may be difficult suf¬ 
ficiently to base an opinion that will be repugnant to the pre¬ 
judices of many persons. 
Among animals of the bovine species labouring under the 
commencement of an attack of chronic pulmonary phthisis, 
where there is a mere engorgement or slight hepatization of the 
lung, there are periods when the secretion of milk diminishes, 
and the animal takes on a disposition to accumulate fat. Intel¬ 
ligent dairymen are aware of this, and profit by it; and they set 
