THE VESICULAR EPIZOOTIC AMONG CATTLE. 137 
in some grew irregularly, and caused great tenderness for some 
length of time. 
The TREATMENT was simple : consisting of local blood¬ 
letting, laxatives, and febrifuges; linseed-meal gruel,and linseed- 
meal poultices to the legs and feet, until suppuration took place ; 
and then digestive unguents were used to the sores alternately 
with disinfectants. When granulations first formed, mild caus¬ 
tics ; and, as they increased in size, potent caustics were resorted 
to. After the enormous masses of flesh were subdued, tar oint¬ 
ment was applied to the feet. Two cows in the herd were 
attacked with what is commonly called pleuro-pneumonia, in 
July. One recovered from moderate bleeding, laxatives, and 
febrifuges, and stimulating applications to the thorax ; the other, 
being old, was left to her fate, and died from hydrothorax. 
There being great analogy between the two diseases, it strikes me 
forcibly that they are near akin, and may ultimately prove to 
be one and the same disease, although they have hitherto been 
considered essentially different diseases. 
The air-passages, in both, are invariably affected; not so 
the lungs, I admit; for when they are, the symptoms are deep 
grunting, and the mouth seldom affected. Moreover, the lung 
disease requires a more active treatment. And, as I believe 
there is sub-acute inflammation of these organs at the onset, 
moderate bleeding claims our first attention, to be repeated if 
the pulse justifies such a procedure, followed by the exhibition 
of diffusible stimulants, laxatives, and sedatives. If no improve¬ 
ment is perceptible in a few hours after bleeding, I insert a piece 
of veratrum nig. in the dewlap; the propriety of which some 
practitioners doubt, but I do not. Put setons in the sides, and 
apply the actual cautery to the whole exterior region of the 
thorax, where it can be reached; afterwards apply ung. lyttae. 
to the cauterized parts, which soon causes great inflammatory 
swelling and effusion, thereby preventing, in some measure, 
hydrothorax. When the bowels are slightly acted upon, I give 
hyd. potassse et. nit. potassae; and these I succeed by diuretics 
and tonics. I have more faith in the actual cautery extensively 
applied, cruel though it be, than in the whole catalogue of nos¬ 
trums ever prescribed by veterinary amateurs, or jumbled 
together by cow-leeches. In conclusion, I beg to observe, that 
my experience, although extensive for many years, is not 
sufficiently conclusive to warrant me in making a broad as¬ 
sertion, that the diseases I have alluded to are one and the same; 
but as they are evidently nearly related, I would earnestly en¬ 
treat my professional brethren to search deeply into this inter¬ 
esting subject; and I would also advise them, with a view to 
the furtherance of veterinary science, should an epidemic of the 
